Bishop of Ifakara
Salutaris Melchior Libena was born on November 23, 1963, in the parish of Itete, Ulanga District, Diocese of Mahenge. He completed his primary education in 1978 in Ifakara. From 1979 to 1982, he attended St. Francis Minor Seminary in Kasita for his secondary education (up to Form IV), subsequently transferring to Mafinga Minor Seminary in the Diocese of Iringa. He entered St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Peramiho for priestly formation and was ordained for the Diocese of Mahenge on June 29, 1991. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1991–1995: Biology teacher, formator at St. Francis Minor Seminary in Kasita, and Dean of Discipline; 1995–1998: Parish Priest of Sofi and Dean of Itete, while simultaneously serving as Rector of St. Patrick’s Propedeutic Seminary; 1999–2001: studies for a Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm in Rome; 2002–2003: returned as a formator at Kasita Minor Seminary and briefly served as a religion teacher, before transferring as a professor to Ntungamo Major Seminary in the Diocese of Bukoba. Since 2003: Professor, Spiritual Director, and Academic Dean at St. Paul’s Major Theological Seminary in Kipalapala.