Dar es Salaam: In a landmark moment for the Catholic Church in Tanzania, the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) has launched a comprehensive Five-Year Strategic Plan (2025–2030) aimed at revitalizing the Catholic Laity Council. This is the first time since the Council’s establishment in 1969 that such a structured roadmap has been introduced to guide the lay faithful’s participation in the life and mission of the Church.
The launch took place during the Annual General Meeting of the Laity Council at the TEC Lay Formation Centre, named after Blessed Isidore Bakanja, in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam. Bishop Edward Mapunda, Chairperson of the Laity Commission of TEC, presided over the event and described the strategic plan as a fruit of deep prayer, discernment, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The plan responds to a growing need for clear direction and organization in lay ministry and is the result of a 2021 resolution by the Tanzanian bishops. It aims to empower lay Catholics, promote spiritual and socio-economic development, and strengthen collaboration between clergy, religious, and laity.
Drawing from foundational Church documents such as Apostolicam Actuositatem, Christifideles Laici, and Ecclesia in Africa, as well as Pope Francis’ call for a synodal and missionary Church, the plan outlines five strategic pillars: evangelization and pastoral formation, institutional capacity-building, unity among Church ministries, socio-economic development, and environmental stewardship.
Under this plan, the Church aims to offer faith formation programs tailored to every stage of life, build stronger operational systems within the Laity Council, foster unity across Church ministries, promote lay involvement in entrepreneurship and education, and initiate environmentally sustainable projects inspired by Laudato Si’.
The total cost of implementing the plan is estimated at TZS 2.5 billion (approximately TZS 500 million annually). Funding will be sourced from diocesan contributions, charitable partnerships, private donors, and possibly financial institutions. A Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (RBM&E) framework will ensure accountability through regular reporting at both diocesan and national levels.
Bishop Mapunda acknowledged potential risks such as limited funding, weak coordination, and changing social dynamics, but affirmed that these would be addressed through diversified strategies and stakeholder engagement. He concluded with a powerful biblical reminder from Luke 14:28 about planning wisely and building with foresight.
The newly launched plan marks a transformative step in the life of the Tanzanian Church, reaffirming the role of laypeople not only as participants but as co-builders in the Church’s mission to sanctify and transform society.