Deluded Narcissists

Follow the link to the honest and revealing article on Fox News. As a pastor I can testify to the correctness of the observations of the author. Even if Tanzania the problem is emerging fast.

Late Christmas Gift

I am very happy that together with my friend, film professional and producer, Aldimilablis Novatus, we were able to complete the DVD project of the short movie on implementation of the First Aid Project in Kiabakari. Today I sent copies of the movie on DVDs via DHL to the headquarters of Foundation Kiabakari for further forwarding to people I want to get this late Christmas gift, in particular those involved directly in the project.

Epiphany

"And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." 

(From the Gospel of the Solemnity of the Epiphany)...

Sub Tuum Praesidium

On January 1 each year the Holy Church celebrates the Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God. In the Universal Church this is a day of Prayer for Peace led by the Holy Father himself. In our Diocese of Musoma this is a day of the feast day of the Patroness of the Musoma Cathedral and the Diocese of Musoma. The Solemnity of Theotokos. The Solemnity of the Patroness of the Kiabakari parish as well, as on the day of the dedication of the parochial church on July 3, 1997, the Archbishop of Mwanza consecrated the parish and the families in the parish to Our Lady...

Polish Christmas in Lake Zone

On Friday, December 28, 2012, we had a second Christmas in our Polish community of Lake Zone. This time the venue was SMA regional house in Bwiru, Mwanza. Some twenty people attended. It was a marvelous time and a great initiative which we must preserve and continue. Enjoy a few pictures I took on that day.

Polish Day in Dar

Just a few pictures from the evening meeting of Polish Ambassador, Consul and Commerce official from Polish Embassy in Nairobi - with Polish community in Dar es Salaam on December 14, 2012. A very good idea of mobile consulate in Tanzania, which helps us living in Tanzania a lot. And an opportunity to know better each other.

Mission Accomplished

Typing these words at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. I am on my way back to Kiabakari. God willing, I will land in Mwanza midday, then will proceed to Buzuruga bus terminal to catch a bus to Kiabakari. Should be back home in Kia in the evening...

First Aid Fiesta

Apologies for posting these photos late. On December 1, 2012 we had a special fiesta as the conclusion and finale of First Aid project of Foundation Kiabakari financed by Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs   program of 'Polish Aid 2012'. A lot of effort went into the preparation of this major event. I am deeply grateful to all involved in the preparation and the event itself. But all we did paid off as you can see in the pictures below (posted in no particular order). Enjoy!

Altar Servers

The Solemnity of the Christ the King was celebrated in style in Kiabakari. We gave to the King thirty eight new servants in His House - the new altar servers who were officially accepted by Rev. Father Janusz Machota, the regional superior of SMA congregation in Tanzania, who with his confrere visited me on Saturday and stayed through Sunday. After a long preparation, our boys were ready to start serving the King of Mercy in His Shrine in Kiabakari in the liturgy celebrated in the church. Here are some pictures of the Holy Mass yesterday...

The Visit

Writing these words in Mwanza, at SMA regional house, I wrap up the visitation of the Mother General of Little Servants of Mary Immaculate Sisters Congregation, Mother Beata Chwistek from Stara Wieś in Poland, in Shirati and Kiabakari, as the part of her visitation of the African Province of the Congregation. Tomorrow our guests - Mother General, Assistant General, Mother Provincial - will fly to Dar es Salaam and onward to South Africa. We, Sister Superior of Kiabakari community and myself will drive back to Kiabakari. It was an important and historical visit. The very first one of the Mother General in Kiabakari convent. I am very satisfied and very glad. And I know this visit will bear multiple fruit. For now just a couple of pictures from the artistic program of our school children presented to the Guests.

Two Small Coins

“Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."” (Mk 12:41-44)

A couple of weeks ago a letter came for the youth of Musoma Cathedral who asked me for a retreat here in Kiabakari, in the diocesan shrine of Divine Mercy. Some of those youth I worked with back in 2002-2006 when I was a pastor there. The letter brought back memories of that period and one particular moment of it, when the youth group of Musoma Cathedral asked me for a retreat day for them. I complied and we had a recollection day in the cathedral...

The Avenues Of Love

November is my favorite month. The mystery of the Communion of Saints fully relived and experienced anew by the whole Church. All Saints Solemnity congratulating our sisters and brothers for passing the exam of holy life, worthy of God's accolade and acceptance in Heaven. Asking our champions to keep a watchful eye on us walking together towards the gates of Heaven...

Blessing

Finally, 'mvua za vuli' (short rainy season) have arrived. A genuine blessing in this part of the world, and I guess, all over where people know what it means to lack water for certain periods of the year. Thank you, Lord!

For a few days now we have enjoyed thunderstorms with good downpours. Our plastic tanks filled up quickly and we pumped the rain water out of them up to the main concrete tank by the church. One good rain fills six tanks (3-4 thousand liters capacity) in a matter of a couple of hours. The main water tank by the church though depends mainly on the water from the village pipeline which never comes up our hill (we need to use boost pump each time we get the news that the water appeared in the neighbors' taps. We harvest the rain water only from the small portion of the church roofs, unfortunately, as the village pipeline failure to deliver water to inhabitants of Nyamisisye and Kiabakari villages in relatively new backward development.

It looks like the situation is not going to improve in the foreseeable future, so we have to react quickly and install gutters and build main retention tanks for rain water, funds permitting. Just a few pictures below taken with mobile phone camera to show you the beauty of the Vuli season.

Year of Faith

I love the official logo of the Year of Faith. So meaningful and true and depicting the reality of the Church and the Faith in the modern world. What is important, who is important, in whose boat we are sailing, under whose sail we travel together... As I am getting ready for yet another meeting of our parochial committee for the Year of Faith in Kiabakari, as I look at the logo to find inspiration and remind myself again that 'sentire cum Ecclesia' is modus operandi for here in Kiabakari. And this is exactly what we are going to do. 

Thank You

Thank you all, who supported me through your kind prayers, thoughts and spiritual solidarity in my solitary retreat. I felt your presence and the power of your prayers. This was truly a genuine experience of the communion of saints. And it surely helped me a lot to stay composed, focused, faithful to the schedule of the retreat and open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God bless you much!

Into The Wilderness

Tomorrow is the day I will begin my personal retreat in solitude in the wilderness. It coincides with the beginning of the Year of the Faith, the fact I am very happy of. I humbly ask all of you for your kind prayers so that the Lord's Will is fulfilled in this time of silence, detachment and prayer. I will take all of you and all your intentions with me and will pray for you and them. I will be offline for eight days. Hopefully, this retreat I do in the jubilee year of my priesthood, will strengthen me to face boldly and calmly the challenges that lie ahead of me, my world and the Kiabakari community. Fiat Voluntas Tua, Domine!

I will come back to the blog after this experience. Take care for now!

Celebration

Entrance Dance

Tanzania, Tanzania!

School Anthem