'Musoma' is a city located in northern
Tanzania. It is the capital of
Mara Region. It has a population of 103,497 (
2002 census). Musoma sits on the eastern edge of Lake Victoria not far from the Kenyan border. There are boats that take you across
Lake Victoria from Musoma.
Maryknollers arrived in Musomain 1946 to work side by side with the White Fathers in what was then Mwanza Diocese. When Musomawas made a Diocese in 1957, Maryknoller
John Rudin (now deceased) was the first bishop. While primary evangelization has been the first priority of Maryknoll in Musoma. Maryknoll priests, brothers, sisters and lay missionaries have also built and worked in churches, dispensaries and schools from
Bunda and the
Serengeti to the
Kenya border. Now in Musoma are 6 Maryknoll priests and brothers (just 20% of their numbers in the 1970’s) in apostolates that will soon be in the hands of Tanzanians.