Into The Unknown

The first day of August marks the beginning of my one week long or so holidays after the hectic July with the most important week of the year 14-20/7/2013 - the ordination of our deacon Augustino Barageti Mapambano, children's fiesta in honor of the newly ordained priests and Thanksgiving Mass of Fr. Augustino in his family home.

Our guest and volunteer, Jane, who decided to spend her annual holidays with us in Kiabakari, has finished her work in our pre-school and yesterday we flew in to Dar es Salaam. Thank God she returned safely back home to Rome, Italy, and sent me a SMS around noon time saying that she is indeed back home.

So, I can begin my short vacations now. Today I went around the town visiting various dealers and suppliers for our development projects, finalizing process of picking up medical equipment for our health center.

Tomorrow morning I will set off from Dar es Salaam heading down south in my quest to visit and explore the so called Southern Circuit. This is the unknown territory to me. Never been there so far. It will take some 2,500 km in general by car, getting me first to Kilwa Kivinje, Kilwa Masoko, Kilwa Kisiwani, then to Selous Game Reserve, Lindi, Mtwara, Masasi, Tunduru, Songea, Makambako, Iringa, Morogoro and back to Dar es Salaam.

I do hope for some good photo opportunities, relaxing time and delicious seafood on the way. All this in my quest to clear up my head from the stress of organizing the past events, restoring my serenity and inner strength to tackle the remaining months of this year and - in particular - finishing successfully our development projects.

Let the adventure begin!

The Summit

We have been talking about this week for years now. At least since Augustino Mapambano entered the major seminary. It seemed to be so far away in time at that point. But as Swahili proverb rightly says - 'Hayawi, hayawi, yamekuwa!' (not yet, not yet, it is done! in a free translation) - THE WEEK has finally came upon us. The Summit of the Year of Faith in Kiabakari. I think we are ready to tackle the challenge, but who knows. The next six days will tell the truth. We tried our best but doubts will always be there till it is over this Saturday afternoon.

We have been praying Novena to Divine Mercy for the protection of Divine Providence and blessings we need in fulfilling our responsibilities. We ask you, my esteemed readers, to keep your fingers crossed for us and pray for us all involved in the preparations of the ordination, children's fiesta and thanksgiving Mass. I appreciate your kind spiritual involvement in our challenge.

God bless Mapambano! God bless Kiabakari! God bless us all!

All are welcome for the celebrations starting this Thursday.

Silver Jubilee - Photos

The Road Map

Last evening we had a very constructive and fruitful meeting of the Parochial Executive Council. Planning the Year of the Faith and highlights of this time of grace. For us, in Kiabakari, this special period of the history of mankind means a lot as it coincides with a few events of heavy caliber which need careful and thorough planning and execution...

Miss You...

Tomorrow is Mothers' Day in Poland. For the third year I celebrate this special day with a Holy Mass for my Mum and my spiritual pilgrimage to her grave in Rakowice Cemetery in Kraków. I miss her so much. It always is too late to love more and cherish more and care more... Too late...

Deep Sigh

Tough afternoon upon my return from Mwanza trip. Felt down, felt worn emotionally and physically, felt I needed to detach myself from sisters and work for a few, at least, hours. Locked myself in the room, deep in my thoughts. Things coming at me, making me feel cornered and overwhelmed. More and more every day... Then time came to celebrate the Eucharist with my sisters. Got myself tidied up and went to the house chapel for the Mass. The time for Consecration came, then Doxology, then Holy Communion and Thanksgiving song. Thoughts, deep sigh, opening up to Him. I prayed to Merciful Jesus, surrendering myself and the whole situation, the past, the present and the future, helplessly and unconditionally to his power and might and wisdom. The prayer of Thomas Merton was appropriate and timely at that moment, yet I preferred to stay silent opening myself to the Lord who knows everything and knows the remedies and ways out of everything that worries me and all those questions that have no answers... He knows. And I believe though deeply troubled and worried, that He will deliver. In due time.

Touching Moment

Such a touching moment it is! My closest friends and coworkers from our Foundation Kiabakari have gathered together for a special thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of my twentieth anniversary of missionary work in Tanzania. The venue of the Mass is a very special too and very close to my heart as it is  the Royal Cathedral on Wawel Hill in Kraków, the very place I was ordained priest on May 22, 1988. I am extremely grateful and deeply moved for this amazing token of love and friendship. In particular I wish to thank Agata, Bożena and Paweł for this initiative and for their effort to spread the word among our friends and supporters. As my personal token of appreciation I have celebrated the Holy Mass for them, for all members and suporters of Foundation Kiabakari and their families, at the same time as the Mass in Kraków, in the home chapel in my mission, right here in Kiabakari. Thank you, my beloved friends, from the bottom of my heart! Dziekuję Wam, Kochani moi, z całego serca! Asanteni sana, Wapendwa wangu, kwa moyo wangu wote!

Thank You

This is probably the last post of this year. A year that has been fully packed with action, challenges, traumas, dramas, highs and lows of all kind. I won't even dare to list a bit of them here. Impossible task. But most of all it has been a year I would like to call as the Year of Friends...

Stable Personality

Thanksgiving Day in United States - though celebrated by me for the very first time in my life (and I am quite excited about it, as I heard and saw a lot about this unique day in USA) - is an excellent opportunity to reflect upon one of the four legs of a table which is a symbol of a stable, mature personality...

The Essence

Back to Tarime today for the thanksgiving Mass of the newly ordained priest, Fr. Alfred Kwene. This time at home. It is a custom in the Diocese of Musoma and elsewhere in the world for a newly ordained priest to say his first official public Mass at home parish, shortly after his ordination. While in Poland we customarily celebrate our first public Mass at home parish church on the Sunday following the ordination day, here in the Diocese of Musoma, newly ordained priest celebrates his first Mass literally at home!