TEC LETTER: PRAYER, COMPASSION, CONSOLATION AND THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH

 

Adeladius Makwega — MBAGALA

 

When Mwanakwetu’s attention turned to the letter dated October 23, 2026, from the Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), he encountered a message addressing sensitive issues in the life of the Church and society. The letter invites Church leaders to celebrate Holy Mass for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for the victims of acts of violence associated with Election Day, October 29, 2025, and the days that followed.

For Mwanakwetu, this is not merely an invitation to worship. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the value of human life, the place of prayer, and the Church’s responsibility at different stages of human life on earth.

 

In the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Holy Mass is at the heart of Christian life and is the highest act of worship. When the Church invites the faithful to gather for Mass for the deceased, it reminds them that praying for those who have died is an important part of the Christian faith.

 

Canon 901 of the Code of Canon Law recognises the possibility of a priest celebrating Mass for the intentions of the living or the deceased. Therefore, this invitation has a clear basis within the teachings and practices of the Church.

 

However, Mwanakwetu observes that the message of this letter extends beyond those who have died. It also touches the lives of the bereaved, the injured, those who witnessed the events, and everyone who may still be living with the pain caused by those incidents.

 

In circumstances such as these, the Church has an opportunity to offer spiritual consolation, strengthen hope, and remind people that human dignity must be respected regardless of political, social, or ideological differences. From this perspective, prayer becomes a way of bringing people together in grief and helping them reflect on how to build a peaceful society.

 

Nevertheless, Mwanakwetu asks: Is this letter a pastoral appeal or a directive with legal force within the Church?

 

Canon law provides guidance on the authority of Church leaders and institutions. Canon 447 explains the role of an Episcopal Conference in carrying out certain pastoral responsibilities collectively, while Canon 455 sets out the conditions under which general decrees with legal force may be issued.

On the other hand, this letter opens up a broader discussion about the Church’s role in promoting peace and reconciliation in the country. When the Church invites the faithful to unite in prayer, it creates an opportunity to reflect on how to heal social wounds, comfort those who have suffered, and promote respect for human life.

 

This does not mean that celebrating Mass alone will resolve all the problems that caused the grief. Rather, prayer can go hand in hand with society’s responsibility to seek the truth, listen to one another, pursue justice, and take appropriate measures to prevent similar harm from happening again.

Mwanakwetu also sees the importance of distinguishing between the Church’s prayers and a judgment against particular individuals or groups. Praying for the deceased and the victims does not automatically mean that the Church has issued a legal judgment against any particular person, nor must it necessarily be interpreted as a declaration of support for a political side. Its message can instead be understood as a spiritual appeal that places human dignity, consolation for those who suffer, and the hope of peace at the forefront.

 

“When a nation experiences grief, the question is not only how to pray for those who have died, but also how to live together with mutual respect so that peace becomes part of everyday life.”

 

In response to this letter, Mwanakwetu would like to briefly recount his personal experience from October 29, 2025, until a measure of calm began to return, while considering the events within the context of the Catholic Church.

 

On October 29, 2025, Mwanakwetu did not vote because his voter registration card allowed him to vote in Mbagala Constituency, Kizinga Street, in Dar es Salaam, while he was in Musoma, Mara Region, at the time. Consequently, he was unable to cast his vote that day.

Nevertheless, as an Information Officer and journalist, Mwanakwetu was near several polling stations. He observed that very few people were present at those stations. Later, heavy rain fell in Musoma town, a state of emergency was declared, and several incidents followed.

 

“For those who remember, October 29, 2025, was a Wednesday. October 30 was Thursday, October 31 was Friday, November 1 was Saturday, and November 2 was Sunday. During those days, the unfolding events affected people’s lives and caused many to monitor the security situation in their respective areas closely.”

 

While I was in Musoma, on the Sunday that coincided with the events and the 31st Sunday in Liturgical Year C, I attended Mass at St Augustine Church, Mwisenge Parish, in the Catholic Diocese of Musoma. The priest who celebrated the Mass was the parish priest, known as Father Julius Ogolla. As far as I can remember, he did not address the situation unfolding in the streets in his homily that day.

 

Mwanakwetu recalls that when we left the church, some of the faithful who had accompanied me complained that the priest had said nothing about the situation outside.

One woman expressed her disappointment, saying that Church leaders should be a source of consolation for us. She questioned whether they were unaware of what was happening outside because they remained within their residences and behind the walls of the church, seemingly removed from the events unfolding beyond them.

 

For Mwanakwetu, that conversation was significant because it revealed how some members of the faithful felt about the situation at the time. However, my intention is not to pass a general judgment on that priest or the Church. Rather, I wish to share my recollection and the feelings I witnessed among some of the faithful that day.

You can also read this article: Pray for Our Deceased.

 https://www.mwanakwetu.co.tz/2025/11/ombeeni-marehemu-wetu.html

Mwanakwetu also recalls that reaching the church that day was not easy. According to my recollection, soldiers from the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) were preventing people from leaving their homes.

Since I lived near Mwisenge Cemetery, I walked to the church using a route alongside the cemetery.

 

That experience made me reflect deeply on the circumstances in which the faithful were living and how they were trying to continue with their normal activities, including attending religious services. In situations where events are unclear, accurate information, communication, and spiritual consolation become especially important.

I also remember that the house where I lived at the time had three sturdy gates: a large outer gate, a middle gate, and a final gate. We agreed that all the gates should remain properly closed for our safety.

However, there was a young woman who disagreed with us because she would open a gate and leave it open. We explained that she could use the gate nearest to her rooms. If she chose to use the gate on the other side, we asked her to make sure that she closed it properly after opening it.

The house had a narrow internal passage that was not easy for a visitor to identify. Once a gate was opened, a resident could reach an area close to the doors of other residents’ rooms. For a visitor unfamiliar with the house, it was difficult to understand how the passage had been laid out.

For Mwanakwetu, these memories illustrate how uncertainty can affect people’s everyday lives, even in places they would ordinarily consider safe. We had to think more carefully about doors, entry and exit routes, and how to protect the safety of family members and neighbours.

 

There is another incident that Mwanakwetu remembers particularly well. One day in November 2025, someone knocked loudly and struck the gate several times. Later, a phone call came through, and I learned that the people outside were leaders of the St Anthony of Padua Small Christian Community. Among them were the community’s chairman, an elderly man from the Kerewe community, and the secretary.

I opened the door, welcomed them inside, and they asked me:

“Is everything all right? We have come several times, but we always find your doors closed. We do not know what is happening.”

I replied that it was true: the doors had been kept closed because the situation was still uncertain.

The community chairman then asked:

“Are the people in this house safe?”

I replied that everyone living on our side of the house was safe.

The chairman then asked:

“Where is Marietha Cossam?”

I replied that, as far as I knew, Teacher Marietha was in Mwanza on maternity leave.

The community chairman continued asking about the other residents, including those who were not Catholics, and whether they were also safe.

I replied that everyone was safe. The chairman of the St Anthony of Padua Small Christian Community then said:

“Our concern was to find out whether the members of our community were safe. If you are safe, then goodbye.”

After checking on the residents’ well-being, the leaders said goodbye and left.

For Mwanakwetu, that gesture meant more than a long conversation. It demonstrated that a Church community can serve as a source of care, communication, and concern for people’s lives, even when circumstances outside force them to remain inside their homes. What touched me most was that the leaders did not ask about Catholics alone; they also enquired about the well-being of residents who were not Catholics.

Indeed, everyone has a responsibility within the Church. Through this article, every Christian should ask themselves: What did I do on October 29, 2025? This is a time for repentance and reflection.

Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember.

TEC Letter: Prayer, Compassion and the Duty of the Church.

I wish you a pleasant day.

makwadeladius@gmail.com 0717649257