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...

Sub Tuum Praesidium!

These are the words I spoke while kneeling yesterday in front of the main altar of Divine Mercy Shrine in Kiabakari. When I was getting ready for the New Year Masses in my mission, on the first day of the New Year 2012, on the Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God, I felt a very strong urge to consecrate my mission anew to Our Lady...

Elevation

Tonight, during Consecration Prayer, as it has been a tradition for me for the past twenty three years since I became a priest, in the Holy Mass of the Last Supper of Holy Thursday, I will elevate all my Loved Ones, Relatives and Friends and all intentions dear to their and mine hearts - up to the Lord together with the consecrated Bread and Wine. I will elevate all readers of my blog and everyone I was blessed to meet in my life as well. So, take courage and lift up your heart and spirit knowing that there is someone somewhere in Africa, on the top of Divine Mercy Hill, who thinks about you and embraces you  fondly in the Eucharistic Prayer and Sacrifice, elevating you, your life, worries and joys, thoughts and intentions up to the Lord... My prayers are with all of you... Happy Easter!

Marathon

Today we broke a record once again. This time the Holy Mass of the consecration of the new bishop of new diocese of Bunda - Rt. Rev. Renatus Leonard Nkwande - took five solid hours, including speeches and gifts presentation. All in scorching sun and unbearable heat for many (some of ladies fainted today). Yet everybody is happy including the Prime Minister who delivered a nice and funny at times speech. The Chairman of Tanzania Episcopal Conference and the Metropolitan of Lake Province in one person gave a great word as well. We came back to eat at home as the organized chaos prevailed and I had enough sitting there in this heat with no water and the bleak perspective of getting food in the foreseeable future... Kiabakari has become today the closest parish of Diocese of Musoma - to the episcopal seat of Bunda, mere 30 kilometers!