Benedictine Nuns Visit Hanga Abbey

On the 24th February, 2012 nuns from Benedictine Missionary of the Tutzing residing in Peramiho, southern Tanzania, paid a visit to Hanga Abbey for their outing and refreshment. This was a group of nuns in temporal vows soon to make their final profession. They came to Peramiho for preparation for their perpertual vows from different houses of the congregation nameley, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Phillipines and India.

While they were at the abbey they had the opportunity of seing projects and activities the monks of Hanga Abbey do. They saw the dispensary, schools (Hanga Seminary, St. Benedict Secondary school, and the Trade school), poultry unit, carpentry, and automechanic workshop to mention but a few. They were amazed and impressed by all that is happening at Hanga Abbey particulary the art work of inlay at the carpentry shop and the poultry unit for the many eggs they saw!

A photo of the nuns with at the abbey with Fr. Gregory Mwageni, OSB, Prior Odo Nanyanje, OSB, and other monks who took the nuns to tour the abbey

At the dispensary they met the monks who work at the abbey dispensary: Frater Lucius Matembo, OSB, Frater Josephat Haule, OSB, and Frater Benedict Kaguti, OSB. In the right photo Frt. Josephat is first on left and Frt. Benedict is first on right.

The nuns were amazed at the amount of food srored by Frater Claver, OSB, in the abbey food bank. On the right photo they are mesmerized at the inlay work in the carpentry shop.

At the Trade School Frater Patrick Mwinuka, OSB, head of the school showed the nuns computer center where internet service is provided for monks and the public. At St. Benedict Secondary school, Fr. Angelo Mugaga, OSB, the head of the school gave the nuns a tour.

Hanga Dispensary Receives An Ambulance

The year 2012 has begun with a great blessing to the abbey dispensary at Hanga. Dr. Mario from Italy with other benefactors from Italy bought an ambulance to serve the sick at the abbey dispensary. The need for an ambulance has been a long time problem. Most of the time women with delivery problems had been the victims. It is a great relief to the abbey and particularly Br. Lucius Matembo, OSB, the head of the dispensary, who always had headache of finding a transport when a sick person at the dispensary needed to be rushed to a bigger hospital.

Thanks to Mario M. D. with his compatriots.

Mario M. D. cutting a cake at one occation during his visits to Hanga

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The ambulance.

Br. Lucius is sitting inside the new ambulance

Songea Girls High School Students Visit Hanga Abbey

Late November students of advanced level Secondary School at Songea Girls' Secondary School visited Hanga Abbey as study tour. While at Hanga they visited different worshops and schools witnessing themselves the art and workshop skills monks have and the extensive apostolate that monks of Hanga abbey are undertaking. In the picture the students are seen at the dispensary with Br. Lucius Matembo, OSB, the head of the dispensary.

Frater Justin Salingwa, OSB, of Hanga Abbey Dies

On November 12th, 2011 Frater Justin Salingwa, OSB, of the Hanga abbey died in Dar es Salaam at Muhimbili National Hospital. He was 50 years old. Next year 2012 he would celebrate 25th anniversary of monastic life.

Br. Justin died of complications of the urinary system and diabetes which was diagnosed just a week before he died. All these happened within a weeek. He was being treated for malaria at the abbey then he fainted and was taken to Peramiho Mission Hospital. There it was found that his blood sugar level was too high and urinary system did now work properly. He was immediately flown to Dar es Salaam by charter plane in the evening of November 11th. Frt Justin survived overnight and succumbed his life the next morning November 12th.

Frater Justin was a true monk who lived his monastic vows well to his ability. He was an example to be followed. He was dedicated to monastic life and the community. For over 15 years he had been running the abbey general store selling different merchadise for the rural population around Hanga Abbey. Many people knew him through this business. Frt. Justin supervised the store with great dedication and dilligence such that it has been the backbone of the budget of the abbey kitchen.

May he rest in peace!

In the photo he is first on the right. The photo was taken in June 2011 when the then bishop elect Johh Ndimbo visited Hanga four days before he was installed bishop of Mbinga diocese.

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On the right you can see Frt. Justin's face. He was at the store distributing mosquito nets to nursing and pregnant mothers for free.

Clean Water for Mawa-Msindo village in Southern Tanzania C

In August 2011 villagers of Mawa-Msindo in Namtumbo district in southern Tanzania had the privillege of getting clean water. Villagers got donation from the US through St. Maurus Hanga Abbey to buy pipes. Locally, the villagers dug the trench and laid pipes. Both men and women, adults and children, got involved in the work. Women, of course, are happiest to have the water becase they do not have to walk great distances anymore searching for water.

In the photo villagers are digging trench to lay pipes

A roll of plastic pipe is laid in the trench

Enjoying clean water

Graduation at St. Benedict 2011

A ceremony was held at St. Benedict Secondary School on September 24th, 2011 for a Form Four class of 2011. It is the pride of St. Maurus Hanga Abbey to have this institution which offers secondary school eduation to people of any age, religion, race and gender. Many religious men and women in Tanzania join religious lives withouth having secondary school education and St. Benedict Secondary school offer that opportunity. No wonder in this graduating class of 2011 there was also a Camaldose nun, Sr. Angela, graduating.

Photos of sections of the graduating class. Sr. Angela a Camaldolese nun is the first from right.

Fr. Mgaga Angelo Msele (in whithe cassock and wreath) is standing with the guest of honor Jane Mapunda on his left followed by Fr. Chrysostom Mkulasi, OSB the rector of Hanga seminary.

Graduates receing their certificates of graduating at St. Benedict Secondary School.

Students performing traditional dance called "mganda" at the graduation ceremony

Representatives of the graduating class reading a special farewell address

August 2011 Visitors from Austria

St. Maurus Hanga Abbey teams with a lot of visistors from around the world, from USA, Austria, Germany, Italy, and even from the furthest continent of Australia! In August this year 2011 the abbey was happy to welcome visitors from Austria . The group was led by Ms. Petra Gehrer a frequent visitor to Hanga and a friend of the abbey. Ms. Petra has established a travel program in Austria whereby she arranges for people from Austria to come to Tanzania and enjoyTanzanian culture and the environment including wild life. While at Hanga Abbey visitors have the opportunity for a day to live with Tanzanian family to experience the real native life of an ordinary Tanzanian. This group of Austrians enjoyed emensely their stay in Tanzania especially the hospitality at the abbey. They promised to come again.

In the the photo is the group of visitors from Austria in August 2011

Visitors from Austria in a soccer team.

The Austrians are visiting with pupils at a local primary school at Hanga village