Year Of Faith in Kiabakari

In a couple of hours I will see managing director of the printing press in Mwanza, to discuss printing needs of Kiabakari parish and shrine for this year. I will collect also printed posters to be distributed in parishes, convents, institutions of Diocese of Musoma and outside the diocese, with the schedule of liturgical special celebrations of the Year of Faith in Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kiabakari. The poster along with my letter and a special brochure will be dispatched the next week. At this point of time, I wish to express my gratitude to Miss Agata Krupa for design and graphic works on the poster. Judge for yourself the professional work she has done.  Click on the image to enlarge. Thank you, Agatka!

Diaconate

I have been waiting for this day for many many years. When I arrived to Tanzania, and then to Kiabakari, I met this tiny altar server Agostino Barageti Masamaki Mapambano, a third grade primary student (if I remember correctly). I watched as he grew in years, faith and wisdom. And now, twenty two years later, he received diaconate along with his classmate from Musoma Cathedral, a person very close to my heart, whom I met in the cathedral some ten years back and it happened that at that time William Bahitwa chose to join the formation year and then major seminary...

Serengeti Western Corridor

I would love to share with you a few pictures I took yesterday in Western Corridor of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, while on the short day trip with my friends visiting me. It was a nice day, though not without problems. Our safari vehicle broke down early in the morning in the park, we had to wait more than two hours for a replacement. Tse-tse flies feasted freely on us the whole day and I cam back home beaten more than a hundred times, I guess. Still, it was a good photo opportunity, even if in this time of the year, migration is far away and one can spot only a few residing animals which do not move with herds. Click here and enjoy the beauty of the land of wonders of Tanzania and its flora and fauna.

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!

Little Angel For Kiabakari - Photos

Check the photos from Saturday's children fiesta in Kiabakari - Little Children for Kiabakari. It was a great day of prayer, unity, fun, joy, sharing children's talents and gifts. Thanks be to God, our benefactors, many people who worked hard for the success of the day. And most of all - thanks to our children who did great and were real stars. Click here to see the pictures. Enjoy!

Little Angel For Kiabakari

Many, many thanks to Miss Agata Krupa for her thoughtfulness and painstaking work, manufacturing some 230 little angels with big hearts for Kiabakari children along with lovely handsome 'Dziabągi'. It took her a few weeks to accomplish the task and then she needed only one day to sell them all during a special mission market day on Solemnity of Epiphany a week or so ago in Mucharz Parish in Achdiocese of Krakow, where the Parish Priest is my classmate and friend, a man of big heart like these little angels, Fr. Krzysztof Strzelichowski, who wholeheartedly invited Agata to her parish to sell little angels and small creatures called 'Dziabągi' (see pictures below). All income Agata decided to forward to Kiabakari for the benefit of our children.

This Saturday we will see how much this help was needed when we will have special Children's Fiesta with various activities, music, plays, competitions and food. Her initiative along with the help from collection of teddy bears, toys, school gadgets collected by Miss Bożena Koczur and Mrs. Anna Piwowarska on behalf of Foundation Kiabakari - which will be used as gifts to children on Saturday, along with the personal gift of Sylwia Konstantynowicz and her husband Jacek Juras (who are on their way to Kiabakari as I write these words, to represent all our benefactors, during the fiesta) - made this fiesta to be possible.

On behalf of all children in Kiabakari, parents, guardians and the entire community in Kiabakari - we say with grateful hearts, red with love and happiness, like those of little angels - Asanteni sana sana sana! Thank you very very very much! Karibuni kwa Tamasha letu! Welcome to our fiesta!

Levitating Feeling Over Morning Coffee

I updated my status on Facebook yesterday as follows: "Looking forward to pick up where I left book-writing." I woke up this morning with a feeling getting stronger as I sip my morning coffee, that this is what I am about to do starting from February. On the hard drive of my mackbook there are some twenty new books in various stages of writing and some other only in my imagination. Most of these deal with Divine Mercy message, liturgy, spirituality, prayer life and so forth. Yet there are a few books which still need more thought and courage to commit to. Like the second part of my autobiography, essays on people portraits, short novels etc. We will see what is going to happen in the next couple of months and how this morning feeling pans out in reality. Do not wish me luck. It will happen by itself.

Deluded Narcissists

Follow the link to the honest and revealing article on Fox News. As a pastor I can testify to the correctness of the observations of the author. Even if Tanzania the problem is emerging fast.

Late Christmas Gift

I am very happy that together with my friend, film professional and producer, Aldimilablis Novatus, we were able to complete the DVD project of the short movie on implementation of the First Aid Project in Kiabakari. Today I sent copies of the movie on DVDs via DHL to the headquarters of Foundation Kiabakari for further forwarding to people I want to get this late Christmas gift, in particular those involved directly in the project.

Epiphany

"And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." 

(From the Gospel of the Solemnity of the Epiphany)...

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...

Polish Christmas in Lake Zone

On Friday, December 28, 2012, we had a second Christmas in our Polish community of Lake Zone. This time the venue was SMA regional house in Bwiru, Mwanza. Some twenty people attended. It was a marvelous time and a great initiative which we must preserve and continue. Enjoy a few pictures I took on that day.

Polish Day in Dar

Just a few pictures from the evening meeting of Polish Ambassador, Consul and Commerce official from Polish Embassy in Nairobi - with Polish community in Dar es Salaam on December 14, 2012. A very good idea of mobile consulate in Tanzania, which helps us living in Tanzania a lot. And an opportunity to know better each other.

Mission Accomplished

Typing these words at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. I am on my way back to Kiabakari. God willing, I will land in Mwanza midday, then will proceed to Buzuruga bus terminal to catch a bus to Kiabakari. Should be back home in Kia in the evening...

First Aid Fiesta

Apologies for posting these photos late. On December 1, 2012 we had a special fiesta as the conclusion and finale of First Aid project of Foundation Kiabakari financed by Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs   program of 'Polish Aid 2012'. A lot of effort went into the preparation of this major event. I am deeply grateful to all involved in the preparation and the event itself. But all we did paid off as you can see in the pictures below (posted in no particular order). Enjoy!

Altar Servers

The Solemnity of the Christ the King was celebrated in style in Kiabakari. We gave to the King thirty eight new servants in His House - the new altar servers who were officially accepted by Rev. Father Janusz Machota, the regional superior of SMA congregation in Tanzania, who with his confrere visited me on Saturday and stayed through Sunday. After a long preparation, our boys were ready to start serving the King of Mercy in His Shrine in Kiabakari in the liturgy celebrated in the church. Here are some pictures of the Holy Mass yesterday...

The Visit

Writing these words in Mwanza, at SMA regional house, I wrap up the visitation of the Mother General of Little Servants of Mary Immaculate Sisters Congregation, Mother Beata Chwistek from Stara Wieś in Poland, in Shirati and Kiabakari, as the part of her visitation of the African Province of the Congregation. Tomorrow our guests - Mother General, Assistant General, Mother Provincial - will fly to Dar es Salaam and onward to South Africa. We, Sister Superior of Kiabakari community and myself will drive back to Kiabakari. It was an important and historical visit. The very first one of the Mother General in Kiabakari convent. I am very satisfied and very glad. And I know this visit will bear multiple fruit. For now just a couple of pictures from the artistic program of our school children presented to the Guests.

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...

The Avenues Of Love

November is my favorite month. The mystery of the Communion of Saints fully relived and experienced anew by the whole Church. All Saints Solemnity congratulating our sisters and brothers for passing the exam of holy life, worthy of God's accolade and acceptance in Heaven. Asking our champions to keep a watchful eye on us walking together towards the gates of Heaven...

Blessing

Finally, 'mvua za vuli' (short rainy season) have arrived. A genuine blessing in this part of the world, and I guess, all over where people know what it means to lack water for certain periods of the year. Thank you, Lord!

For a few days now we have enjoyed thunderstorms with good downpours. Our plastic tanks filled up quickly and we pumped the rain water out of them up to the main concrete tank by the church. One good rain fills six tanks (3-4 thousand liters capacity) in a matter of a couple of hours. The main water tank by the church though depends mainly on the water from the village pipeline which never comes up our hill (we need to use boost pump each time we get the news that the water appeared in the neighbors' taps. We harvest the rain water only from the small portion of the church roofs, unfortunately, as the village pipeline failure to deliver water to inhabitants of Nyamisisye and Kiabakari villages in relatively new backward development.

It looks like the situation is not going to improve in the foreseeable future, so we have to react quickly and install gutters and build main retention tanks for rain water, funds permitting. Just a few pictures below taken with mobile phone camera to show you the beauty of the Vuli season.