The Archdiocese of Arusha (Latin: Archidioecesis Arushaënsis) is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Arusha, Tanzania. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Arusha. The suffragan dioceses of the archdiocese are Mbulu, Moshi and Same.
The archdiocese covers an area of about 67,340 square kilometres and includes the entire Arusha Region and two administrative districts of Manyara Region (Simanjiro and Kiteto) in north-eastern Tanzania.[1]
History
The Archdiocese of Arusha is among 34 dioceses of the Catholic Church in Tanzania, which practise the Roman Rite. Evangelisation in Arusha started on July 15, 1926 when Holy Ghost Fathers missionaries from Kilimanjaro were invited to visit Arusha. At that time, Arusha was the part of Apostolic Vicariate of Kilima-Njaro. These priests arrived in Arusha and opened a mission in an area known as Mesopotamia. The Mission centre of Mesopotamia developed slowly into a parish, which became known as St Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish.[2]
- March 1, 1963: Established as Diocese of Arusha from the Diocese of Moshi
- March 16, 1999: Elevated as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Arusha
Special churches
The seat of the archbishop is St. Theresa’s Metropolitan Cathedral in Arusha.
Bishops
- Bishops of Arusha (Roman Rite)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Arusha (Roman Rite) Josaphat Louis Lebulu (1999.03.16 – 2017.12.27); see above; Isaac Amani Massawe (2017.12.27 – )
Auxiliary Bishop
- Prosper Balthazar Lyimo (2014– )
Suffragan dioceses
References
- 1."Kuhusu Jimbo Kuu Katoliki Arusha" [About the Catholic Archdiocese of Arusha]. Archdiocese of Arusha (in Swahili). Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- 2.Ibada ya kumsimika Askofu Mkuu 2018 booklet