Liturgy

 

Leadership

Chairman: Rt. Rev. Salutaris Libena, bishop of Ifakara

Vice Chairman: Rt. Rev. Desiderius Rwoma, Bishop of Bukoba

Executive Secretary: Rev. Fr. Paul Chiwangu Kongocha

Contact:0767819333

 

 History:

 

From the very beginning of Christianity in this country the sacred Christian mysteries were celebrated depending on the arrival of Missionaries since 18th Century. There was no unity among the very few missionaries country- wise. Each would celebrate Liturgy according the country homeland tradition. The protagonists were the Holy Ghost Fathers, then followed the White Fathers, Benedictine Fathers and slowly others came: Capuchin missionaries, Consolata Fathers and Passionists etc.

 

Dioceses were created in 1948. Slowly Bishops were coming together now and again to discuss important issues of pastoral concerns like Education, , Health, Catechesis,Liturgy etc.

 

1963-1965 The Vatican Council II brought up Liturgical Life with vivacity especially the idea of inculturation where the major part of it was the translation from Latin of the Roman Missal, Bible, Preparation of the Lectionaries ect in Kiswahili. A very big innovation in the Catholic Church=aggiornamento a term used by John XXXIII, which properly understood, meant studying from the old and the new sources to be able to have a proper and up to date liturgy. Hence the creation of National liturgy commissions were enforced the Sacrosanctum Concilium

 

The protagonist we remember in this country was the Most Reverend James Y. Komba the first chairman of the national Liturgy commission. He was among the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council. He pushed much as peritus and Father of the Council for active participation of the faithful in liturgical celebrations. Liturgy is the life and culmen of all activities of the Church. Without liturgy there is no Church. 1994 the commission was raised to a Department. Rt. Rev. Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa was elected chairman and Rev. Fr. Julian Kangalawe as Executive Secretary. The task of the Department is to be a tool of Christian initiation into the mysteries of salvation, catechesis, formation of the people of God in all levels in matters liturgical through meetings, workshops to march with the adage Lex orandi lex credendi in its profound kerygma.

 

The task of the Department is to help proper understanding of the Sacrosantum Concilium and the Post Conciliar Documents thus properly celebrate the mysteries for the glory of God and salvation of man, as per the adage of the Fathers ‘Gloria De homo vivens’. To this end, inter alia, liturgical books are the necessary tools and singing in cultural music took its high role. We very quickly started getting cultural songs composed. For the sake of unity and control finally rujia composed. Nyimbo za Liturujia vol 1 and 2 by the hard work of Music Committee have been printed

 

Structure of the Department

In every diocese there is a liturgy Committee, Music Committee and Inculturation, Sacred art committee. The Chairman of each committee is a member of the National Liturgy Committee. Normally we hold national meetings yearly or once every two years depending on the availability of funds.

 

LITURGY BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED AND APPROVED BY THE HOLY SEE AND SOME WITHOUT APPROVAL

 

1 With the recognitio

b) De Ordinatione Episcopi, Presbyterorum et Diaconorum

c) Ordo Dedicationis Ecclesiae et Altaris,

d) Ordo Unctionis Infirmorum earumque Pastoralis Curae”.

e) De Exorcismis Et Supplicationbus Quibusdam.

f) Institutio Generalis Missalis edition tertia 2002 The GIRM was translated and printed in 2006; it is being amended suite the RM 2008 emendata to be I use the First Sunday of Advent 2012

 

Other Books in use:

 

2 Without recognitio

 

(a) Liturgy of the Hours has been translated without the Office of the Readings. That`s why we have not yet submitted to the Dicastery for recognitio. It is, however, highly and extensively used by people of all walks of life. The laity, catechists like the prayer so much especially Morning Lauds, Midday Prayer and Vespers, Night Prayer. The Department is working to have fully and correctly translated.

 

(b) Jerusalem Bible: Biblia Takatifu is an excellent translation used by TEC is the official text. The recognition was requested but from the end there has not been any reaction even after a second request. It may be it is not required. It is used in all dioceses and outside Tanzania so much needed it has undergone several reprints as from 1997. The last reprint has been effected through the Bible Society in Hong Kong 2012. It is available at Bible Society – Dodoma.

 

(c) We have managed, through the Benedictines monks to prepare and publish “Liber EvangeliorumWe are aware of the”. a) Missale Romanum, Editio typica Tertia 2002, emendata 2008 to be worked uponb) The Martyrologium Romanum and the Directory on the popular piety and the Liturgy to be translated.c) We are aware of the fifth Instruction on the translation of Liturgical texts Liturgiam authenticam of 2002 which demands proper translation as close to Latin as possible.

 

d) Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another of the 50th IEC text has been translated and disseminated to all Dioceses and the is has been celebrated as the 2 National Congress has been at the National level celebrated July 7th -10th 2012.

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES

During our annual national meetings of diocesan Liturgical Coordinators

inter alia we have a seminar on one chosen theme. We have already done on International Eucharistic Congresses, The Sacrament of Penitence and Reconciliation., Sacrament ofMatrimony, the CCC and the Liturgy, Ceremonial of Bishops, the Bible We conduct now andagain such seminars in their respective dioceses.

 

Liturgy at large is alive! What we still have to do is the approach in pastoral, catechetical and spiritual spheres for the benefit of all those involved in the celebrations, first and foremost the clergy.

 

iturgy is to teach more that it does not loose the vertical dimension ofwhat God is doing for our Salvation and what we should do to profit.

 

There is too much domain on a horizontal dimension that it becomes pro dolor like amusement and entertainment.

 

This is the problem with uncatechized choirs and other agents including the ordained ministers.

 

The sense of the sacred should never be compromised and never be weakened by the current secularization to make the Church bankrupt of spiritual things. The public media such as Radio and Television etc. are used to teach Liturgy that it be better understood, treasured and celebrated fruitfully.

 

As regards singing in liturgical celebrations SC speaks of Sacred music. The sacredness of music remains almost undefined, thus anybody can compose any song and sing. We don’t have at present any school of Church music where one can learn what sacred music is all about. About Gregorian music there is very little done by the elderly people. The Church however often reminds us not to throw away Latin hymns, songs in the Gregorian chant however simplified.

 

The challenging task ahead of us is the translation of the Missale Romanum, Editio typica tertia 2002, Emendata 2008. It is challenging because of lack of personnel to work full time and with fluency in Latin and other related languages. A committee has been created for that purpose. The preparation of the Lectionary is equally demanding.

 

CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT

 

As per the TEC General Elections of July 2012 done during the 56th Plenary Assembly of the Bishops, which, according to the constitution, takes place every three years, the new Chairman of the Department is the Most Rev. Salutaris Libena, Bishop of Ifakara Diocese. He takes the place of the Most Rev Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa, Bishop of Iringa Diocese, who has been elected President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference. Rev Fr. Paternus Mangi a priest from Singida Diocese, has been elected Executive Secretary, taking the place of Mons. Prelate Julian Kangalawe, from Iringa Diocese, who has been in the office since 1994, for circa 18 years.