On the cold and windy morning of August 2, 2025, the grounds of Kinyanambo Parish in the Diocese of Mafinga, came alive with color, song, and deep thanksgiving for the 25years of priesthood of Fr. Erasto Colnel Mgalama, the General Councilor of the Consolata Missionaries in charge of Africa.
By Paulino Madeje *
The celebration began in true Tanzanian spirit; with vibrant dances led by the Parish Choir and the dancing energetic children, members of the Pontifical Missionary Childhood (PMC). Their joyful movements and songs set the tone for a day of reflection, gratitude, and festivity. A solemn procession followed, with priests, religious, and lay faithful joining in reverence and unity.
The main celebrant was Bishop Romanus Mihali of Iringa (who was ordained priest a week later after Fr. Mgalama), while Bishop Vincent Mwagalla of Mafinga delivered the homily. The event was attended by many faithful, clergy, and religious, who came to honor Fr. Mgalama’s missionary service and commitment to the Church. It was a joyful and faith-filled occasion of thanksgiving and renewed dedication.
The presence of both diocesan bishops, Mihali and Mwagalla, added a deep sense of fraternity and ecclesial communion to the occasion. They were joined by many faithful, friends, and fellow missionaries who had come to witness this milestone and offer their prayers and congratulations.
Throughout the Mass, a spirit of celebration and gratitude filled the church. Fr. Mgalama’s journey was remembered not simply as a personal achievement, but as a life poured out in service to the Church, to the people of Africa, and to the missionary call he embraced 25 years ago.
During the homily, Bishop Mwagalla offered heartfelt words of gratitude to God for the gift of Fr. Mgalama’s 25 years of priesthood. With warmth and a touch of reflection, he reminded the General Councilor just how truly blessed and “jubilant” he was not only for reaching this landmark, but for the special context in which his vocation has unfolded.
“You are indeed fortunate,” the bishop said, “because your ordination took place during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, a moment of immense grace for the Church. And now, as you celebrate your silver jubilee, the Church is once again marking a Jubilee Year; Pilgrims of Hope.”
The bishop’s words drew a beautiful connection between Fr. Erasto’s personal journey and the wider journey of the global Church; both walking in faith, both marked by joy, renewal, and hope. It was a reminder that Fr. Erasto’s priesthood is part of something much larger: the ongoing mission of the Church to bring Christ’s light to the world.
In his words of gratitude, Fr Mgalama stepped forward to address the faithful gathered at Kinyanambo Parish. His voice, steady yet filled with emotion, echoed a deep sense of gratitude and humility.
“With great gratitude and humility, I stand before you,” he began, “thanking God for creating me and calling me into service.” What made his journey even more profound, he shared, was the extraordinary coincidence that he was ordained on the very date of his birth. “For me, birth and priesthood are intertwined; my creation is my calling,” he said. His words carried a powerful message: every life is born with a purpose, a vocation planned by God.
Reflecting on his journey, he reminded those present that God does not call the qualified, but rather, qualifies those He calls. “None of us are worthy by our own merit,” he said, “but God, in His love, makes us worthy through His grace.”
“What does celebrating 25 years of service mean to me?” he continued. “It means 25 years of celebrating the Eucharist, 25 years of standing at the altar. These are years filled with thanksgiving.” With eyes lifted heavenward and his hands gently opened in prayer, he invited the faithful to join him in a simple but profound offering: “Say with me—thank you, God.”
He then quoted from 1 Corinthians 4:7: “Who has favored you? What do you have that was not given to you? And if it was given to you, why boast as if it were not given to you?” With these words, Fr. Erasto reminded everyone of the law of the gift—that all we have and all we have been freely given, and it is in giving ourselves to others that our lives find meaning. “A parent gives for their child, a husband for his wife, a wife for her husband,” he said. “When we cling to our lives selfishly, we lose them. But when we give, we live, as Christ taught us.”
To highlight the humility needed in service, he turned to an ancient source of wisdom, the Tao Te Ching. “All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are,” he quoted. “Humility gives the sea its power. If you want to govern, place yourself below. If you want to lead, learn to follow.” These words, drawn from Eastern philosophy, found deep harmony with the Gospel message and the life Fr. Erasto has lived in service.
Indeed, his priestly journey has been one of leadership and humility. He has served the Church in various roles: as Regional Superior of Tanzania, Rector of Allamano Philosophical Seminary in Morogoro, and as Novice Master at St. Joseph the Worker Novitiate, also in Morogoro. Each role, he lived with the same spirit of dedication and deep trust in God’s grace. We pray for him that God may continue strengthening him in his service to His people.
* Fr. Paulino Madeje, IMC, Tanzania. Africa Continent communication coordinator.
