Celabrating Palm Sunday at Hanga Abbey, 2015.

It is customary at Hanga Abbey to celebrate together Palm Sunday, the monks and with all students from all abbey schools. So again this year on Sunday March 30th, 2015, the monks and students had the Holy Mass together in the abbey church. The Palm Sunday Mass Liturgy began by blessing of the palms at St. Pirmin Guest House followed by a procession to the abbey church. The presider at the Mass was Abbot Thadei Mhagama, OSB, the abbot of Hanga Abbey. Concelebrating at mass were other priests: Fr. Gregory Mwageni, OSB, Fr. Mugaga Mselle, OSB, Fr. Chrysostom Mukulasi, OSB, Fr. Charles, OSB, Fr. Bruno Haule, OSB, and Fr. Novatus Ngonyani, OSB.

Students of Hanga Religious Seminary choir led the congregation in singing during the Mass. It was a good Mass and blessed moment the community of the abbey and the students to be together.

See some pictures of procession and the celebration of the Holy Mass in the abbey church.

Abbot Thadei Mhagama, OSB, in the processing with Fr. Gregory Mwageni, OSB, on his left.

 

Below: students and monks in the procession.

 

 

 

 

 

Below: at Mass in the abbey church

 

 

 

Frater Deogratias Sikazwe, OSB, of Hanga Abbey, Ordained to Deaconate.

On the seventh of January, this year 2015, at the cathedral of the archdiocese of Songea, in southern
Tanzania,



ten men were ordained as transitional deacons. Archbishop Damian Dallu of the archdiocese ordained the men. One of them was our own Frater Deogratias David Sikazwe, OSB. Deacon Deogratias has been attending Theology School at Peramiho Major Seminary. He is originally from Zambia and joined the Hanga Abbey through the daughter house Priory in Katibunga, Zambia. Deacon Frater Deogratias is expected to be ordained to priesthood this year. When ordained he will be the third priest from Zambia in our community. We congratulate Frater Deogratias for his achievement.

St. Joseph Peramiho Hospital Sends Student Nurses to Hanga Health Center

At Hanga Health Center on November 28, 2014, six nursing students were welcomed to have their field experience at the Center. It has been a customary for students from Peramiho St. Joseph Hospital to send their students to the Health Center for practices. For the Health Center, the presence of the students alleviates much work to the staff especially during this rainy season when there is overwhelming number of patients. The students finish their field work toward the end of December. We thank the administration at Peramiho Hospital for sending us a  help, and we thank the students for their dedication.

Photos of the student nurses at Hanga Health Center at gate and signing a Guest Book.

 

Graduation at Hanga Serminary, 2014

Fifty five men finished sitting for National Examination for Secondary School Education at Hanga Religious Seminary this year 2014. November 22, 2014,  was a graduation day for the young men at the seminary. It was time to congratulate them for their completion of the Secondary School Education and saying farewell.

The day began with the celebration of Holy Mass followed by speeches and dances/singing and concluded with luncheon. Among the dances performed during the ceremony was the famous Ngoni war dance commonly known as "ligihu" - See pictures below of students in pink costumes. The guest of honor was Fr. Tetulian Mrope, a professor at Peramiho Seminary School of Theology.

 

Below the guest of honor Fr. Tetulian Mrope and Fr. Chrysotom Mukulasi, OSB, (the Rector of the seminary) beside him, handing School Leaving Certificates to the graduating seminarians.

 

We thank Fr. Chrysostom and all the seminary teachers for their academic and moral formation they gave to the seminarians. We wish the graduating students success in their future endeavors.

Br. Julian from German (on left) was at the ceremony. Br. Julian teaches music at the seminary.

Above Fr. Chrysostom Mukulasi, OSB, the Rector of the seminary is giving a speech.

Students from other Hanga Abbey schools were present including Nakagugu Formation House, St. Benedict Secondary School and Hanga Trade School.

 

A Wedding Ceremony of an Abbey Employee

It was Theodora Mpagike being married to Mr. Michael Mbiro this last September 2014. Ms. Theodora has a certificate in dentistry and has been working at the Abbey Health Center for ten years. With that many years at the Health Center she is well known by the villagers. Consequently her wedding was phenomenal. It drew a big crowd at the Catholic parish church at Hanga village. The wedding was officiated by Fr. Frown Tindwa, a former student of St. Benedict Secondary school, one of the abbey's school. Fr. Tindwa is a relative of Mr. Michael. Mr. Mbiro and her wife Theodora have a two year old daughter who was baptized on the same wedding day. Congratulations to Mr. Michael Mbiro and Theodara for their commitment to life together. We wish them many God's blessings.

In the photos are sections of the wedding ceremony.

In the photo above from left Theodora Mpagike, (in wreath)  her daughter, Fr. Frowin Tinda and Mr. Michael Mbiro.

 

 

Exchanging wedding rings - below.

Many villagers of Hanga attended the wedding.

 

 

Frater Stanislaus, OSB, Graduates in Medical Studies

On August 26, 2014  at the University of St. Augustine in Mwanza run by Episcopal Conference of Catholic bishops of Tanzania Frater Stanislaus Mwinuka, OSB, had graduation ceremony finishing his training to be a Clinical Officer. He becomes the first monk of Hanga Abbey to have the diploma in the field. Indeed he is being waited for eagerly at Hanga Health Center for his expertise. We thank those who sponsored for his studies. Later on we expect Frater Stanislaus to continue on with training in optometry. We wish him success in all his endeavors.

Below are some pictures of Frater Stanislaus graduation day.

St. Laurent Primary School Graduation 2014

On August 16, this year 2014 St. Laurent School had the celebration for the graduating class - Standard VII class. St. Laurent school is a pre and primary school of English Medium. The total number of graduating pupils was 62 of whom 38 were boys and 24 girls. Mr. Ernest Haule the owner of OK Hotels in Songea  town was the guest of honor. In September the pupils will be sitting for their final National Examinations. We wish them success and bright future. Like all other classes in the past that all pupils passed the National Exams, we hope they too will do well.