PRESIDENT John Magufuli and clerics yesterday hyped the country’s peace, tranquility and hard work as Tanzanians joined the rest of the world to celebrate Easter.
Dr Magufuli, speaking at St Peter’s
Church in Oysterbay and the Africa Inland Church Pastorate of Magomeni
in Dar es Salaam where he attended the Easter prayers, pleaded with all
Tanzanians to preach peace and harmony as well as work hard.
At the Inland Church, Bishop Charles
Salalah led the congregation into special prayers for the head of state
to continue discharging his duties effectively. He commended the
president for the job well done especially on instituting discipline in
the public service.
“You have been doing commendable job of
piercing boils, which are just minor, resulting from the huge boil of
human sins that can only be squeezed by Jesus Christ,’’ said Bishop
Salalah, adding: “We as Christians and other believers pray for and
support you in the fight against ghost workers, salaries, loans, among
others.’’
In his greetings to the worshipers, Dr
Magufuli who was accompanied by the First Lady, Janeth, thanked all the
Africa Inland Church worshipers, all Christians and followers of other
religious denominations for their continued prayers for him,
underscoring the need for Tanzanians to preach peace, harmony, unity and
hard work. In the morning, Dr Magufuli attended prayers at St Peter’s
Church in Oysterbay.
In his Easter greetings, the Archbishop
of the Dar es Salaam Diocese of the Catholic Church Polycarp Cardinal
Pengo said the blessings that were given by Jesus Christ were for all
people regardless of their religious backgrounds.
He wished the president well, insisting
that the blessings through the Head of State would reach out to all
Tanzanians. Cardinal Pengo advised Dr Magufuli to remain firm and strong
on the challenges he is currently facing in his leadership insisting:
“Jesus Christ will keep you strong so that our expectations as the
country are attained.’’
Other clerics speak out: Father Raymond
Sabba, presiding the Saturday night solemn vigil service ushering in
Easter Sunday celebrations at St Joseph Cathedral, said it was high time
Tanzanians loved each other despite several challenges, including
recent abductions.
Father Sabba said the basis of Christian
belief is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, noting however that the
Lord’s resurrection will not have meaning if Christians continue living
in ‘graves of sin.’ “What is currently happening in our society;
kidnapping, killings of innocent people, corruption and illicit drugs,
all these are graves that we must get rid of to fully enjoy,” he
stressed. He said the evil actions shame the religion, stressing that
those committing the acts are not pagans but Christians.
“All these evil acts of kidnapping,
killings of innocent people, are graves of sins that bring shame to our
Christian belief. Because those committing them are not pagans but
Christians,” he noted. He added: “Easter should be a period of
meditation.
Mediate on every action you’ve taken
against another for with our actions and words, we take part in
creation. Do good so Jesus resurrection will have meaning.” Father Sabba
urged Christians to live by Jesus Christ’s example seeking to do good
to one another on earth to resurrect alongside Him.
In Kisarawe District, Coast Region,
Bishop Emmaus Mwamakula of the Moravian Church of Uamsho Tanzania warned
Tanzanians against the misuse of social media to mock and abuse other
people, saying such acts were instigating hatred in the community. The
bishop advised Tanzanians to use globalisation in good faith.
He was quick to point out that many
Christians were using the social media to humiliate others, the trend he
denounced as likely to divide the nation and sow seeds of discord
No comments :
Post a Comment