Six Years Ago

It was six years ago when on the day like today, October 25, we celebrated Golden Jubilee of my parents wedding. We had a family small celebration at home with the Holy Mass which I presided and the little function afterwards. It was the last celebration while my parents were alive. Soon after 2008 Jubilee, my Mum passed on to better life in Heaven, on January 3, 2009. Then later my Dad, on May 29, 2012.

Today they would have celebrated with us their 56th anniversary of the wedding. As they continue celebrating in Heaven with the choirs of Angels as I believe strongly, we continue to celebrate here on Earth through prayer and Holy Mass for their intention. In fact, I have just finished celebration of the special Holy Mass for their intention. May Good Lord grant them eternal peace and fullness of happiness in His House.

I ask you kindly to say Rosary or any other prayer you deem suitable for my Parents intention. Thank you in advance!

My Parents - Maria Halina and Wiesław Ferdynand
on the day of their wedding

Pure Simplicity

So many people around here claim that they cannot reach the decision to sanctify their spousal love and relationship by the sacrament of marriage because of lack of resources to prepare a wedding party. They used to dismiss my inquiries into the possibility of this sacramental step in their Christian lives by saying that they still 'gather the strength' (bado tunakusanya nguvu). But this strength seems not to materialize any soon or never...

Happy Anniversary

October 25 - a very special day in the history of my family. The day my Mum and Dad got married in 1958 in Krakow-Nowa Huta. Today 52 years passed since that day. Two years ago we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of my parents' wedding. I remember vividly that day, when I celebrated the Holy Mass in our apartment in Krakow, as my Mum did not feel well and Grandma could not walk by her own power to the parochial church...

In God's Textile Store

Two Holy Masses 'under my belt' and off I went to Nyamikoma oustation, some 6 kilometers from Kiabakari on the main highway from Musoma to Mwanza. I braced myself for a long Mass in extreme heat in my favorite chapel in the parish, dedicated to the Patron Saint of my ordination class, St. Francis of Assisi... I was about to officiate at the sacrament of marriage of three couples and - before that - to baptize one of the brides, confirm one couple and to baptize four children from three couples. I said to myself with wicked grin - 'no country for old men!' Another day in tough conditions...

The Death Of A Spinach

This is what happened last night. After a wedding Mass which went well, with simple and elegant liturgical setting, pretty good attendance and visible happiness of the bride and groom, we waited for a call from a wedding organizing committee. They were supposed to call us when to come to the wedding hall so we do not have to wait for too long for supper. I always (whenever I decide to attend wedding reception, which happens quite rarely, to be honest, as I see it as a massive waste of time for me, I don't care saying this) insist on telling me exactly when is the best time for me to come so I don't have to sit for hours, idle and bored as the protocol of these events is always much the same, stiff, official and boring to death!

'W' Hour

'W' hour has finally arrived. The Wedding Hour of my close friends. Marta and Daniel. It seemed an eternity since they called first back in early February, asking me to bless their marriage today, on August 7. I refused at the first instance as there was a bishop's canonical visitation planned for this week supposed to end tomorrow. And it is never easy to change such a huge agenda as this. But, as Marta was full of hopes that God will do miracles, He surely delivered miracles...

On My Way

Yes, I am on my way to Poznań, right now as I type these words on my iPhone, sitting in a train couch, for a series of meetings with people who wish to join Foundation Kiabakari starting with highest vacant position of a chairperson of executive board through posts in the council up to volunteers task force. Hope things will go well and we are able to move forward.

But the main reason of my travel to Poznań is to officiate at the marriage ceremony of my close friends on Saturday, who wished that I am present at their wedding. And they paid for air ticket from Tanzania to Poland! Amazing! I am deeply moved by their love and friendship...

Looking forward to meeting my fantastic friends in Poznań!

Two Weeks

Counting days till my short trip home. Just two weeks left. I have to admit that this time I am truly looking forward to those three weeks spent home with Dad and my close friends. And - of course - two major reasons to undertake this 'flash vacation' are a wedding of my friends and my medical checkup in hospital, as I still do not feel confident that I am on a right track to recovery...

Little Switzerland

So, after three hours of earnest driving, we (three sisters, driver and me) have arrived to Bura Motherhouse of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph. It feels good to be back here. I love this place, located on a plateau surrounded from three sides by beautiful hills (I would rather call them mountains) and the opening in this crescent-shaped hills allowing for the twisted dirt road to wind its way around the slopes of Taita Hills. This area looks to me like a Little Switzerland, so beautiful and serene, so new every morning and every evening...