Lent 2015 - Leading Tune - Wishing You All A Blessed And Happy Journey Through The Desert Led By The Holy Spirit

You've Got To Move It, Move It!

Revival of the parochial family in Kiabakari in the Year of Family includes holistic revival of various apostolic groups and movements. Among those - vocation groups (altar servers and non-altar servers), youth groups and associations.

Our altar servers decided to get rid of laziness and started regular training before any serious attempts to check their skills with other football youth teams in Kiabakari and the area. Luckily, we have several sets of football jerseys, so their internal test matches can be played in full 'combat' attire. The older boys jerseys came to us through courtesy of our former German volunteers - Denise and Thomas. The younger boys jerseys I got years back, even before I was transferred to Musoma Cathedral in 2002. The pictures below I took before their training matches a couple of weeks ago. The little ones played in small teams on small pitch.

Girls' vocation groups is not forgotten either. I have just finished laying out of the netball court with professional goal posts, traced the lines and checked on the stock of netball jerseys. We have plenty of netballs courtesy of Australia, seven sets of netball jerseys. Some of them will go to our primary school, the rest will stay with parochial girls' teams. 

We plan to have a all-parochial tournament in football and netball starting in September with the climax and finale on the Feast of the Holy Family on December 28 this year.

Two Small Coins

“Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."” (Mk 12:41-44)

A couple of weeks ago a letter came for the youth of Musoma Cathedral who asked me for a retreat here in Kiabakari, in the diocesan shrine of Divine Mercy. Some of those youth I worked with back in 2002-2006 when I was a pastor there. The letter brought back memories of that period and one particular moment of it, when the youth group of Musoma Cathedral asked me for a retreat day for them. I complied and we had a recollection day in the cathedral...

World Youth Day 2011- Madrid

Just a quick post with link to the 26th World Youth Day celebrated in Madrid, Spain, with the Holy Father Benedict XVI. From Tanzania we have approx. 250 youth representing Tanzanian youth, led by two bishops. This is an official delegation, but there are several individual pilgrims who traveled to Madrid, some of them are my friends, who share their experience on Facebook and Twitter. Praying for all the youth of the world, may the grace of this special encounter with Living Christ through the presence of the Holy Father, His Vicar on earth, bring showers of special blessing on all the youth of the world. May they truly be “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). The message of the Holy Father for the World Youth Day in Madrid can be read here. And the special page of the Vatican website dedicated to the World Youth Day 2011 is here. Let us all pray for the success of the World Youth Day in Madrid!

Vocation Group

Had a lovely meeting just a while ago with my altar servers, the candidates for altar servers, the girls from their vocation group and the candidates to become members of girls' vocation group in our mission. They will come back later in the afternoon for the second session - a meeting, practice of the liturgy of the acceptance of candidates to altar servers and another one for girls to be admitted to their vocational group. The prevailing mood among all of us is of excitement and anticipation...

Scratching The Surface

That is exactly how I see it. Just scratching the surface of a little yet known world to me. The world of human ingenuity, charisma, talents, skills, passions and desires that drive people from the very young age to excel... Since I have arrived to Canada, this is what I've been doing...more rather by chance, by accident, that by a methodical process or approach. Scratching the surface of the world of talents, passions, charismas, dreams, notions, desires and lifetime goals in Polish diaspora in Montreal mainly, as I have been spending most of my time in this city...But I am absolutely certain that in Toronto and elsewhere in Canada, the picture is just the same...

TYCS

Just came back from the celebration of opening of a new branch of TYCS (Tanzania Young Christian Students which is a branch of International Young Christian Students) in Kiabakari Secondary School in my parish.

TYCS is an evangelical group of Students who are in the Secondary Schools and Colleges. TYCS gives the Students courage to investigate their surroundings as Students in their Schools, Colleges and in the  community. Also TYCS stimulates the Students to rise up their talents by the use of Spiritual studies, seminars, contemplation of the Word of God and common activities. TYCS joins Students starting from the simple group found in the school, and later in the deaneries, Diocese and Nationwide. TYCS brings forward the Students in their main task of evangelization of the Word of God wherever they are as Students. Also it encourages young boys and girls to join in the Priestly, Religious  and active Laity Vocation  and prepare them to be good leaders in any sector in the Church as well as in the country.

We have four government secondary school in the parish. In Kiabakari township there are two - Kukirango Secondary School and Kiabakari Secondary School (which has been recently constructed by the citizens themselves with some help from other donors).

TYCS Kukirango is well established branch with several years of experience already. The new branch has been initiatied last year and today we had an official recognition function, with Holy Mass in the Shrine at 10.00am first with me presiding and preaching, and thereafter the official part of presentation of the certificate of recognition to the chairman of the new branch, some speeches, artistic program and lunch.

I must say I was very proud of my youth as they tried their best to prepare a beautiful event, well organized and memorable.

My hopes are that with all four secondary schools having their respective TYCS branches we will be able to set up a network of cooperation within the parish, helping young students in their studies and Christian witness in their school environment and then reaching out to other parishes and the diocese at large.

Today's event has been a great highlight of my ordination anniversary which I celebrate today. Here are some pictures of the function that followed the Holy Mass. The venue was our school which is under construction.

Shortly before cutting the ribbon at the function hall in the school under construction - as a sign of official opening of the TYCS branch in Kiabakari secondary school

The Chairman  of TYCS Diocese of Musoma signing a certificate of recognition of the new branch

Brother Erasmus Marando (Montfort Brothers and Headmaster of Mwembeni Secondary School in Musoma) - diocesan formator of TYCS speaks during the function with parochial formators of TYCS - Sr. Jennipher Mutale and Sr. Angela Mushitu to his right

Some of the youth participating in the event

This event boosted my hope in the youth in my parish. Thank you, o Lord, for this gift.