Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika

Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika Tangankiensis
Location
Country	Tanzania
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	27 September 1880 - 10 May 1946

The Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika was a Catholic apostolic vicariate (missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction) of the White Fathers missionary order at first centered on the mission of Karema in what is now Tanzania, that included parts of what are now Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Malawi. As the number of missions, schools and converts grew, different regions became distinct vicariates covering portions of the original territory.

The archbishop of Algeria, Charles Lavigerie, founded the society of Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa of Algeria in 1868. The society came to be known as the "Pères Blancs" or "White Fathers" from the white habits of the missionaries. At first the main activity was to care for Arab orphans in Algeria, but conversion of the people of Central Africa was an objective from the start. Ten missionaries left Algiers in 1878 to establish posts at Lakes Victoria Nyanza and Tanganyika. R.P. Ganachan of the White Fathers penetrated the region of Unyanyembe in 1879, and tried unsuccessfully to settle at Tabora. The White Fathers reached Lake Tanganyika in January 1879, and established a station at Rumonge on the east side of the lake. The Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika was established on 27 September 1880 from the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Africa.

The missionaries founded the mission of Mulwewa opposite Rumonge, on the west side of the lake, in the region of Massange in response to an appeal from Massange. The mission was founded by Father Deniaud, the Superior of the Tanganyika mission, with Fathers Moinet and Delaunay, leaving Rumonge on 25 November 1880. In 1891 R.P. Guillet managed to open an orphanage at Tabora, which was soon moved to Kipalapala an hour's walk away. R.P. Lourdel established a post at Djiue-la-Singa in 1894, abandoned on 13 March 1885. On the west shore of Lake Tanganyika the White Fathers founded the stations of Kibanga on 11 June 1883, Mkapakwe on 12 September 1884, Mpala on 8 July 1885 and Baudouinville on 8 May 1893. The local potentate, Rumaliza, tolerated the foundation of the missions at Mulwewa and Kibanga, but prevented establishment of a station at Ujiji, at the extreme northeast of the lake. The mission at Mulwewa was abandoned soon after the acquisition of the stations of Mpala and Karema in 1885.

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