Farewell to Volunteers at Hanga Health Center

The monks and staff members at Hanga Health Center had to say thanks to volunteers at the center as they bid the visitors goodbye. Mr. Otto and Ms. Alexandra have been working at the Health Center for more than a month in the pharmacy.  Both of them are students in pharmacy in Germany. They left mid  March going back to their homeland to continue with their studies. Another volunteer who said good bye after working at the Health Center was Frau Willma Haslinger from Austria. Ms. Bertha Mligo, an employee at the Center gets more experience and knowledge in the pharmacy field. She is a nurse by profession but has been assigned to keep medical storage room and do few things as pharmacist. We whole heartedly thank our volunteers.
Below a picture of Otto, Alexandra and Abbot Thadei who is delivering a farewell speech.

. Sitting (from left) are Sr. Anna, OSB, from Chipole Convent, Otto, Elexandra and Bertha Mligo. In the Right picture from right is Frater Lucius Matembo, OSB, the head of Hanga Health Center and our website reporter.

Also Frau Wilma Haslinger had the opportunity of having a cake of goodbye accompanied by Christa, a long time volunteer at the abbey both from Austria.

A Pastor Gets Donation to Help Orphans

      It began with our reporter, Frt. Lucius Matembo, OSB, who happened to visit Mgazini parish in the archdiocese of Songea in southern Tanzania. He found Fr. Pius Nchimbi with an assistant Sr. Siri, OSB, taking care of orphans and kids literally abandoned by their parents. Fr. Pius, the pastor of this Roman catholic parish church, realized the plight of these kids with no one to take care of them, not being sure of what to eat, what to do from day to day, decided to do something. In the old dilapidated buildings left by missionaries, with meager funds, he made minor repairs and got the children stay there under the care of Sr. Siri, OSB, a nun from Chipole convent in the archdiocese of Songea. For sure the children did not have splendid life but at least they were safe and able to eat.
       For some reason Frt. Lucius was able to sneak their photos and bring a word of need for the children to the US and the Pastor's struggle of taking care of them. Indeed there are good people out there. People donated funds to the children. With the funds Fr. Nchimbi was able to buy for the children new uniforms, beds, mosquito nets, chairs, tables, table ware for the children and playing items. Thanks to the benefactors and thanks to Fr. Pius Nchimbi and Sr. Siri, OSB, for dedicating their efforts to serve these little ones. Thanks also to Frater Lucius for getting a word out about these needy children.

 Compare this photo of children taken before they got assistance. In it the adults are Sr. Siri, OSB, Frt. Lucius, OSB, and Frater Gabriel Wangabo, OSB, with the children

In the photos; Fr. Pius Nchimboi, Sr. Siri, OSB, with the children in their new uniforms, new tables and chairs, and new table ware!

The children in new uniforms and each holding new mosquito nets. See also the matresses and beds on the left.

Frater Anselm Wella, OSB, of Hanga Abbey Dies

Sad news for Hanga Abbey this month. On February 16th, 2013, Frater Anselm of Hanga Abbey died. born in 1937 and joined Hanga abbey and made first monastic profession, then still a priory, in 1960.  Frater Anselm have had bad health for serveral years, more than ten years. He was particularly troubled by diatetes and high blood pressure. His health turned to the worse since three years ago when he could no longer take care of himself due to physical incapacitation. In May 2012 he had heart stroke which made him even worse. Early January this year, 2013, he was taken to Peramiho hospital as he was seriously ill where he passed away.
Frater Anselm was known to be very talkative person and never feared anybody to speak his mind. Particularly, he will be remembered by many Nuns, for whom he was very instrumental in sending them to convents when they were girls. He was a good teacher of religion. He had a great desire of being a permanent deacon and becoming a certified teacher neither of which, unfortunately, materialized for him. On top of all these Frater Anselm was a man of great faith. He valued his monastic vocation so much, he celebrated the Liturgy of Hours so well, never missed attending holy office for lame axcuse. We pray that now he is in jubilation before God singing with the Angels. May he rest in peace.

In the photo Frater Anselm in cassok and hat with his friends from Austria, Mr. Fritz with his wife, who visited him in 2010 at Hanga Abbey.

Benedictines in southern Tanzania Promote Gregorian Chant Music

Benedictines throughout the world are known to be famous in liturgical music. Since they live in communities chanting psalms of the liturgy of hours is very common. Traditionally all the Benedictines use Gregorian chant music. However, with the advent of modern music many have changed the chanting music. For the Benedictines of southern Tanzania, both women and men communities, still use Gregorian chant music. Of course the language is Swahili. With the help of musicians at Hanga Abbey, retired Abbot Alcuin and Frater Buzabaliawo, several representatives (nuns) come to Hanga Abbey for practice and writing of Gregorian chant music for antiphons and hymns in Swahili to be used in the Liturgy of Hours. Since January 2013 nuns from Camaldolese convent in Iringa, Ndolo in Ndada - Mtwara, and St. Agnes Chipole convent in the archdiocese of Songea are at Hanga for the endeavor. Let us pray that the efforts of these few monks and nuns may bear fruit such that the religious in their respective communities may prefer God's work to worldly endeavor.

In the photos below nuns staying at Hanga for the Gregorian chant music writing and practice

They use modern tools: computer programs in writing the music.

The nuns are taking time to relax at St. Pirmin's guest house after work

Visitors Bring Medicines to Hanga Dispensary

This past January the abbey had a pleasure of welcoming six visitors from Germany. The came to Hanga for tourism and for the sake of getting real experience of village life of Tanzanians. Other than exploring Udzungwa ranges in Iringa, seeing lake Nyasa, they had an opportunity for a day to stay with a local family in the village, work and eat with the family.
As the Kiswahili saying goes, "Mgeni aje mwenyeji apone," meaning let a visitor come that the host my survive, besides their visit the guests brought some medicines for Hanga dispensary. With such help the dispensary can always boast of having necessary medications. Besides costs for medication become cheaper for poor villagers to afford. Thanks to our visitors from Germany and all those who have been helping the dispensary in any way.
Below are the visitors from Germany: Ms. Barbara, in front left picture, led the group. At the dispensary with Frater Lucius Matembo, OSB, the head of the dispensary, Frt. Josephat Haule, OSB, Miss Bertha Mligo and some medical supplies on the table.

.
.

 

Six Men Join Monastic Life at Hanga Abbey

Not usual, in terms of number, but this year Hanga abbey was blessed to welcome six young men to the stage of postulancy which is the beginning of training for monastic life. The event took place at the abbey on 15th of January. Indeed it is a blessing to the community of Hanga Abbey and all of the monks are happy and hopeful that these young men will make it to final profession. While it has been usual for the abbey to get vocations from southern Tanzania this group of young men has four them from the northern part of Tanzania. We warmly welcome them to serve God in the Lord's house with other fellow monks.
Find below the postulants, with leather belts their formator Frater Anno Haule, OSB.

Frater Ansgar Kaisile, OSB, Ordained as a Deacon

The 4th of  January, 2013, was really a day marking beginning a year with blessings for Hanga Abbey. Monks were are happy to have their fellow monk being ordained to deaconate as a step to priesthood. With the need and shortage of priests in the community, this indeed is a very good news to have more monks with capacity of serving the people of God at the level of sacramental administration. We congratulate Frater Ansgar and look forward to his ordination to priesthood. With him there were four other men ordained to deaconate for the archdiocese of Songea. Archbishop Norbert Mtega of the archdiocese ordained the five men.

Deacon Frater Ansgar with Archbishop Nortbert Mtega of Songea and Abbot Thadei Mhagama, OSB, after the ordination mass at Songea cathedral.

Frater Ansgar (first from left on the front line) with with four other deacons for the Archdiocese of Songea who were ordained during the same ceremony.
Further below Frater Ansgar smiling at the photographer Frater Lucius Matembo, OSB. On the right the new deacon at task during mass reading the Gospel.