2 Out Of 3

After two days of celebrations of Mapinduzi Zanzibar and Maulid, today is finally a day of work. Having celebrated the Holy Mass in the morning, I will be soon heading to the Ministry of Education to receive the official letter from the Hon. Minister - the recognition of the Diocese of Musoma as the lawful owner of pre-school and primary school in Kiabakari and myself as an executive director / manager of the same. This process of registration has there major steps and we have done two out of three. After today, what will be left is to finally register the schools and get the government number. This will enable us to be recognized as educational institution in Tanzania and as a recognized examination center for the upcoming national exams for which our standard four students will sit for the first time in the short history of our primary school.

Apart from this visit at the Ministry, what is on the agenda today is the visit to Crown Healthcare Ltd. - our main supplier and maintenance provider for our health center in Kiabakari. Since we have got a brand new water bath machine and microscope funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the 'Upendo Unaojali' project, purchased at the end of the last year, I am able to bring for the emergency repair our old water bath and microscope - which - after some six years of continuous work in our lab - gave up and broke down.

In the afternoon, time permitting, I may feel tempted to go to the movie theater. Some new movies playing (same blockbusters as elsewhere in the world). We will see!

Diocesan Synod - Official Opening

Today, on the Solemnity of the Pentecost, the Diocesan Synod for the Diocese of Musoma has been officially opened by His Excellency, Bishop Michael Msonganzila, Bishop of Musoma, in the presence of the clergy, religious and the faithful of our diocese. I commend the proceedings of the synod to the guidance and light of the Holy Spirit and the intercession and protection of our Patron Saint of Musoma Diocese - Holy Mary Mother of God. Please, pray for us, pray for the living community of the diocese. May the Holy Spirit makes anew the face of the People of God of Diocese of Musoma. Come, Holy Spirit!

Diocesan Synod Of Musoma On Facebook

An official Facebook page for Diocesan Synod of Musoma about to begin on Pentecost Sunday has just been launched, being a complimentary of the official page of the Synod which can be accessed here. Feel free to like the page (click here). Your prayers and participation in the synodal works are highly appreciated. May Lord's Will be done through the proceedings of the Synod. Good work of deacon William Bahitwa, working as webmaster of the pages.

Seminar For Members Of Synod Of Diocese Of Musoma

Today and tomorrow, January 21 and 22, 2013, His Excellency, Rt. Rev. Bishop Michael Msonganzila, Bishop of Musoma Diocese, has convoked a special seminar for all elected members of the Sinod of Musoma Diocese, presided by a specialist of sinods in Tanzania, a priest from Bukoba Diocese. So, here we are, some 180 people - Bishop himself, priests, sisters, catechists, members of laity, invited guests - all elected by the Bishop by name in writing. The Sinod itself will be opened officially on the Pentecost Solemnity, May 19, this year, and will last two years. Your prayers are very much needed and appreciated!

Synodal Website

I would like to draw your kind attention, my esteemed readers, to the newly established website / blog of the diocesan synod in Musoma Diocese, recently announced by His Excellency, the Bishop of Musoma, Rt. Rev. Michael Msonganzila (July 11, 2012). The first meeting of the members of the synodal steering committee proposed the set up of the website of the synod and a bulletin/newsletter as well. I am happy to invite all of you not only to pray for the success of the Synod, but also to participate in it actively via the synodal website http://sinodimusoma.blogspot.com. I would like especially to encourage readers inhabiting/belonging to the diocese of Musoma - to take active part in the works of the Synod. Your prayers, comments, opinions, remarks, proposals, ideas and participation of any kind is crucial to the success of the first diocesan Synod of Musoma Diocese. God bless the Synod! God bless Diocese of Musoma! God bless all of you, my esteemed readers!

Diocesan Synod

The Bishop of Musoma, Rt. Rev. Michael Msonganzila, announced his intent to open diocesan synod on July 12, 2012, on the day of the priestly ordination in Musoma Cathedral. He elected 28 members of the preparatory committee. I found myself included. Today we had the very first meeting of the committee, chaired by the Bishop himself. I must say that it was a very interesting experience and I felt the presence and the work of the Holy Spirit himself. Synodal works were set in motion, various small theme committees were established. I hope and pray the Holy Spirit will firmly guide us and keep us focused on what is important for this time in the Diocese of Musoma. I have high hopes after this meeting. Please, put this important ecclesiastical event which will last till 2014 in your kind prayers! God bless the Synod! God bless the Diocese of Musoma! God bless us all!

That Day

Exactly, on this day, twenty one years ago, I set my foot for the first time on African soil, in Dar es Salaam, upon my arrival to Tanzania, to begin my life and service as a Fidei Donum missionary from Archdiocese of Kraków - for the Diocese of Musoma. I reminisced that day in my autobiography - Między Taborem a Golgotą (Between Tabor and Golgotha), and for those of my readers who don't have this book, I would like to quote the passage from it, describing how it was on January 8, 1991. For those of my readers who do not speak Polish, please use Google Translator (provided in the right column of this blog)...

Intense

The last few days have been a bit on a hectic and intense side. A couple of busy days in Dar es Salaam, then flight to Musoma on Sunday afternoon, first encounter with German volunteers who arrived to Kiabakari on September 19 and have been undergoing a crash course in swahili since then...

Big And Small

Jubilees, big and small, coming in thick and fast this year. Apart from the main celebration of the Centenary of Christianity in the territory now called Diocese of Musoma, we get invitation now and then for other jubilee events - be it a Golden or Silver Jubilee of a certain parish in the diocese, be it a Golden or Silver Jubilee of priesthood or religious vows of certain servants of God in the diocese, be it a Golden or Silver Jubilee of the marriage or baptism or the birth of our parishioners. Envelopes with invitation card come thick and fast this year! But today there will be a small exception.

Comeback

It is always nice to go back to Musoma Cathedral for a diocesan function or just with a private visit. And to see that what I left back in November 2006 is growing and getting more and more beautiful in good hands of cathedral parochial community and its pastor. Today it was time for a Chrism Mass in the cathedral, presided by the bishop himself and all the clergy concelebrating. The diocese is too big to hold this Mass on Holy Thursday morning as it would be impossible for some us to be back home in time for evening liturgy. That's why it is celebrated on Thursday preceding Palm Sunday, with a full day of retreat and then the Chrism Mass...

Genetic Engineering

I was simply not engineered by God (with cooperation with my parents) to withstand meetings longer than one hour. Today, the day after the hectic and tense day of the official opening of the main water tank (check my previous post), when I usually suffer from 'the day after syndrome', feeling blue and down and exhausted, I had to participate in the diocesan meeting of headmasters and managers of all diocesan schools (pre-schools, primary schools and secondary schools) at Conference Center of Diocese of Musoma in Musoma Municipality...

Pot Plants

Went this morning to our diocesan offices in Musoma to check for any official mail for the parish and the sisters. When I passed the diocesan bookshop and turned left towards the entrance to Bishop's office wing of the Curia complex, my eye caught the view of something unusual that was not there when I was there last time...

The Splendor

On January 15, 2002, I woke up as usual in my house in Kiabakari. Got ready for the morning Holy Mass preceded with confessions for those who wished to confesss before the Eucharist. Had my head full of many things while I celebrated the sacred liturgy, praying for the gift of discernment and the guidance of the Holy Spirit...

Theotokos

The Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God has become particularly close to my heart since I was appointed as a parish priest in Musoma Cathedral parish in 2002 by the late Bishop Justin Tetemu Samba. The Cathedral church in Musoma has been dedicated precisely to Holy Mary, Mother of God, and today is the day we not only celebrate a New Year, but also a Patron Saint feast of Musoma Cathedral and the Diocese of Musoma as well, as Holy Mary, Mother of God is the Patroness of our diocese too...

I Want To Ride My Bicycle

A day to remember for our parochial community and for my catechists in particular. For the first time in the history of Kiabakari mission I will bless and hand over 13 bicycles to my catechists, donated by the Diocese of Musoma, after initial small downpayment of Tanzanian shillings 10,000 /= (approx. 6-7 USD) from each catechist. It has never happened before that all my catechists were able to get their ride on the same day, and the brand new one to be precise...