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

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