With great joy and thanksgiving, we announce that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Mashaka Triphon, C.S.Sp., a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), as the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Nzega, Tanzania. The territory of the newly erected Diocese is separated from the Archdiocese of Tabora, making it a suffragan diocese of the latter.
Joseph Mashaka Triphon was born on 15 January 1962 in Tanzania. He completed his philosophical formation at the Spiritan Missionary Seminary in Arusha and pursued theological studies at Tangaza College in Nairobi, Kenya. During his formation, he spent a pastoral year in Papua New Guinea, gaining valuable missionary experience.
He entered the Spiritan novitiate at Magamba, Lushoto-Tanga, in 1989 and made his first profession on 19 July 1990. After completing his theological formation, he made his perpetual vows on 1 October 1994 and was ordained a priest on 27 May 1995 in Usa River, Tanzania.
Over more than three decades of priestly ministry, Bishop-elect Mashaka has faithfully served the Church in pastoral, educational, and administrative roles both in Africa and abroad.
From 1995 to 2003, he ministered in France, where he also served as Head of Youth and School Ministry for the French Province of the Spiritans. During this period, he undertook studies in Religious Sciences at the University of Strasbourg (1996–1998).
Returning to East Africa, he served as Treasurer (Provincial Bursar) of the East Africa Province and later the Tanzania Province of the Spiritans from 2003 to 2010. He subsequently pursued a Certificate in Counselling at Lambeth College, London, between 2010 and 2012.
Upon his return to Tanzania, he served as: Parish Assistant at Virgin Mary Mother of Our Saviour Parish, Kipawa, Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam (2012–2016); Headteacher of Libermann School, Kipawa (2012–2021); Parish Priest of Kipawa and Dean of the Segerea Deanery (2016–2021); Parish Priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Kasumo, Diocese of Kigoma, while also serving as Dean and Vicar for Religious (2021–2025); Parish Priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Bagamoyo, now the Cathedral Parish, from 2025 until his episcopal appointment.
As a Congregation, we give thanks to God for the generous missionary service and witness of Joseph Mashaka Triphon. His appointment as the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Nzega is a source of great joy for the entire Spiritan family and for the Church in Tanzania.
We warmly congratulate Bishop-elect Joseph Mashaka Triphon and assure him of our prayers as he prepares to begin his episcopal ministry. May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen him in this new mission of shepherding the People of God in the Diocese of Nzega.
Statistical data
The newly established Diocese of Nzega has been separated from the Archdiocese of Tabora and is a suffragan diocese of the latter. The seat of the diocese is in the town of Nzega and will comprise in their entirety the civil districts of Nzega and Igunga, within the administrative region of Tabora. The Church of St Bernadette, situated in the heart of the town of Nzega, will serve as the cathedral.
New Diocese of Nzega (Tanzania)
| Tabora before the division Nzega | Nzega New Diocese | Tabora after the division | |
| Area | 76,150 km² | 14,237 km² | 61,913 km² |
| Population | 3,391,679 | 1,263,147 | 2,128,532 |
| Catholics | 318,602 | 139,304 | 179,298 |
| Parishes | 30 | 13 | 17 |
| Quasi-parishes | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Diocesan priests | 91 | 25 | 66 |
| Religious priests | 38 | 8 | 30 |
| Deacons | 1 | 1 | – |
| Male religious | 18 | 3 | 15 |
| Female religious | 488 | 66 | 422 |
| Major seminary | 1 | – | 1 |
| Major seminarians | 93 | 28 | 65 |
| Minor seminary | 1 | – | 1 |
| Preparatory seminary | 1 | – | 1 |
| Healthcare facilities | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Educational institutions | 23 | 11 | 12 |
| Charitable organizations | 2 | – | 2 |
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