Rest In Peace With The Family, Dad!

You have suffered too long too intense too much... Time has come to rest in the bossom of the Lord together with Mum, Your Parents and loved ones. Rest in peace, Dad... We love you and are proud of You!

More Bad News

Bad things spree continues. My car broke down on my way back to Kia. Two hours plus waiting for mechanics. Thanks, Fr. Peter, for coming to my rescue and for the lift back home. The car is still being fixed on the road there. I am just fed up with this old truck giving up on me so many times in the past months...well, maybe this is its age, twenty years old truck...

No End To Sad News

As many of us are concerned about my Dad's health and treatment progress in Krakow's hospital, praying and sending get well wishes, I got another bad news this morning. One of my catechists, Frederick Masasi, was killed last night by a hit-and-run lorry in Kamugegi village where he lived as served God as catechist. The driver and the people who were with him apparently stopped, went back, saw what happened and drove away leaving Frederick on the side of the road. Outrageous!

The funeral will be tomorrow in Kamugegi at 11am. I would like to ask you all to say a prayer for the repose of his soul. He was a very good catechist, liked by all and serving God tirelessly till old age. May Merciful Lord receive him in heaven. Rest in peace, Frederick!

Get Well, Dad!

Just a quick post asking all of you, my esteemed readers, to kindly pray for my Dad who yesterday was admitted to hospital back home in Krakow, Poland, with pneumonia and heart problems. Something that seemed to be a simple case of cold he caught due to weather changes in Poland and Europe in general, has turned out to be a serious problem. My brother and myself are quite concerned. I have offered a Holy Mass for my Dad and pray for him and asked my friends on Facebook to pray as well. Now, I come here and ask all of you, my blog friends, to do the same. Thanks in advance for your spiritual support for my Dad, Wieslaw Ferdynand Kościelniak, 76 years old.

24

On this day, May 22, twenty four years ago, myself and my sixty five classmates were ordained priests in the Archdiocese of Krakow, Poland. Most of us in Wawel Cathedral, including me; thirteen though were ordained in Ludźmierz in Podhale, in the footsteps of Tatra Mountains. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow, His Eminence Franciszek Cardinal Macharski, ordained us to Christ's priesthood. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that my life would turn out to be like it has become after these twenty four years... As I begin today the jubilee year - twenty fifth year of my priesthood - all I can say to the Lord is: 'Thank you!'... and looking ahead for the remainder of my life whatever it turns out to be - 'In Te, Domine, speravi; non confundar in aeternm!'... On this special day to me I wish to acknowledge, give due respect, credit and thanks to all wonderful people God in His generosity enriched me with and transformed me through their contribution and presence in my life in those past twenty four years of my priestly life and service. You are very special and dear to me...Thank you all!

Full Steam Ahead

Back in Kiabakari, after the first weekend, which was marked by the browsing through a pile of documents, letters and things to take care of in the first hand after my comeback from Europe, today is the day to blow a whistle and press the lever to the position - 'full steam ahead'. Sitting in Musoma, sipping a cold soft drink in a short break between tackling of the long to-do list for today, and writing these few words. It may take a long time and will involve a lot of skills, convincing powers and struggle to gather some funds to push our development ahead. But believe, when it comes to spending that hard-earned nickels, it goes just in one flash. Especially when the construction works are concerned - purchasing materials, payments of workers, transportation charges etc. Although it happens all the time, it startles me always whenever this moment comes, when I go to town or Mwanza to place orders or pay for delivered goods. Everything is so expensive here, in particular - construction materials. We are doubly handicapped here in Mara Region. Firstly, Tanzania is in East Africa, and many goods have to be shipped from elsewhere. Secondly, we are in the north-western corner of Tanzania, some 1500 km from Dar es Salaam port, so extra charges for haulage of goods up to Musoma make these, already expensive things, even more expensive still! But, I guess, it makes for a double satisfaction as well. When one can achieve something in these circumstances, it tastes doubly sweet, because one knows what it took to secure the funding and help of donors. And what it takes to make the project a success here. Thanks be to God for all my fantastic friends, sponsors and benefactors, together with my local task force, who make all this happen in Kiabakari. God bless you much! Please, keep your fingers crossed and pray much for the success of the current projects and undertakings. Thanks in advance for your kindness!

Home

Happy to be back home in Kiabakari. Such a heart warming reception from Aurelia, Amon, Denise and Thomas. A lovely dinner, flowers, welcoming note, a special cake made by Denise and Thomas... Amon picked me up at Musoma airport. Now I am unpacked and feeling that the long journey has come to an end for the foreseeable future. Grateful to all loved ones and friends I left in Europe and Dar, focusing on what lies at stake in he next weeks right here in Kiabakari. God bless us all! Going to bed now.

On My Way Back

I'm on my way back to Kiabakari. Tomorrow, God willing, I will be there. Just a few things to deal with and take care of while I am here at the Indian Ocean coast (and imagine, I had no time for a swim in the ocean in these past few days!). Just a few things to pick up at German Supermarket for my volunteers in Kiabakari, and go... It was a calm, composed and very busy time here in Dar es Salaam, but I am happy that I was able to finalize ordering of delivery room equipment for our health center and some other things... Thanks be to God! Your prayers appreciated for the safe flight tomorrow to Musoma and God's blessings for the successful discharge of my duties, responsibilities and challenges that lie ahead in the coming weeks and months. God bless us all!

31st Anniversary

Today also, apart from the 95th Anniversary of Fatima Apparitions, we remember another anniversary, the 31st anniversary of the assassination attempt on Blessed John Paul II on May 13th, 1981.

Till today, the full truth behind this horrific event is yet to be revealed...

Fatima

Ninety five years ago, on this very calendar day, May 13th, 1917, three little children had their very first encounter with the Lady from Heaven. Our Lady of Fatima, the Queen of Peace, the Queen of the Holy Rosary, continued to meet with the children every month on the same day, the thirteenth of each month, except August when children were in jail (read the history of apparitions here). The Fatima Message and the personal devotion to Our Lady of Fatima is one of two major pillars of my personal spirituality. The other is the Divine Mercy message. I wish I was there in Cova da Iria valley today. I will have to wait one more year though, as I plan to go on my third personal pilgrimage to Fatima (the first two in 1997 and 2001) next year when I will be celebrating the Silver Jubilee of my ordination to priesthood. This pilgrimage will have enormous importance to me in the whole scheme of the jubilee year. Today I am traveling in spirit to that sacred place joining pilgrims present there at the feet of the statue of Our Lady in the Apparition Chapel...

Epilogue

Final days before returning back to Kiabakari. Retrospection kicking in, gratitude kicking in, examination of conscience kicking in, focus on remaining things to do kicking in, zeroing on things to do in Tanzania and Kiabakari kicking in. No need for coffee. Alert, sober, composed and ready to tackle what comes my way first, one thing at a time, sometimes all things in one go. Like today. Have a nice easy day!

Euro 2012 Official Anthem

This is so cool! These grannies have just won a competition for an official anthem of Euro 2012. Check it out :)

Thank You!

Came back this afternoon from a long car trip to visit my friends and relatives in Silesia and south-western part of Poland, in total more than 500 kilometers in my Dad's twenty years' old Opel Astra. But she did very well, if I skip the lack of air-conditioning in the vehicle and high temps outside! All in all I am content and happy to be able to drive safely and come back home safely without any breakdown. Visiting friends and relatives, reconnecting with some of them after many years, it was a truly quality time! And on top of that, I found home a letter from MOPS (Social Security office in Krakow) that the funds for the renovation of our apartment according to needs of the disabled person (my Dad) - in total 80% of the costs - have been available at last and they are ready to start works. Thank God! And thank you all for your prayers! After all, I will not fly back to Tanzania sad and unfulfilled because of the failure of this job. Putting aside the issue that the letter is late one month already, still I will be able to meet with the contractor this Friday and set things in  motion. Then the whole picture of this trip, its meaning and purpose will be totally different. Such a relief! Thank God and thank you all, my friends and spiritual helpers! Your prayers surely made this happen at last!