Wolfgang Pisa


Wolfgang Pisa

Bishop of Lindi
President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference
ChurchCatholic
ArchdioceseSongea
DioceseLindi
SeeLindi
Appointed09 April 2022
Installed26 June 2022
PredecessorBruno Pius Ngonyani
Other post(s)President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference
Orders
Ordination01 September 1999
Consecration26 June 2022
by Beatus Kinyaiya, O.F.M. Cap
Personal details
Born
Wolfgang Pisa

Karatu, Arusha, Tanzania
NationalityTanzanian
DenominationCatholic
ResidenceLindi
Previous post(s)
  • Rector Maua Seminary (2005-2008)
  • Superior General of the Capuchins Province of Tanzania (2011-2016
  • Parochial Vicar Kibaigwa Dodoma (2019-2020)
  • Parochial Vicar St Francis of Assisi Parish, Ngulelo, Arusha (2020-2022)
  • Lecturer SAUT, Arusha Campus (2020-2022)
Education
  • Bachelor in Philosophy
  • Bachelor in Divinity
  • Bachelor in Theology
  • Masters of Education-Applied Social Psychology
  • Masters in Social Ethics
  • Phd in Social Ethics
Alma mater
MottoSatio I thirst
("I am thirst" ~John 19:28b)
Coat of arms
Wolfgang Pisa's coat of arms

Wolfgang Pisa (born 6 July 1965) is a Tanzanian prelate of the Catholic church. A bishop of Lindi since 2022. Currently he is President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) following the election on 22 June 2024.[1]

Early life and priesthood[edit]

Wolfgang Pisa was born on 6 July 1965 in Karatu, Diocese of Mbulu, being the first born out of eight children. From 1983 to 1986, he received his secondary education from the form one to the form four at Fransiscan Seminary Maua and then continued his studies in the form Five and six before going to the National service (JKT). In 1989, he joined the Capuchin Friars Minor (OFM Cap) for Monastic life and priesthood formation. He was sent to St. Augustine seminary in Kabwe, Zambia and in 1992 he was awarded a bachelor's degree in philosophy.

He then joined St. Dominic major seminary, Woodland Lusaka for Bible Studies. In 1996 he was awarded a bachelor's degree in divinity. He later joined a Jordanian university in Morogoro,Tanzania and was awarded a bachelor's degree in theology.

After 10 years of formation and training, finally on 1 September 1999 he was ordained Priest. He began to carry out his mission at the Maua Seminary, Moshi as a teacher.

In 2000 he was sent to study at University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), and in 2002 he was awarded a master's degree (Masters of Education - Applied Social Psychology). He returned to Maua Seminary as a teacher and in 2005 was appointed Rector of the seminary.

In 2008 he was sent by the Church to study at the Catholic University of America(Washington), and in 2011 he was awarded a Masters in Social Ethics.

When he returned, he was elected Head of the Capuchin province of Tanzania and led until 2016, before being sent back to the Catholic University of America to study for a PhD in Social Ethics.

In 2019, he returned and served Kibaigwa Parish, Dodoma until 2020 when he was appointed assistant parish priest at St Francis of Assisi Parish, Ngulelo Arusha, and Lecturer at St Augustine University in Tanzania, Arusha Campus.

He served the parish and University until 2022 when he was appointed by Pope Francis to be the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lindi.

Episcopate[edit]

On 2 April 2022, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Lindi. On 26 June 2022, Archbishop Beatus Kinyaiya,O.F.M. Cap of Dodoma ordained him bishop in Lindi. His Co-consecrators was his predecessor Bishop Bruno Pius Ngonyani and Damian Denis Dallu, Archbishop of Songea.[2] On 22 June 2024, he was elected President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), after the end of term of his predecessor Archbishop Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mjigwa, Richard A. "Askofu Wolfgang Pisa, Jimbo Katoliki la Lindi, Tanzania". Vatican News (in Swahili). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Bishop Wolfgang Pisa, O.F.M. Cap". Catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 24 June 2024.