The Guest

I've got an unexpected but very welcomed guest. The whole morning has been very hectic for us. Fetching water by car from a creek on the outskirts of Kiabakari, some one kilometer or so from the mission, to save mixed cement and continue concrete laying of the tank base.  At the same time, I've been busy in the parochial office. Tuesdays are customary office days, so people come from distant corners of the parish and from Kiabakari itself to have their 'shidas' (problems) solved. Add to the flavor the incoming Confirmation on this Saturday, and confirmants swarming around the office to finish 'office staff', then you get a lively morning... Then the Guest arrived...


I must say, quite an unexpected Guest! Sitting in the office, sipping espresso in between receiving 'customers', to help to stay awake after sleepless night in the water tank pit, I heard a vehicle coming into the mission courtyard... A quick glance through the office window... Oh, what a surprise! The unexpected guest was none, but Mama Maria Nyerere herself... So I excused my 'customers' for a moment, who themselves got very excited to see Mama Maria, the wife of the former president of the United Republic of Tanzania, now the Servant of God, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere!

Mama Maria said that she was very sorry to come unannounced. I invited her and her bodyguard inside for a quick breakfast, but she plainly refused to have anything saying that they would be like leeches who come unexpected and still want to eat of the host. Quite a colorful comparison, I would say...

So, we just sat in private, the bodyguard leaving us alone inside. Mama Maria said she just wanted to pass by and say hello, to share some memories of her pilgrimage to Namugongo (Uganda Martyrs National Shrine) she and others did this year in honor of the Servant of God, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and to talk a bit about the ongoing beatification process of Mwalimu of which I happen to be a postulator...

She brought a few gifts, including a calendar, some books on Mwalimu and a DVD from the pilgrimage in Namugongo in Uganda. I was very moved by this generosity and remembering me. We talked some more time about various issues of the country, the Church and the process, assuring each other of prayerful support.

Then Sister Jennifer Mutale, my pastoral assistant, came over to greet Mama Maria. It is so nice to witness an immense respect Mwalimu and Mama Maria imprinted in hearts and minds of people in Africa. Even now, more than ten years after the death of Mwalimu, his undisputed fame and love of people for him has not faded away. I could see how respectful and happy sister Jennifer was to be able to greet Mama Maria and share a light moment with...

Then she excused herself and asked to continue her journey to visit our Bishop in Musoma. I thanked her for passing by and gifts again. Invited her for Saturday's Confirmation Mass with the Bishop and the reception right aftr the Mass. She promised to come if nothing enexpected occurs in her tight schedule.

It has been an eventful morning so far. I've just finished with office staff, so before the second part of the day, as we continue to pour concrete in the water tank pit, I took liberty to share with you this news. It is my belief also that Mwalimu Nyerere came along with his wife to assure me of his presence in my life and struggle, and in the process of his beatification. I would like to share with you the official prayer prepared by our beatification tribunal in Musoma Diocese to obtain graces through the intercession of Mwalimu Nyerere. I would like to ask you kindly, if you happen to receive a special grace from God through Mwalimu intercession, be it big or small, or something miraculous happened in your life which you owe to Mwalimu Nyerere intercession, please inform me as soon as possible on kontakt@wojciechkoscielniak.pl. Thank you in advance!

PRAYER FOR ASKING GRACES THROUGH THE INTERCESSION
OF THE SERVANT OF GOD JULIUS KAMBARAGE NYERERE

O God our Father, you have created us so that we may know you, serve and love you and love our fellow sisters and brothers.

We thank you, o God our Creator, for the gift of your servant, Julius Kambarage Nyerere – a lay faithful and a father of the family - who led your people of Tanzania as true father and teacher.

Our Father, your servant gave himself up completely for your people with love that knew no boundaries, building tirelessly unity and solidarity among all Children of God. He cared for the poor. He uplifted the downtrodden. He consoled orphans. He welcomed and fed refugees.

O God, your servant – being faithful to you and your Church - has become for us a true example of deep faith and genuine piety. He cherished a great love and respect for the Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ. He dedicated the People of Tanzania to Our Lady so that they may live peacefully under her maternal protection.

O God, your servant Julius Kambarage Nyerere showed great zeal in teaching everyone to know and honour you. He defended justice and fought relentlessly against oppression and discrimination of any kind. His humble service for all people remains for all generations an example to imitate on their way to you.

Almighty Father, grant us, by his intercession, and according to your will, the graces we implore. May his holiness become evident to all People of God so that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory …