The Blessing of the Year

On Thursday 13th January 2021, the Divine Word Missionaries, Kenya – Tanzania Province made history. Twenty-one years after establishing the first mission in Tanzania. Fr. Pamphil Colman Kibee Sambaya, SVD was Born in Leto village, Userri-Rombo in the Diocese of Moshi Kilimanjaro Province being the firstborn of nine children of Mr. Colman Kibee Sambaya and Mrs. Pelagia Colman.

Fr. Pamphil joined Divine Word Missionaries for the Propaedeutic Programme on 08.09.2010 in Soweto-Nairobi. He later continued with his Philosophical Studies in Consolata Institute of Philosophy, Nairobi. He did his Novitiate in Nkwitia Kwahu in Ghana and returned to Nairobi, Kenya for his Theological Studies. Fr, Pamphil did his Over Sea Training Programme in Brazil. He professed Final Vows on 05.08.2020 and was later Ordained Deacon the same month on 22.08.2020.

After his ordination of Thursday, there was a Thanksgiving mass at his home parish in Rombo.

The ordination was presided by His Grace Isaac Amani, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Arusha. During the same ceremony, four diocesan deacons were ordained.

The Ordination day was preceded by a two-day Provincial Assembly that took place at the Archbishop’s house in Arusha. Confreres working in Nairobi and Eldoret districts in Kenya traveled all the way to Join those working in Arusha, Tanzania. On the first day of the Assembly, the confreres visited the site in Njiro where the construction of Joseph Freinademetz Philosophicum house in ongoing.

Later that evening, six young men were admitted in Postulancy and Frt. Rex Andrew renewed his Vows at Kwa Mrombo SVD Parish elect.

The activities culminated on Friday with a meeting of all the Parish Pastoral Council from the five parishes run by the SVD in the Diocese, the Parish Priests, and the Provincial Council. This was to first of all thank the Parish Leaders for their tremendous support to the confreres working in their respective parishes as well as to sensitize them on three main things. First, there was an input about the Spirituality of the congregation given by Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD. The second was about the Identity of the Congregation given by Fr. Peddy Castelino and the Third, was the Support by the Parishes to the Confreres working in the Parishes, which was led by Fr. William Owire.

It was a historical week full of many firsts. The first Provincial Assembly in Arusha District, the first SVD Tanzania Priest, and the first meeting between the Provincial Council and the Parish Pastoral Councils. We thank God for the success of all the events, which will remain a monument in the Arusha SVD district and the province at large.