Our delegation comprised of 35 persons, including two sisters - Jennipher and Angela, two volunteers (Marjanna and Marija), our seminarian Augustino, my secretary, members of executive committee of the parish council, members of the Liturgy committee in the parish, four catechists and twenty members of St. Faustina Choir - traveled to Butiama to take part in the handover ceremony.
We went first to pay our respect and pray through the intercession of the Servant of God, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who lived and was buried in Butiama at his house premises. We were welcomed there at his Mausoleum by the assistant parish priest of Butiama and the notary of the diocesan tribunal for the beatification of the Servant of God - Rev. Father Andrzej Duda, CR, who is well known for his broad and deep knowledge of life and work of Mwalimu Nyerere.
Father Andrzej spoke extensively about the Father of the Nation, showing him to us a a pious Catholic and exemplary father of his family. For many of us who went there for the first time, though we live so near to Butiama, it was very revealing and people were listening intensively.
Then we paid our respect to Mwalimu Nyerere parents whose graves are in the vicinity of his Mausoleum. Finally, we prayed for the Nation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of independence (Dec 9, 1961) of Tanganyika at the statue of Imaculate Virgin, then we entered the Mausoleum and prayed through the intercession of Mwalimu in our intentions. We sang a song in his honor and said Divine Mercy chaplet. Father Andrzej gave us his blessing at the grave of Mwalimu, then we went back to our vehicles and proceeded to the church for the handover Mass.
The Mass was very well prepared and attended surprisingly well, though today is a day of work. The Mass was presided by Vicar General of our diocese, and I got the honor of preaching during the Mass.
Below is the basic text of my homily in kiswahili, I prepared in writing, though I went off on several occasions and inserted some extra thoughts. Nevertheless, the main content I present below is more or less the same with what I preached in Butiama today:
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Mheshimiwa sana Naibu Askofu,
Mheshimiwa sana Mkuu wa Udekano,
Mheshimiwa sana Mama Maria Nyerere,
Waheshimiwa Mapadre wenzangu,
Waheshimiwa Watawa,
Ndugu Waamini wenzangu,
Siku ya Dominika ya tarehe 5 mwezi wa saba mwaka wa 1992, miaka kumi na tisa iliyopita, waamini wa Parokia ya Zanaki kutoka senta za Butiama na Kiabakari walikusanyika mahali hapa patakatifu kwa ajili ya adhimisho la Misa Takatifu, tukiwa pamoja na Hayati Baba wa Taifa, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere na Mama Maria. Dhumini kuu la kusanyiko takatifu siku hiyo lilikuwa ni baraka ya msalaba maalum na ibada ya Njia ya Msalaba kutoka hapa hadi kigangoni Kiabakari, huku tukibeba msalaba huo maalum mabegani mwetu.
Tulianza siku hiyo kwa Misa hapa kanisani Butiama, tukasali Njia ya Msalaba njiani kwenda Kiabakari na kuhitimisha tukio zima kwa Misa ya pili katika kigango cha Kiabakari saa za jioni. Msalaba huo tukasimika mbele ya kanisa la kigango kileleni. Baada ya majuma matatu, Balozi wa Baba Mtakatifu nchini Tanzania, Mhashamu Askofu Mkuu Agostino Marchetto akafika Kiabakari kubariki rasmi makao makuu ya Parokia mpya. Kiabakari imewekwa katika ramani ya parokia ndogo na parokia kamili za Jimbo la Musoma.
Msalaba huo tangu siku ya kusimikwa kwake ukawa shahidi wa jitihada zetu wana Kiabakari katika kazi za kujenga Kanisa la Kristo Mteswa na Mfufuka katika Jumuiya zetu ndogondogo, mitaa na vigango vya parokia mpya ya Kiabakari. Hatimaye siku ya kutabarukiwa kwa kanisa jipya la kiparokia ilipowadia tarehe 3 Julai 1997, tukatumia mbao za msalaba huo, kutengeneza msalaba unaozunguka picha ya Yesu, Mfalme wa Huruma, katika ukuta wa altare ndani ya kanisa ambalo kwa sasa ni kituo cha kijimbo cha hija ya Huruma ya Mungu.
Msalaba wa Yesu, Mteswa na Mfufuka, Mfalme wa Huruma, ukaendelea kuwa shahidi wa jitihada zetu endelevu za kulijenga Kanisa lake Kristo na kuwaleta watu wa Mungu kwenye chemchemi za Huruma yake katika kilele cha Mlima wa Huruma ya Mungu.
Msalaba huo unaoonekana kwenye ukuta wa altare kila uingiamo katika Hekalu la Huruma ya Mungu Kiabakari, ulizaliwa hapa hapa Butiama. Kutoka hapa kielelezo hiki cha pekee cha upeo wa upendo na huruma ya Kristo, Mwana wa Mungu Aliye Mwingi wa Huruma, kikasafiri hadi Kiabakari. Mahali hapa patakatifu ni mahali pa kuzaliwa kwa msalaba wetu wa Kiabakari unaoendelea kuwa shahidi wa maisha yetu ya kikristo ya kila siku na jitihada zetu za kumkomboa binadamu kiroho, kimwili na kiakili...Nanyi, wapendwa wana Butiama mnafika mara kwa mara kuutazama Msalaba huo wa Bwana Kiabakari. Tunakumbuka sana hija yenu hivi majuzi mliposafiri kwa mguu kwa wingi kabisa kutoka hapa kushiriki katika Sherehe ya Huruma ya Mungu Kiabakari.
Sisi, wana Kiabakari hatuwezi kusahau kamwe kuwa tunasimama kila siku chini ya Msalaba katika Hekalu la Huruma ya Mungu ambao ulizaliwa hapa Butiama. Tunawashukuru wana Butiama kwa ukarimu wenu wa pekee wa kutushirikisha Msalaba wa Bwana, thawabu iliyo bora kabisa ya alama ya upeo wa upendo na huruma wa Yesu. Hamkutunyima, bali kinyume chake, mlituzawadia tunu bora kabisa kwetu sisi wakristo. Hatuwezi kusahau pia kwamba na ninyi mliupokea Msalaba wa Bwana kutoka makao makuu ya Parokia yetu Mama ya Zanaki miaka michache iliyopita kabla sisi hatujaupokea kutoka kwenu. Kumbe, tuko pamoja, chini Msalaba ule ule wa Bwana.
Na leo, miaka kumi na tisa baada ya tukio hilo la kihistoria, tunarudi hapa kwenye asili ya Msalaba wetu tuweze kuupokea upya na tena Msalaba wa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo tunapoadhimisha Jubilei ya Miaka 100 ya Ukristo Jimboni Musoma.
Tunaupokea Msalaba wa Yesu kwa umakinifu wa pekee na uangalifu wa pekee tukijua kwamba Msalaba wa Yesu ni shahidi wa maisha yetu ya kila siku na jitihada zetu za kujenga Ufalme wa Mungu katika maeneo yetu parokiani Kiabakari. Tunamkaribisha Shahidi huyo upya na tena na kuiweka wazi kabisa milango ya miji yetu na mioyo yetu.
Lakini tunajua fika kuwa Msalaba wa Bwana si Shahidi mkimya asiyekuwa na hoja wala kauli kwetu sisi, wana Kiabakari. La hasha! Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo atakapofika kwetu Kiabakari atatuzama kutoka altare ya Msalaba wake na baada ya kututazama na kupima, atatoa hoja yakinifu. Hoja yake si nyingine bali ni maneno yale yale saba aliyoyatamka kama Kuhani Mkuu wa Agano Jipya siku ya Ijumaa Kuu katika kilele cha kilima cha Kalvario. Na anaendelea kutamka hadi mwisho wa nyakati.
Ni maneno gani haya atakayoyatamka?
Hoja ya Kwanza ya Yesu: "Baba, uwasamehe, kwa maana hawajui watendalo". (Lk 23, 34). Bwana atatupima, atatuona hadi ndani ya vilindi vya dhamiri zetu, mawazo, makusudi, misimamo, itikadi na mielekeo ya kimaisha. Ataona jinsi wengine wetu tunavyoishi hovyo, kana kwamba hakuna ufufuko, kana kwamba Mungu hayupo, kana kwamba kifo hakiji, kana kwamba hakuna jehanum. Nasi itatupasa kuwa makini na wasikivu, hoja hiyo ya kwanza ya Yesu itugonge sawasawa, kutuchoma na kututikisa, tujipige vifua vyetu, tufanye toba na kuongoka...
Kila siku Msalaba wa Yesu utapita katika makundi mapya ya wafuasi wa Bwana. Katika shamrashamra, vifijo, tabasamu, furaha, nyimbo na sala, hatutakosa kuisikia Hoja ya Pili ya Yesu: "Amin, amin, nakuambia, leo hivi utakuwa pamoja nami peponi". (Lk 23, 43). Bwana atatuona katika makundi hayo ya waamini wenye furaha na amani mioyoni mwao, jinsi tulivyo wengi tuliokata tamaa ya maisha, tamaa ya wokovu, tuliojichimbia katika vikwazo na vipingamizi kwa ujinga wetu sisi wenyewe na sasa tumekata tamaa na hatuamini kuwa Mungu ataweza kutusamehe na kutusaidia. Tumeamua kuishi kama watu waliolaaniwa wakiwa bado hai duniani. Tumeamua kuishi sambamba na neema ya Mungu kama vyuma vya reli bila kugusana na neema hiyo. Tumeshindwa kuamini kuwa Mungu ni mwingi wa Huruma, Huruma yake haina mipaka na hakuna jambo lisilowezekana kwake na mpaka pumzi letu la mwisho nafasi ya kumrudia Yeye iko wazi. Itatupasa wakati wa mapokezi ya Msalaba kuacha kuogopa mawimbi yanayokatisha tamaa, kuinua macho yetu na kumtazama Yesu na kuanza kutembea kwake juu ya mwimbi hayo bila woga, kwa matumaini na nia thabiti.
Bwana wetu, atakapofika Kiabakari, kila mahali atakapopita, iwe ni JNNK, chama cha kitume, kaya ya wakristo, taasisi ama chumba cha kupanga cha mwamini mmoja mmoja, atatuelekeza kwa kutoa Hoja ya Tatu: ‘Tazama, Mama yako!’ Na kama ilivyokuwa siku ya Ijumaa Kuu, Yohane Mwinjili alipomchukua Mama wa Yesu nyumbani kwake, na sisi, wana Kiabakari, wanajimbo la Musoma, tutampokea upya Mama wa Yesu, Somo wa Jimbo letu majumbani mwetu, kama Mama yetu bora, Mlezi wetu, Mwombezi wetu na Kiongozi amini wa kwenda mbinguni. Na tutajifunza upya kufanya lolote atakalotuambia Yesu, kama Mama yetu bora anavyotushauri katika Injili.
Bwana wetu katika ziara yake parokiani kwetu, katika ishara ya Msalaba wake, atawatazama wote ambao hawajiwezi, wagonjwa, wapweke, wajane, maskini, waliokataliwa na koo zao na familia, wanaodhulumiwa na kuteswa. Na kuwahurumia. Atasikia kilio chao, ataona mateso yao na kutoa Hoja yake ya Nne: ‘Eloi, eloi, lama sabakhtani? Mungu wangu, Mungu wangu, mbona umeniacha?(Mt 27:46)’ Lalamiko hili lililojaa majonzi na uchungu litapaswa kutugusa hadi ndani ya dhamiri zetu na kutushtaki mbele yake Kristo, maana ndiyo sisi tuliosababisha bahari ya mateso hayo ya majirani zetu na mara nyingi hatufanyi lolote la kuwasaidia, tukizidi kuzigeuza mioyo yetu kuwa jiwe kubwa kama lile lililofunika kaburi la Yesu.
Kutoka katika mnara wa Msalaba wake, Bwana wetu atatazama kotekote, atapaza sauti na kutamka Hoja yake ya Tano: ‘Naona kiu!’ (Yn 19:28) Si kwamba Yeye anaona kiu kweli, maana walipomletea siki katika sifongo alikataa kunywa. Yesu ataona kiu ya wengi katika Parokia yetu. Kiu ya kutendewa haki katika maofisi zetu na taasisi bila kudai rushwa, kiu ya elimu bora kwa watoto wetu hadi shule za vijijini, kiu ya ajira ya uhakika kwa vijana wetu, kiu ya kuthaminiwa utu na kazi, kiu ya mshahara unaolingana na taaluma na jitihada za mtu, kiu ya kupata soko la mazao kwa wakulima wetu na bei nzuri itakayokidhi mahitaji ya familia zao...kiu ya kupata maji na umeme wa uhakika kila siku...kiu ya watoto hasa wa kike kusomeshwa na wazazi hadi high school na zaidi, kiu ya usawa wa kijinsia katika mila na desturi, sheria za mirathi na kadhalika...kiu ya kuishi kwa amani na usalama wa maisha na mali ya kila mwananchi... kiu ya kila aina... Nasi tutajihoji wenyewe, tumesababisha hali ya kiu zote hizo kwa kiasi gani? Na tufanye nini ili tutimize kiu yetu na ya wenzetu?
Yesu Mteswa na Msulibiwa, kila atakapopita na kututazama, kutupima, kututakasa na kututakatifuza, atatamka Hoja yake ya Sita: ‘Baba, mikononi mwako naiweka roho yangu!‘ Atatukumbusha kwamba maisha yetu sisi wakristo, wafuasi wake, hayawezi kuwa ya woga na mashaka. Tunapaswa kuishi mikononi mwa Mungu, tukimtumainia kabisa katika hali zote za maisha yetu. Tukiishi katika umoja naye, katika hali ya neema ya utakaso, roho zetu ziwe daima mikononi mwake Bwana, zikiwa salama, zikitunzwa vizuri naye... Na maisha haya ya amani, matumaini na umoja na Mungu yanatokana na dhamiri safi inayotakaswa daima kwa sakramenti kuu za Huruma yake, yaani Upatanisho na Ekaristi Takatifu... Tutajipima katika hili, tutaamua na kuchukua hatua...
Kisha, siku ya kuhitimisha ziara ya Msalaba wa Bwana katika Parokia yetu, tutakapokusanyika tena wote kuukabidhi Msalaba wa Jubilei kwa wenzetu wa Udekano wa Musoma, mnamo tarehe 16 Julai, tutasikia Hoja ya Saba na ya mwisho ya Bwana: ‘Yametimia!’ Hoja hii haitamaanisha tu mwisho wa matembezi ya Msalaba wa Bwana katika maeneo yetu na hitmisho la kazi ya ukombozi atakayoifanya Bwana katika parokia yetu kwa wale watakaokuwa tayari kumpokea Bwana kwa mioyo wazi na dhamiri njema, bali pia hoja hii itatukumbushia wote mwisho wa safari ya maisha ya kila mmoja wetu hapa duniani. Kama Mtume wa Mataifa alivyosema katika waraka wake: ‘Mwendo nimeumaliza, imani nimeilinda, sasa naenda kupokea thawabu mbinguni’. Kauli hii iwe yetu sote tutakapofikia tamati ya maisha yetu, tutakapoomba mshumaa wetu wa ubatizo uwashwe nasi kwa amani na matumaini yote tukiwa tumeshikilia mishumaa yetu ya ubatizo, tutarudia maneno hayo ya Mtakatifu Paulo, tukijua kuwa tumetimiza mapenzi ya Mungu katika maisha yetu hapa duniani na tuko tayari kwenda kukutana na Muumba wetu ana kwa ana na kutawala na Kristo milele yote...
Tukiwa chini ya Msalaba wa Bwana hapa tulipokuwa awali miaka kumi na tisa iliyopita, tunamwambia Bwana kwa imani kuu, matumaini na upendo: Marantha! Njoo, Bwana Yesu! Amina.
Asanteni kwa kunisikiliza! Tumsifu Yesu Kristo!
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After the Holy Mass, the Parish Priest and the parish council of Butiama handed the Jubilee Cross over to us. The short lunch followed and right after that we carried the Cross from the church to the parochial vehicle and proceeded escorted by the sisters' car, minivan with our choir and two cars from Butiama parish, with Fathers, sisters and some thirty Butiama parishioners.
I was very happy and relieved to see many Kiabakari parishioners present at the entrance to the church in Kiabakari. Lots of Holy Childhood children in their white-yellow uniforms, altar servers, St. Gemma choir, members of various Small Christian Communities. When I pulled over at the entrance of the church, my catechists took the Cross off the car and carried it into the church up to the sanctuary where a special place was prepared for the Cross. They were preceded by the altar servers with thurible with incence and children throwing flowers at the feet of the Cross.
When we placed the Cross and incensed it with respect, the Divine Mercy chaplet followed for the intentions of the successful peregrination of the Cross in our parish. Then I gave a short explanation of what was going to follow next today and tomorrow, finally imparted a blessing.
So now, I am using a short break before I go back to church for confessions and the Holy Hour, to share with you the day's proceedings. I feel happy and satisfied with how things have gone today. Thanks be to God and to many people who worked hard for the success of this day.
Below are a few pictures from today in Butiama (I was unable to take pictures in Kiabakari upon the arrival of the Cross to Kiabakari, unfortunately).
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| Father Andrzej guiding us through the life of Mwalimu |
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| Our representatives during guided tour at Mwalimu's house |
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| The Mwalimu Mausoleum behind my people |
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| Father Maciej, the parish priest of Butiama, accepting offertory procession |
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| The prayer of handover of the Jubilee Cross |
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| Kiabakari representatives ready to receive the Cross |
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| My catechists carry the Cross from the church to the vehicle |
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| Getting ready to depart from Butiama with the Cross |
Time for me to go back to church for the confessions, then at 5pm - the Holy Hour. One of my most favorite prayers - spending a whole hour in the presence of the Mystery, with long periods of complete silence. I will pray for you too and for all intentions dear to your hearts. Please, pray for us here in Kiabakari too, so that we can benefit from the presence of this unique sign of hope and love - the Cross of our Lord. May He bless us all!
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