Religious Life

Religious Life

Students and staff have complete freedom of worship. At present facilities are available for Christians and Moslems. Catholics have one Chaplain appointed by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC). They have Mass every Sunday at 6.15, 7.15 and 8.15 a.m. besides the daily Mass at 6.00 pm. Lutherans and other Christian denominations have a Chaplain appointed by the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT). Their services are held in the Chapel at 10.00 a.m. in Swahili. Also, they conduct Swahili services every Sunday at 7.00 a.m. in Lecture Theater2 and English services at 9.30 a.m. The University Students Christian Fellowship (USCF) has meetings daily from 6.30 pm to 7.30 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 7.00 p.m. on Saturdays. Activities include Bible study, films, out-reach (to other colleges and places) and in reach i.e. room to room witnessing for Christ. There is also a staff and students Bible study group which meets in the Chapels seminar room at 6.00 p.m. every Tuesday. The Seventh Day Adventist meet every Saturday from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. There are confirmation Classes for CCT on Saturdays at 10.00 a.m. and on Wednesdays at 4.00 p.m. in the Chapels seminar room. Baptisms and marriages are also arranged by the Chaplain, on request. Non-Catholics have Chapel Council for CCT which meets three times annually. A Joint Christian Committee (JCC) for TEC and CCT meets once a semester. A Joint Christian Chapel is situated opposite Hall No. 4 on Kilimahewa Road. It is administered by the Joint Chapel Committee composed of representatives of the TEC and CCT Councils. The University Christian Perspective which is the Christian voice or the campus is produced once a semester. This publication was initially a TEC initiative, but articles are now contributed by members of all Christian denominations. Religious articles and books are on sale every Sunday outside the chapel before and after mass. Articles sold include papers like Kiongozi and Mwenge; rosaries, medals and religious books. Other books dealing with social and psychological problems that students face in their everyday lives everywhere are among items that are also sold. There are Catechism classes for the children of the university staff and workers twice a week in the chapel. Baptisms are held on request every Sunday morning after the second Mass. Marriages are also arranged by Chaplains and celebrated either in the chapel or in one of the churches in town. The Chaplains are available for counseling in the Chaplains office No. 15 in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or at the Chaplaincy, Kilimahewa House No. 4 for Catholics and Kilimahewa House No. 6 for non- Catholics. The Chaplains normally visit the sick in the University Health Centre. However, those who wish to see the Chaplain can request the nurse to contact him.