CALL for peace and unity at family and community level reverberated as religious leaders in different regions delivered their messages during both Christmas Eve and Holy Mass yesterday.
The clerics called upon their followers to maintain peace and harmony for the betterment of the country.
The Head of the Catholic Diocese of Moshi, Bishop Ludovick Minde urged the believers and all citizens in general to make Christmas a family holiday and one that brings unity among members of society in general so as to build a united society and nation.
Bishop Minde made the call during the Christmas Homily at the Christmas Holy Mass which was held at the Christ the King Cathedral, in Moshi, Kilimanjaro region.
“Make Christmas a family occasion, celebrate together, parents and children; celebrate together by having family fruitful dialogues, discus family matters together, everyone should be heard, children should be given opportunity to air their views also because they also have ideas that can bring peace to the family and strengthen peace that exists in the family,” he noted.
“If a person lacks peace within the family, it is clear that he or she will fail to be responsible for the family itself and even the nation as a whole, which will contribute to the erosion of morals and thus affect the family and the Nation as a whole,” he warned.
On his part, the Archbishop of the Catholic Church of Dar es Salaam, Yuda Thadei Ruwai’ch called for the 2022 Census report to be used by every member of the community to plan helping the poor and needy people.
Preaching to his believers at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Dar es Salaam during Christmas eve service, Bishop Ruwai’ch reminded members of the public that it was a coincidence that this year’s Christmas celebrations take place when the government has conducted the National Population and Housing census, just like when Jesus was born.
“Let us use the census report released this year to identify the needs of our fellow human beings, and set plans of helping them get wellbeing just like Jesus who was born and laid in Manger for feeding cows,” he said.
On the other hand, the assistant Bishop (dean) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Eastern and Coastal Diocese Chediel Lwiza called for peace and forgiveness to prevail as Christ himself brought a great message of reconciliation and not revenge.
“Let us learn this from shepherds who were considered weak, yet angels of God chose to tell them the great news of Christ’s birth. This has a great message for forgiving one another as Jesus forgave us all,” he said.
From Geita Region, members of the Catholic Church in the region were urged to celebrate Christmas day modestly and make it a key to reconciliation and peace promotion.
The message was given by the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Geita, Father Flavian Kasalla, during the Christmas Eve at the parish church of the Virgin Mary Queen of Peace in Geita.
He said, as it is, Christmas day is the commemoration of the birth of the savior Jesus Christ, so Catholics should be reborn and start a life journey full of peace and love.
He said, during such a special eve, the Catholics have to make a review on the increased incidents of violence in the country as well as civil wars abroad and bear the responsibility of reconciliation through intercession.
“As we celebrate this Christmas, let’s keep in our thoughts, people are suffering, people are in trouble, they are sometimes subjected to acts that are completely barbaric.”
He said the increased personal and social conflicts is the essence direct people into violent incidents or wrong decisions including killings or even suicide.
“Let us move united, without looking at our regional differences, let’s cross our religious boundaries or tribal boundaries, let’s together pray for peace.” That’s all.
From Arusha Region, the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Arusha Isaac Amani has hyped national unity as the country’s highest political virtue.
Delivering his homily on Christmas vigil, Archbishop Amani said it was through coming together that Tanzania will find solutions to its unique challenges and its power to transform citizens’ lives.
“Everyone must play their part in achieving this,” Bishop Amani said while delivering his Sermon at St Theresa Cathedral Church, here on Christmas’ Eve.
In the same vein, the Head of the Arusha Archdiocese urged Tanzanians, from all walks of life, to have respect for the Rule of Law, in a bid to allow the government of the day to execute and implement its projects.
On his part, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT), Bishop Dr Stanley Otai emphasised on working hard and avoiding bad actions, including the use of drugs and alcohol addiction.
He added that if we continue to have young people with no morals, we will end up having future government leaders who do not understand themselves.
On the other hand, Rev Vegu Mutai, Modulator of the General of the 23rd Assembly, underscored the need to address unemployment among the youth.
He said the government and the church must work together to guide the youth in the right way.
“We are grateful for the steps that the government continues to take to help young people. They have faced a great challenge of unemployment, and we as an East African community need to come together in our unity to help the government end these challenges,” Mutai stated.
From Zanzibar, the Bishop of the Catholic Church in the Island, Augustine Ndeliakyama Shao expressed concern over environmental degradation.
The bishop pointed out recent accusations forwarded to Vice-President Dr Phillip Mpango that some elites are behind environmental degradation, for their personal benefit, in Iringa Region.
He said environment and peace are cross-cutting and relevant in all areas of conservation, sustainable development and security and prevent conflict.
The prelate also lamented the rampant cases of greediness among some leaders, saying that selfish leaders always make bad leaders.
He subsequently called upon all persons to respect others’ rights and dignity.
“Jesus’ life is what we have to follow,” he said when delivering his message at the Roman Catholic Church at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Stone Town.
The bishop urged people to protect the environment and take good care of mother earth and also take several measures to mitigate the effects of climate such as tree planting and promote use of Gas to save trees.
“As we celebrate Christmas, we must take time and reflect on how far we have allowed the Holy Spirit to guide us individually and help us love each other and people in need.”
