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

St. Laurent Standard Seven 4th Graduation - 2011

St. Laurent elementary (primary) school at Hanga is an English medium school; which means classes are taught in English as opposed to ordinary or most Tanzanian elementary schools that normally use Swahili as the medium of instruction. The graduating class of 2011 had 44 students girls and boys, making it the 4th graduation since the school was established. Their graduation was held late August and on the first week of September they sat for their final National examinations. We are looking forward to their examination results. We are very optimistic that the whole class will pass as other classes in the past had done.

Congratulations to the pupils and staff members for preparing these children to be good citizens in the future. We pray and hope that the good moral formation they have acquired at Hanga will make them succeed in their endeavors.

In pictures: the graduating class of 2011

Optometrists from Netherlands Serve People at Hanga Dispensary

In Ausgust 2011, a group of doctors and students of optometry from Holland came to Hanga Abbey devoting their time to serve people with problems of vision. They brought with them spectacles and distributed to the people in need for free. Dr. Ed Tuhy from Klamath Falls, Oregon - USA had also sent some glasses for the purpose. As a matter of fact this is an endeavor he initiated back in 1009. This project is hailed so much and thete were people fro all over the Tanzania. Our gratitude and congratulations to all the those who made this service possible especially to the group from Netherlands.

In the photo is a group of optometrists from Netherlands.

Patients are being diagnosed for vision problems

Br. Benedict Kaguti, OSB, Graduates with Diploma in Advanced Nursing

The Hanga Abbey dispensary is making steady progress as more Brothers get training in the medical field. In 2010 Br. Jesephat, OSB, graduated with the Advanced Nursing diploma at Peramiho Nursing School, and this year 2011 in August Br. Benedict achieved his diplama in Advanced Nursing at KCMC in Moshi, northern Tanzania. The need for trained personnel at the dispensary is great and it is great joy when personnel is added.

We congratulate Br. Benedict for his achievement and we welcome him to work, wishing him great success.

In the photos: Br. Benedict on his graduation day.

A Native of Hanga Ordained to Priesthood

Fr. Gaston Millinga was ordained a priest with other seven men in archdiocese of Songea on June 22, 2011. Fr. Gaston's parents have been very much influenced by Bro. Augustine Mgedzi during their youth ages. Unfortunately though Fr. Milinga had lost his father back in the 80's. Fr.

Gaston celebrated his thanksgiving masses and Hanga parish on June 28 and at his parents' house on July 2nd. We wish him good zeal in working in the Lord's field!!

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Fr. Millinga celebrating his thanksgiving mass at his home

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Fr. Gaston is having meal with his mother on his left and abbot Thadei on her left.

Fr. Gaston with Br. Augustine Mgedzi, OSB,

Progress In Eye Services at Hanga Dispensary

Since the 2008 when Dr. Ed Tuhy of Klamath Falls, Oregon -USA came to Hanga for eye services, the project has been doing very well. Dr. Tuhy had organized donation of glasses from the US. Then he trained Br. Stanislaus to do simple diagnosis for people with eye sight. Now Hanga dispensary receives many people who need eye glasses to see. Also through monetary donations from the US other patients with problems of eye cataracts have been helped. One particular case is of two children: one of 10 years and another of 3 years were operated in Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam. The two children are now doing fine.

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In the photo Br. Lucius with Sisters who came to have eye glasses.

Jackline Lunji who had surgery in both eyes, in Dar es Salaam, she is now back school.

More people who have had eye surgeries.

A boy of 3 years was successfully operated on his left eye in Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Bishop Gervas Placidus Nkalanga, OSB, of Hanga Abbey Celebrates 50 Years as a Bishop

A monk of Hanga Abbey, and retired bishop of Bukoba northwestern Tanzania, Gervas Nkalanga, OSB, celebrated 50 years as a bishop on June 2011. He was joined by more than 30 bishops from Tanzania Espiscopal Conference including Polycarp Cardinal Pengo and the archbishop of Songea Norbert Mtega who also celebrates 25 years as a bishop. Bishop Nkalanga is praised for his humility and simplicity as he lives his monastic life among other monks of Hanga. Being a native of Bukoba, where bananas form a stapple food, he has established and always has been working in his banana garden.

Bishop Nkalanga with frater Fraternus shortly before Holy Mass for his jubilee began.

Bishop Nkalanga with retired abbot Alcuin, archbishop Norbert, Cardinal Pengo and abbot Thadei Mhagama, OSB, of Hanga Abbey.

The former president of the Republic of Tanzani Benjamin Mkapa with his wife were also present. In the picture to the right of the president is archbishop Norbert Mtega and behind him is Abbot Thadei Mhagama, OSB, the abbot of Hanga Abbey.

The monks of Hanga Abbey with bishops who came to celebrate jubilee with bishop Nkalanga.

Nuns from different religious convents were present for the jubilee

Bishop Nkalanga at his banana garden with the youths in monastic formation at Nakagugu.