| The Most Reverend Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Mbeya | |
 Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga in 2018 | |
| Church | Catholic |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbeya |
| Metropolis | Mbeya |
| See | Mbeya |
| Appointed | 21 December 2018 |
| Predecessor | Evaristo Marc Chengula, I.M.C |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 11 July 1996 by James Dominic Sangu |
| Consecration | 19 March 2011 by Polycarp Cardinal Pengo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga (1966-11-03) 3 November 1966 (age 58) Bunda, Mara Region, Tanzania |
| Denomination | Catholicism |
| Residence | Bishop's House, Mbeya |
| Education |
|
| Alma mater | University of Dar es Salaam |
| Motto | Ut Vitam Habeant (Latin for 'So that they may have life') |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Grace |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
|
Ordination history of Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||
Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga (born 3 November 1966) is a Tanzanian prelate of the Catholic Church. He has been Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbeya since 2018. He was consecrated bishop on 2011. He previously served as Bishop of the diocese of Dodoma from 2011 until 2014. He then served as Bishop of the diocese of Mpanda from 2014 until 2018. He was President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference from 2018 to 2024. He was appointed bishop on 9 January 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI
Early life and education
He was born on 3 November 1966 at Bunda, Bunda District, in the Mara Region in northern Tanzania. He attended elementary school from 1976 until 1982 at the Mwenga Primary School in Vwawa, Songwe Region, Tanzania.
In 1983 he entered St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Kaengesa in the diocese of Sumbawanga, for the classes of superior preparation for priesthood. In 1987 he transferred to the Sangu Secondary School in Mbeya. In 1989 he entered the Kibosho Major Seminary at Kibosho, where he studied Philosophy. He then entered St Charles Lwanga Major Seminary in Dar-es-Salaam, in 1991, where he studied Theology.
He studies at the St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), from 1998, graduating in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Science of Education. Between 2006 and 2009, he studied at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, graduating from there with a Master of Arts degree in Social Sciences.
Priest
He was ordained a priest of Mbeya on 11 July 1996. He served in that capacity until 9 Januarys 2011.
As a priest, he served in various roles inside and outside his diocese including:
- Assistant parish priest in Itumba Parish from 1996 until 1998
- Diocesan director of the Scouts in Mbeya Diocese from 1996 until 1998
- Teacher at Mbalizi Junior Seminary from 1996 until 1998
- Spiritual Director at Mbalizi Junior Seminary from 1996 until 1998
- Regional Manager of the Scouts for the scout region of Mbeya from 1998 until 2001
- Teacher at Pandahill Secondary School from 2001 until 2006
- Director of the Institute from 2001 until 2006
- Assistant Lecturer at St. Augustine University of Tanzania, in Mwanza, since 2009.
Bishop
On 9 January 2011 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of the Diocese of Dodoma, at that a Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam. He was consecrated and installed at Saint Paul of the Cross Cathedral, in Dodoma, in the Diocese of Dodoma on 19 March 2011. He was consecrated by the hands of Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam assisted by Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi, Archbishop of Mwanza and Bishop Evaristo Marc Chengula, Bishop of Mbeya.
On 17 February 2014, Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Mpanda Diocese. Bishop Nyaisonga succeeded the late Bishop William Pascal Kikoti who died on 28 August 2012.
On 21 December 2018, The Holy Father created the Archdiocese of Mbeya and appointed Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga as the founding archbishop of the new Metropolitan province of Mbeya. The new archbishop received the Pallium from Pope Francis on 29 June 2019. He was installed as archbishop on 28 April 2019.
See also
Figures and diagrams
Succession table
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byJude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi (15 January 2005 - 10 November 2010) | Bishop of Dodoma (9 January 2011 - 17 February 2014) |
Succeeded byBeatus Kinyaiya |
| Preceded byWilliam Pascal Kikoti (23 October 2000 - 28 August 2012) | Bishop of Mpanda (17 February 2014 - 21 December 2018) |
Succeeded byEusebius Alfred Nzigilwa |
| Preceded byEvaristo Marc Chengula (8 November 1996 - 21 November 2018) | Archbishop of Mbeya (21 Dec 2018 - present) |
Succeeded byIncumbent |
References
- ^ David M. Cheney (27 May 2025). "MicroData Summary for Archbishop Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga (born 3 November 1966), Archbishop of Mbeya". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Kansas City. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ^ Agenzia Fides (10 January 2011). "Africa/Tanzania: Appointment of the Bishop of Dodoma". Agenzia Fides. Vatican City. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- AMECEA; Vatican Information Services (21 February 2014). "Tanzania: Bishop of Mpanda Diocese Appointed". Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA). Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- Pamela Adinda (5 July 2019). "Rome: Three Archbishops From AMECEA Countries Receives Pallium". Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA). Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
External links
- Askofu mkuu Gervas Nyaisonga: Shukrani za Maaskofu wakuu! Sala! (Written in the Swahili language)
- 1966 births
- Living people
- Tanzanian Roman Catholic bishops
- Roman Catholic bishops of Mpanda
- Roman Catholic bishops of Dodoma
- Roman Catholic bishops of Mbeya
- University of Dar es Salaam alumni
- Tanzanian Roman Catholic archbishops
- St. Augustine University of Tanzania alumni
- Academic staff of St. Augustine University of Tanzania