Sister Otilia Mbiro, OSB, a Native of Hanga, Celebrates 25 Years Jubilee

 In August this year 2022, a Benedictine Nun, Sister Otilia Mbiro, OSB, celebrated her 25th anniversary of religious life at Hanga, a place where she was born and raised. Sister Otilia is a nun in the community of Benedictine Missionaries (well known as Tutzing Sisters) in Ndanda, in the diocese of Mtwara.

To the credit of Hanga Abbey, Sister Otilia's vocation was influenced by Hanga Abbey monks, particularly the late Frater Anselm Wella, OSB. He was instrumental in recruiting many girls and sending them to join Sisters Convents. Sister Otilia and her older sister, Sisters Innocencia of Ndolo African Benedictine Sisters, are both the product of the work of Frater Anslem.

Congratulations to Sister Otilia on her 25th anniversary as a nun.

From right: Sister Otilia (with a wreath), her sister Sr. Innocencia, and Br. Lucius.

Monks of Hanga Abbey congratulating Sister Otilia

Dinner celebration

Catting a cake

Company at dinner

Clean Water for Hanga Seminary

 Indeed, thanks to many people from USA who contribute to the clean water project through Hanga Abbey. In March this year 2022 one of Hanga Abbey schools, Hanga Seminary, got clean water.

The system of the clean water is from a well with water pumped by a solar pump. At the well there is a tower of solar panels to run the pump. From the pump water is supplied to plastic tanks on another tower inside the school compound.

The system is one of the few systems that use solar pumps. Another one of this kind was for Colland Secondary School. It was established in 2015. Colland Secondary School is also one of the Abbey schools.

There was a water problem at Hanga Seminary. Water supply from the main line that had been serving the school for many years had become old and less functionable. With the establishment of the new water supply the students at Hanga Seminary are now worry free of searching water for their daily use. They even use the water for growing vegetable at the school compound.

                                        

Solar panel tower

Plastic tanks

Water tower without tanks

Water tower with plastic tanks at Hanga Seminary

Clean Water for Mputa Village

 

Since 2019, the Mputa Village Project which serves approximately 5000 inhabitants has been slowly progressing. The local villagers have been working diligently and even through difficult times have managed to complete 5 miles of pipeline from the high mountain water source to the lowlands of Mputa. This main line provides access to clean water for some of the nearby villagers, which is a good start but minimal in comparison to the overall project benefits.

The next phase of the project is to construct three concrete tanks, lay the pipe to the adjoining streets and install the water taps. The major tank will supply water to the two smaller tanks that will support two sections of the village and bring clean safe drinking water to 5000 people.

 

Digging a trench and laying pipes

       

                        

                                 Enjoying clean water

                        

   

Graduation for St. Benedict and Colland Secondary School at Hanga 

Students of St Benedict and Colland Secondary Schools of Hanga Abbey celebrated graduation for Form Four students on Friday November 6, 2020. A total of 72 were girls at St. Benedoct and 46 boys were from Colland. Indeed it was a great jubilation for the graduating class of students finishing their secondary school education after four years of studies. There were many invited guests, parents and friends of the graduating students. 

The celebration had the honor of having the guest of honor Mr. Adriano Mvungi, the head manager of Tanzania Electric Electric Supply Company of Ruvuma region in southern Tanzania. Mr. Mvungi addressed the congregation in the graduation insisting to the parents that the best investment they can make for their children in education. 

Toward the end of November the students will be sitting for their National Examinations. We wish them good performance in their exams. 

We hope and wish the graduating students to hold firm to the discipline and good moral training they have received at these Benedictine schools.and we give congratulations for reaching Form IV education level

Form Four Colland Secondary School students

Mr. Mvungi handing school leaving certificates to graduating students.

A Wedding of an Employee of Hanga Health Center

On July 1, 2020, an employee of Hanga Health Center had a wedding ceremony to the joy of the employees and many past patients served by Dr. Mary Njovu. She is a resident surgeon at Hanga Health Center since 2013. She has been a great surgeon at the center particularly helping women with baby delivery problems. Her husband is also a medical doctor and together the two have two little children, a boy and a girl.

Fr. Erick, the Vicar General of the archdiocese of Songea, was the officiating priest accompanied by Fr. Elia Chale, the pastor at Hanga Parish.

Hanga Abbey Assisting Mputa Village with Clean Water

Mputa village is about 20 kilometers north of Hanga Abbey in the district of Namtumbo. The abbey is helping Mputa villagers to have safe drinking water. The water will be drawn from a stream on a mountain and piped down to the village. More than 2,000 people will profit from the project.

As of March, 2020, a dam has been constructed at a site to fetch water to the lowland. The next step is to dig a trench and lay pipes.

The dam wall with the outlet chamber

 Women are not left behing in the project!