By Eumu Emmanuel
In a startling incident at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Ifakara, Tanzania, a 19-year-old named Enock George Masala was arrested while trying to escape with the holy sacrament. The incident occurred during the first mass of the day on Sunday morning, July 28, in the Morogoro region.
Masala, who had joined other congregants for the morning service, was apprehended by church security after he attempted to leave with the holy sacrament following the Eucharist. The parish priest, Father Marcus Mirwatu, announced the theft attempt during the service, leading to Masala’s immediate apprehension.
Father Mirwatu expressed deep concern over a series of incidents involving non-Catholics entering the church to receive communion and then leaving with the holy sacrament, a practice that goes against the church’s customs and guidelines. He condemned such activities and urged the faithful to expose individuals who engage in behavior that contradicts the church’s beliefs.
“We are struggling to understand who sends these people to commit these acts. We don’t know what their intentions are towards our church. Therefore, I ask that this young man continue to be questioned about why he did this,” Father Mirwatu explained when interviewed by journalists.
During questioning, Masala admitted that he is not a Catholic Christian and stated that he committed the act after seeing other Christians lining up to receive the sacrament. He claimed that he was unaware it was wrong to leave with the sacrament and openly admitted that he did not know the church’s procedures.
The church’s security team continues to question Masala to understand his motives for committing the act. Father Mirwatu has called on the church’s security to remain vigilant and ensure such incidents do not recur.
