Where we Work
What we Do
Jubilee 2000 was an extraordinary year in many ways. The year that the Jubilee Crucifix visited thousands of homes in the Diocese of Shinyanga, Tanzania. The year of great growth in Old Maswa Parish with more than 800 adults and youth being baptized at Easter. The year in which I celebrated my 40th anniversary of ordination to the missionary priesthood. Also a year to be remembered. A year that gave me the desire and courage to continue spreading the good new of God's love through pastoral and developmental projects that care for both body and soul.
Forty years ago I boarded the Morgenster, a South African Marine Line ship plying the seas from New York to Cape Town. As I steered a course for Africa, I never looked back. That safari took me to the only place that I ever wanted to go to do missionary work, Tanganyika. The first months in Shinyanga Diocese were spent trying to learn the local language of Kisukuma. The remainder of the next seven years was spent at the cathedral parish of Buhangija near Shinyanga town. In 1967, several months after I returned from my first home leave, I was assigned to the remote five-year-old parish of Old Maswa. A parish full of opportunities. One in which a young priest could use all of the talents he acquired as a farm boy growing up in Patch Grove, Wisconsin.
In those 33 years, I have gone through the gamut of opportunities that
opened up as the years went by. It is difficult to remember all of the
things that I have tried over the years in both the pastoral and
developmental work.
Agricultural and animal husbandry projects were my first attempts to improve the quality of life. That was followed by setting up a grinding mill that saved women walking many miles every week to have corn ground into flour at distant grinding mills. That was the first of many building projects in three Centers (sub-parishes) that include three churches, classrooms, storerooms, a convent, two pastoral houses, offices, carpentry and mechanics facilities, plus numerous other buildings. Some buildings incorporate many of the 20- and 40-foot containers that have been sent over by Brother Regis Fust, SDS, from the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse in New Holstein, WI. Without his help, most of our projects would never have been possible. Over the years, we also dabbled in forestry and water projects. As time went on, I saw the need to offer health care. As a result, I built dispensaries, mother child health clinics, maternity and inpatient wards at Old Maswa and Nkololo Centers. Our original medical staff of 3 has grown to 34. In order to facilitate travel between Old Maswa and Nkololo Centers, we continue to work on an all-weather road that has already reduced the distance traveled from 24 to 14 miles and the traveling time from 11/2 or 2 hours to 30 minutes. Finally, "To Change Someone's Life Forever Through Education" is the project that is closest to my heart, one that has and will continue to improve the lives of hundreds of young people eager for a chance to improve their quality of life.
There is very little that I have learned in my life that has not been useful in spreading the Good News. It is a wonderful, fulfilling and rewarding life. One of its mysteries is that there are not a dozen young men lining up behind me eagerly awaiting their chance to take my place!
Our pastoral and development projects have grown and progressed for many reasons. It has been obvious to many of us at Old Maswa that the Holy Spirit is very much at work and that we are barely hanging on to his coattails. We have also felt the power of the prayers of our benefactors. Please continue to remember us as we do you. We have also been blessed with numerous dedicated, generous, faithful workers resulting in a family spirit. Last, but not least, are our Small Christian Communities that continue to be formed. Their faith and work have transformed the Christian communities in many of our villages. More than 800 baptisms at Easter time did not just happen, they were the result of the reasons mentioned above.
At age 68 I have no illusions. Life does not get easier. Every year there are more challenges plus more work. My hope and prayers is to work as long and as hard as God gives me the strength and health that I need for the difficult work ahead. With the continued help of your prayers and support, I will be able to fulfill that hope. There is so much good that we can still do together.
I have a 10-year parish plan that will keep me occupied, leaving time only for my necessary annual visit. That visit continues to he my chance to update my benefactors, who are my Fellow Missioners, on the work that we have done together over the past year and to offer everyone the ongoing opportunity to share in our missionary work through continued prayer and financial support. I continue to be your gateway to those in need.
My plans for the future are quite simple and clear. First, I want the present 1200-square-mile parish of Old Maswa to become three distinct and independent parishes, namely Old Maswa, Mhango and Nkololo. Even now these Centers, or you may say Sub-parishes, are operating independently in all aspects. Secondly, my goal is that no parishioner be more than 10 miles from a church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. The reason for this is not only that the Center catechist who is an Eucharistic Minister can take the Eucharist to the 14 or more outstations surrounding the Center, but also so that he can take the Eucharist to the sick and dying.
In order to accomplish this goal, I have opened a fourth Center, that of Gasuma, 10 miles beyond Nkololo Center and 10 miles from the Reserve area of the Serengeti Plains. Since October 1999 we have been praying under trees with the altar placed in the shade provided by a few pieces of metal roofing tied down on a frame of sisal poles. Generous donors have already agreed to provide funds to buy a full sized 80 foot x 80 foot steel frame church. I already have drawings on paper. However, I will still need at least $35,000-$40,000 for shipping and construction. There is also an urgent need to build classrooms at Nkololo and Gasuma in which to teach the numerous catechumens who continue to ask for instructions. Prayers are being answered in so many ways, necessitating our continued need to grow and to develop our facilities.
Every year, I help about 90-100 students. I pay all or part of their expenses to study in boarding schools throughout Tanzania. Without student sponsors, this would not have been possible. For most secondary students, $500 covers school fees, school supplies, clothing, transportation, medical, special collections, and pocket money. Some students continue on after Secondary School. Costs are always higher for continuing higher education. For that reason, several sponsors are assigned for each student, thus increasing the need for sponsors.
Education of girls is not a priority for most Tanzanian families. They often prefer to get the cow bride-wealth that will be given for their daughter. For that reason, I have spent a lot of time, energy and money to change their lives. I have dreamed many dreams, and I still have a dream. A dream of cooperating with Bishop Balina in building a girls secondary (high) boarding school in our area. Seeing the booming U.S. economy, I realize that it does not have to be an impossible dream. Although final costs, because they include staff housing, laboratory, library, lighting, water wells, etc., could eventually top a million dollars, my hope is to begin slowly, building in stages. I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, or assistance in any form that would make a seemingly impossible dream possible.
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