Former Sandy Bay priest to become new Tanzanian Bishop

By Josh Low

Following an announcement by Pope Francis in October, former priest of Sandy Bay Parish, Fr Eusebio Kyando, will next month become Bishop of the Diocese of his native Njombe, Tanzania.

Serving in the Sandy Bay Parish for 18 months in 2005 and 2006, Fr Eusebio oversaw the pastoral care of African migrants in the Archdiocese, while also completing a Master’s degree in professional accounting at the University of Tasmania.

Speaking to AMECEA Online, he recounted his meeting with the Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania, adding that he was speechless after hearing of his appointment as a bishop.

“All of a sudden I kept silent, silent for a couple of minutes, I couldn’t believe [what he was saying] to me.

“It was as if I fell from a cliff since it was not anything of my expectation,” he said.

“What came to my mind was that if Jesus carried the cross, then I should also take my cross and follow after the master. I surrendered and said yes to this assignment from the Holy Father.”

Fondly remembered by many parishioners, there will be a special Mass of celebration at 10am on Sunday 14 January at Holy Spirit Church, Sandy Bay, to mark the occasion of Fr Eusebio’s elevation to the Episcopate.

Having previously raised $30,000 in support of the Catholic faithful in the Njombe Diocese in 2006, Sandy Bay Parish is organising another fundraiser to be gifted to the Diocese.

Deacon Nick MacFarlane served alongside Fr Eusebio during his time in Tasmania, and explained that poverty in Tanzania is very real, with the average individual income being less than $2,000 per year.

“Because of the general poverty in Njombe, it would be a good and generous thing if we, as Tasmanians, could raise some money to send to Fr Eusebio as a gift for his Diocese on the occasion of his ordination as its new bishop,” he said.

“We also thank God that we had Father Eusebio in our midst and ministering to us all those years ago.”

Weekend Masses at Sandy Bay Parish will have a donation box for this purpose until Christmas, with the Mass on 14 January being the last opportunity for donations to be made to the appeal. Donations can also be made via EFT to:

CDF Sandy Bay Parish: 

BSB 067-000 

A/C 10316081

(Please type Fr Eusebio as reference).