Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe

The Most Reverend

Bishop Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe
The Most Reverend ; Bishop Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe
Bishop of Morogoro
Church	Catholic Church
Archdiocese	Dar es Salaam
See	Morogoro
Appointed	31 May 2021
Installed	19 September 2021
Predecessor	Telesphore Richard Mkude
Previous post(s)	Apostolic Administrator Roman Catholic Diocese of Morogoro (13 February 2019 until 31 May 2021)
Orders
Ordination	21 June 1998
Consecration	19 September 2021; by Marek Solczyński
Personal details
Born	Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe; 27 December 1963 (age 61); Homboza, Diocese of Morogoro, Tanzania

Last updated January 26, 2025

Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe, S.D.S. (born 27 December 1963) is a Tanzanian Catholic prelate who is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Morogoro, Tanzania. Before he was appointed bishop, he served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Morogoro, from 13 February 2019 until 31 May 2021, while still a priest. He was appointed bishop on 13 February 2019 by Pope Francis.^[1]

Early life and education

He was born on 27 December 1963 in Homboza, Morogoro District, Morogoro Region, in the Diocese of Morogoro, in Tanzania.^[1]^[2]

He attended elementary school in his home area. He studied philosophy at Our Lady of the Angels Major Seminary in Kibosho, in the diocese of Moshi, from 1990 until 1993. He then transferred to Saint Charles Lwanga Senior Seminary in Segerea, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, where he studied Theology from 1993 until 1998. Later, he studied civil law and canon law, graduating with a Doctorate degree, awarded by Heythrop College, a component of the University of London, at the time.^[2]

Priest

While still in seminary, he joined the Society of the Divine Saviour (SDS) also known as Salvatorians. He professed to be a member of the SDS on 8 December 1987. He then took his perpetual vows as a member of the Order of Salvatorians on 8 December 1994. He was ordained priest of the Society of the Divine Savior, on 21 June 1998.^[1]^[2]

While a priest, he served in various roles including as:^[2]

Priest in Lukuledi Parish in the diocese of Tunduru-Masasi, in 1988
Director of seminaries and vocations for the province of the Salvatorian Fathers in Tanzania from 1998 until 2002
Master of Salvatorian novices in Nakapanya, the Diocese of Tunduru-Masasi from 2002 until 2005
Provincial superior of the institute in Tanzania from 2005 until 2011.
Provider of pastoral service in a number of parishes in the London area, England, United Kingdom from 2012 until 2016
Formator of Salvatorian seminarians at Jordan University College in Morogoro
Bursar of the community
Vice-superior provincial of the Salvatorians in Tanzania from 2017 until February 2019.^[2]

He was appointed the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Morogoro on 13 February 2019, serving in that capacity until 31 May 2021.^[2]

Bishop

On 31 May 2021 Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe, as the Ordinary of the diocese of Morogoro.^[2] He was consecrated and installed on 19 September 2021 at the hands of Archbishop Marek Solczyński, Titular Archbishop of Caesarea in Mauretania assisted by Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam and Bishop Telesphore Richard Mkude, Bishop Emeritus of Morogoro.^[1]^[3]

Succession table

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Telesphore Richard Mkude (5 April - 30 December 2020)	Bishop of Morogoro Since (31 May 2021	Succeeded by Incumbent

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References

1 2 3 4 David M. Cheney (25 February 2024). "MicroData Summary for Bishop Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe S.D.S. (born 27 December 1963), Bishop of Morogoro". Catholic-Hierarchy.org . Kansas City. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Agenzia Fides (31 May 2021). "Africa/Tanzania: Appointment of bishop of Morogoro, His Excellence Monsignor Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe, SDS". Agenzia Fides . Vatican City. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
↑ ACI Africa (16 November 2024). "Strive for "true" Heroism, "denounce all things unorthodox": Catholic Bishop in Tanzania to Confirmation Candidates". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 11 January 2025.

External links

Apostolic Administrator of Tanzania's Morogoro Diocese Appointed Diocesan Bishop-31 May 2021

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[1R-1] 1 2 3 4 David M. Cheney (25 February 2024). "MicroData Summary for Bishop Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe S.D.S. (born 27 December 1963), Bishop of Morogoro". Catholic-Hierarchy.org . Kansas City. Retrieved 11 January 2025.

[2R-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Agenzia Fides (31 May 2021). "Africa/Tanzania: Appointment of bishop of Morogoro, His Excellence Monsignor Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe, SDS". Agenzia Fides . Vatican City. Retrieved 11 January 2025.

[3R-3] ACI Africa (16 November 2024). "Strive for "true" Heroism, "denounce all things unorthodox": Catholic Bishop in Tanzania to Confirmation Candidates". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 11 January 2025.

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