Visitors at Hanga Abbey August 2023

 At Hanga Abbey we had blessing of several visitors from Europe and USA in August. From Italy, Dr Angelo came to Hanga and stayed for about three weeks. He has been a benefactor of Hanga Health Center for many years and has been helping many other dispensaries in Ruvuma and Njombe regions. He also helps the Benedictine nuns of St. Agnes in Chipole in the archdiocese of Songea. He was able to visit there too where he was welcomed by Sr. Bonita. Sister Bonita is a teacher for the Catechists preparing to be nuns from different religious communities in Tanzania. She was sponsored by Dr. Mario for her studies in Italy.

Dr. Angelo with Sister Bonita, OSB

Dr. Angelo with Catechist students

From Germany we had the honor of welcoming Monsignor Wolfang Huber, the president of MISEREOR, a funding organization in Germany owned by the Bishops Conference of Germany. Monsignor Wolfgang visited many dioceses in southern Tanzania and religious communities including Benedictine abbeys of Mvimwa, Peramiho, Ndanda and Hanga.

In the photo from left; Abbot Octavian Massingo, Monsignor Wolfang and Frater Theodory

  

Other visitors in August were alumni of St. John's (Benedictine) University in Minnesota, USA: Hayden Hedrington, Samuel Rengo and James Siems (see in the photo). They will be staying at Hanga for nine months working in various institutions of the abbey including Hanga Health Center. We welcome them wholeheartedly.

Hanga Health Center News

 At Hanga Health Center works and new endeavors never stop. Currently work is coming into completion: the installation of X-ray machine. By regulations of the Health Department of the government the equipment has to be inspected and certified by the government. So this mid June a team of inspectors from Dodoma came to the Health Center for the inspection. Recommendations were made for some adjustments and improvements. Soon the machine will be in use. Thanks to Frater Lucius for his vision that the Health Center has this machine which will alleviate the worry of many patients travelling far to Songea Regional Hospital or Peramiho for the service.

The new X-ray machine at Hanga Health Center

Team of inspectors inspecting the X-ray machine

Celebrating Corpus Christi at Hanga, 2023.

 Every year at Hanga, monks and the faithful of Hanga parish celebrate together the Solemnity of the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (Corpus Christi). This year the event took the normal course. From Hanga parish church the faithful processed with the blessed Sacrament to the Abbey Church with songs and prayers by different groups including monks, students and parishioners. It began at the parish church with a stop at the abbey guest hour for a few minutes of adoration and concluded in the abbey church.

Processing with the Blessed Sacrament

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Beginning School Year 2023 for Hanga Abbey Schools

The School Year at Hanga for the abbey schools began with special Holy Mass celebration early January this year, 2023. The Mass was celebrated in the church of Hanga parish. The common mass involved two of the five schools of Hanga Abbey. It was St. Benedict Secondary School (girls) and Colland Secondary School (boys).

The presider at the Mass was Fr. Amadeus Mhagama, OSB. He is the coordinator and supervisor of Colland Secondary School. Other priests concelebrating at the mass were Fr. Reginal Moyo, the pastor of Hanga parish, Fr. Willibrord Nzota, OSB, the rector of Hanga Seminary, Fr. Chrysostom, OSB, and Fr. Gonza Haule, OSB.

We pray that the good Lord keeps our students healthy in mind and body to do well in their studies.

Fr. Amadeus at the pulpit

Concelebrands: Fr. Chrysostom, (left), Fr. Gonza and Fr. Willibrord

Students from Colland Secondary School

Students from St. Benedict Secondary School

Hanga Trade School Graduation 2022

 On December 2, 2022, Hanga Trade School had a celebration to say goodbye to 18 students who have finished their four years of training. They have been trained is different trades including carpentry, masonry, tailoring, electrical installation and plumbing.

All of the eighteen students were young men except one who was a young woman. We trust that there will be more women graduating at the school in the years to come. Our congratulations to the graduating students. 

We pray and hope that the trades they have learned will enable them to be self-employed.

Frater Christian Mukiwa, the head of the school, with the graduating class

During holy mass celebration

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