{"id":146956,"date":"2026-01-02T19:03:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T19:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving"},"modified":"2026-01-02T19:39:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T19:39:23","slug":"new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving","title":{"rendered":"NEW YEAR MESSAGE: Clerics insist on thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

What You Need to Know<\/h4>\n

As the New Year approaches, religious leaders in Tanzania are calling on believers to express gratitude for the blessings received throughout the past year. They emphasize the importance of thanksgiving, responsibility, and perseverance as key values for success in the upcoming year. Clerics from various denominations encourage citizens to remain faithful and proactive in their lives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Africa-Press – Tanzania. <\/strong> <\/span>RELIGIOUS leaders have urged believers to express gratitude to the Almighty God for the gift of life and the many blessings received throughout 2025 as they usher in the New Year. \u201cAs we conclude this year, let us extend our gratitude to God.<\/p>\n

Let us thank Him for the gift of life and for enabling us to fulfil our responsibilities in our families, workplaces and daily routines.<\/p>\n

The fact that you have managed to be here today is by the grace of God,\u201d Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, Jude Ruwa\u2019ichi, said during the New Year Eve prayers held in Dar es Salaam while addressing Roman Catholic faithful.<\/p>\n

Archbishop Ruwa\u2019ichi reminded the faithful that, despite the challenges experienced in 2025, God continued to grant them abundant blessings. \u201cI ask God to receive the thanksgiving prayers of each one of us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He further urged believers to continue praying for God\u2019s guidance and protection in 2026.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, during New Year\u2019s Eve prayers at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Azania Front Cathedral, Assistant Bishop and Dean, the Reverend Chediel Lwiza, appealed to believers to thank God for the achievements they recorded, including good health and the opportunity to enter the New Year.<\/p>\n

Bishop Lwiza also urged worshippers to care for the health of others.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was pleased to hear about the plan for universal health insurance. Such an initiative deserves our prayers because it is a very good and encouraging development,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Pastor Dr Eliona Kimaro of the Kijitonyama ELCT urged Christians and the wider public to take bold, deliberate steps towards economic self-reliance in 2026, describing the process as an \u201cimpossible journey\u201d that requires faith and action.<\/p>\n

Dr Kimaro encouraged believers not to abandon their visions and dreams, but to keep pressing forward with determination.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs 2026 begins, you must have the drive to keep moving forward. Do not give up on your vision and dreams. The God who makes things happen is there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He cited civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, who said: \u201cIf you can\u2019t fly, then run; if you can\u2019t run, then walk; if you can\u2019t walk, then crawl\u2014but whatever you do, you must keep moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pastor noted that God\u2019s power is often revealed when people take initiative, urging citizens to work hard, stop complaining and avoid remaining stagnant.<\/p>\n

Dr Kimaro also emphasised the importance of gratitude, observing that many people fail to appreciate help they receive.<\/p>\n

\u201cLack of gratitude often causes emotional pain to those who offer support,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He urged believers to embrace gratitude, action and perseverance as key values for success in the New Year.<\/p>\n

In Kilimanjaro Region, Chief Priest of Christ the King Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Moshi, Father Prosper Siayako, called on the faithful and all Tanzanians to be responsible citizens and work hard in the New Year.<\/p>\n

Fr Siayako made the call during his homily at a Holy Mass to mark the New Year 2026, held yesterday (Thursday) at Christ the King Cathedral in Moshi.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us thank God for granting us the chance to enter the New Year (2026). Having received this blessing, everyone should remember that God\u2019s decision to allow you to see the New Year comes with responsibility,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He noted that everyone has a calling, whether in marriage or religious life, and should use the blessing of a New Year to fulfil their duties for the benefit of the family, the Church and the nation.<\/p>\n

During the Mass, Fr Siayako also delivered New Year greetings from the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Moshi, His Eminence Ludovick Joseph Minde, and led the congregation in special prayers for families, the Church and the nation, urging continued prayers for peace as a foundation for development.<\/p>\n

In a related message, he encouraged believers to forgive one another, in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Glory of Christ Tanzania Church Bishop Joseph Gwajima urged believers to take advantage of their God-given purpose to live successful and meaningful lives.<\/p>\n

He said every human being is endowed with a gift from God that defines the purpose of his or her life.<\/p>\n

The tradition of expressing gratitude during New Year celebrations is deeply rooted in many cultures, including Tanzania. Religious leaders often play a significant role in guiding their communities through reflections on the past year while setting intentions for the year ahead. This practice fosters a sense of unity and purpose among believers, encouraging them to acknowledge their blessings and responsibilities.<\/p>\n

In Tanzania, the New Year is not only a time for celebration but also for spiritual reflection. Clerics from various denominations use this occasion to remind their congregations of the importance of gratitude, community service, and personal growth. Such messages resonate deeply<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Tanzania<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What You Need to Know As the New Year approaches, religious leaders in Tanzania are calling on believers to express gratitude for the blessings received throughout the past year. They emphasize the importance of thanksgiving, responsibility, and perseverance as key values for success in the upcoming year. Clerics from various denominations encourage citizens to remain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":146955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[15157,15087,1062,711,15156],"class_list":["post-146956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","tag-faith","tag-gratitude","tag-new-year","tag-tanzania","tag-thanksgiving"],"yoast_head":"\nNEW YEAR MESSAGE: Clerics insist on thanksgiving - Tanzania<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Religious leaders in Tanzania emphasize gratitude and responsibility as the New Year begins, urging believers to reflect and\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NEW YEAR MESSAGE: Clerics insist on thanksgiving\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Religious leaders in Tanzania emphasize gratitude and responsibility as the New Year begins, urging believers to reflect and\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Tanzania\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-02T19:03:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-02T19:39:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/sites\/17\/2026\/01\/sm_1767382578.438318.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"405\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"NEW YEAR MESSAGE: Clerics insist on thanksgiving\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-02T19:03:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-02T19:39:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving\"},\"wordCount\":880,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/sites\/17\/2026\/01\/sm_1767382578.438318.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"faith\",\"gratitude\",\"New Year\",\"tanzania\",\"thanksgiving\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"community\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/new-year-message-clerics-insist-on-thanksgiving\",\"name\":\"NEW YEAR MESSAGE: Clerics insist on thanksgiving - 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