Bits of the Gospel

Whenever a chance presents /forces itself into my life, I reflect. And in reflecting, especially these days during my short stint at home, I have discovered that I need to pray more, this time round, I need to thank God a lot. I will explain. In one of my Lectio Divina , I paused to meditate on the question of Jesus: "Do you too want to go away?" As if he had started sensing the risk of being left alone and needed the reassurance of his followers. I'm imagining myself reassuaring the Lord! Oh! By the way I have a taste for many words. I would be lengthy in making it clear to the Lord that I did not intend to leave him/go away. I don't know why I want/ forced to stay . I feel that staying with the Lord is living a meaningful life. Life without him would no longer have any taste. I forgot to tell you this. Jesus prefers short answers, actually he does not need my words. Peter knew it. Rather than answering the question, he asks. He is acutely aware that Jesus ha

Generous is the person who gives less importance to what he possesses and more importance to persons. A generous person evokes feelings of tenderness, gentleness, concern, and security. Generosity is the capacity to give without expecting reciprocation. It is the readiness to give resources, sentiments, and oneself because one feels responsible for everything, and part of everything. A friend of mine says, "Let me be won over by charity. Let generosity rule over me." And by so saying, she goes ahead to give without measure. I think that the generous person has been won over by the love of Christ, which thereby becomes the operating force from within. [2 Cor 5:14]. Reflect.

Patience is the open attitude of expecting the best regardless [or is it through?] the defects, slow-paces of others. It is the capacity to retain the openness of mind in order to notice the small things of life which, in the frenzied speed of our world, tend to skip our notice. In a world like ours, everything is fast-paced and people are even more impatient. There is a clear contradiction in that. While in the past things were slower, people were more patient. Now in this fast-tracked world, we seem to go ahead of the speed of our own gadgets. One would expect us to be more patient since we know that things will surely come at their own pace. Impatience is a way of being absent-minded. The patient person is aware of details and tends to let each detail unfold completely. The rhythm of life for a patient person is found in nature itself. There is no that terrible urge for a faster process for everything. Even in the spiritual sphere, patient people are not impatient with God, who

Humility is the other name for self-esteem. It does not mean to feel or see oneself like a useless worm. It does not mean to attitude of putting oneself for despise. It is rather the just respect for oneself. It means knowing oneself with all the limits and strengths, as one capable of starting anew regardless of the falls. The humble student, for instance, prepares himself more for exams and works better everyday. He learns more because unlike the proud who think that they know everything, the humble person feels the need to know more. He does not do things just for competition. He instead collaborates more and gives space to others. He is not anxious to appear and become the center of attention. For him, there is nothing in him programmed for triumph all the time. The humble person feels the need of others and knows how to involve them. He diffuses joy and lets the day flow without interrupting with worries. Precisely because he is humble, he manages to keep his calm and entertai

Virtues are the content of our character, the very fabric of our lives which makes people see in us power, strength, inner quality. They are rightly said to be what is good about us. The society in which we live tends to ignore anything that seems weak and upholds all what is domineering. For instance, gentleness is the accumulation of qualities and attitudes which make us approachable and amiable for all people. Yet our society nurtures aggressiveness and arrogance such that these highly aggressive people are literally adored either in movies or in real-street-life. Kindness has become synonymous with weakness. St. Paul puts it candidly in Gal 5:22-23. Virtues are fruits of the Holy Spirit. With them, we no longer walk by sight but the the Spirit [Gal 5:25]. We can begin to grasp the depth of this statement by invoking the same Spirit.

Kisarawe District is one of the six districts that make up the Coastal region of Tanzania . This district covers an area of about 3535 kilometers squared. About ¾ of this land is suitable for agriculture while national forests, military zones, and a game reserve occupy the rest. According to 1988 statistics, the district has over 100, 000 people. It is further divided into 4 divisions, 11 locations, and 72 villages . Kisarawe Parish covers almost the entire area of Kisarawe district. The church was founded in 1969, consisting of six families, all of which were either military or government officials. It was then part of Pugu Parish. In 1999, Kisarawe was hived from Pugu parish, and was officially launched on 11 December of the same year. In 2004, the parish was handed over to the Cottolengo Fathers Society. In its short history, Kisarawe Parish, dedicated to St. Stephen the martyr, has seen a rapid increase in the number of parishioners. It has 16 outstations, which receive Mass on

January 16, 2011, Padre Aldo Sarotto led the Cottolengo Family in Africa at an historic consecration of the Altar and the Blessing of the Church of St. Stephen the Martyr, Kisarawe. His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo led the august event, franked by his Auxiliary Bishop Eusebius Nzigilwa. The laying of the relics of St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo on the altar marked "a new beginning of his presence" in Tanzania. With enthusiasm and a very unique zeal, the Cottolengo family is growing, with many aspirants knocking at our doors. Deo Gratias! Meanwhile, the Divine Providence is sending whatever we need to pave the way for these young people. We are all looking at the future with hope. "Divine Providence never fails!"

Cottolengo Sisters Collaborate with Cottolengo Fathers in Youth Ministry at Kisarawe Parish. In our parish, many challenges affect the young generation. One of the emerging challenges is the lack of interest in spiritual and welfare activities organized by the Youth Ministry Team of the Parish. Generally, there is indifference to most activities which are of educative and spiritual nature. Most of the youth love to participate in the activities that are more entertaining and relaxing than whatever calls for attention, focus, and commitment. We have started a new approach, which organizes activities for the small faithful group in order to attract the few who seem uninterested and unwilling to take part. Meanwhile, the team is continuing the one-on-one encounters with the youth hoping to help them revive their enthusiasm for matters spiritual. The approach of Jesus in encountering the Samaritan woman remains our point of reference. [Have a look at John 4]

We have had three days full of lessons on various topics including, Challenges emerging from other faiths and sects, Pro-life talks, Friendship for courtship and marriage, and the Sacramental life especially on Reconciliation and Eucharist. Among other activities, we had beautiful skits, poems, songs, and comics, which rendered the whole event youthful and full of life. The religious communities present in Kisarawe collaborated in organizing the event. the event.

We celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord in a very emphasized manner. Popular piety is publicly acknowledged and used to show this high and most holy Sacrament. How can we bring this Solemnity and its solemn tone into our depths? We have to look at Jesus, the gift himself. He has gathered all virtues into love, which dares to die for the beloved. He has shown us we can bring healing to most people by showing them that they are important, special, valued, and appreciated. yet, their salvation comes only from witnessing that love is the reason we act in that particular way. And love, at the level of God, is sacrifice of the self. Love is the Language of God and it is the universal language. This universal language is understood [or at least perceived, intuited, in the instincts] by all creatures. It is silent, totally silent. It flows in the forces of nature. That language is not taught, it is acquired effortlessly. Yet, somehow, we need to consciously c

I have many lessons to learn just as I have learned many. For instance, young people love to predict what s likely to happen in an encounter. predictability reduces the fear of the unknown. knowing what's going to happen allows young people to prepare themselves for it, and perhaps to be predisposed to find enjoyment in it. In this way, successful self-fulfilling prophecy is built into the experience. This principle applies to youth ministers in many ways. Let's talk about my recent experience. We have organized a prayer day which was meant to have some guests present. I told some of the participants before hand that some guests would be present and that they were supposed to share with them freely during the "sharing break". Those who knew this already were very enthusiastic since morning. They arrived earlier than the rest, were well dressed, brought their Bibles and notebooks. The difference was obvious. Some of those who knew nothing came dressed "not very

St. J B Cottolengo was ordained a priest on June 8, 1811, exactly 200 years ago. This event has not passed us silently at Kisarawe. We've had preparations done way before. Fr. Philip led the reflections for the Sisters' community at Kisarawe. Meanwhile, on June 7, evening news from the Diocesan Radio Tumaini, there was a piece of news on this occasion. With that information disbursed, many people called and asked to join us in prayer the following day. On the anniversary day, June 8, Fr. Philip presided the mass, which took place at four in the evening. Many Christians participated with the biggest number being the youth and children. During the Homily, Fr Philip gave a general picture of our Founder. He underlined his unique charism, and a style of life that calls all people, both lay and religious, healthy and sick, to participate joyfully in the world of service to the poorest. After Mass, we had a moment of refreshment while young people from Minaki Secondary School

Trust is that precious attitude towards yourself, other people and God. Nothing is more ruinous and precarious in life than to mistrust the spontaneity of a person. It so much dangerous to life that a little mistrust puts other off and makes them feel suspected and judged even before they are given a chance to be heard. I have met people who simply "psychologize" and analyze people as a tool to relationship. This destroys trust badly. It is like exposing everything personal and invaluably secret about the private life of another. It is making what would be decent in secret to be public defamation. People love the sincerity that emerges from the attitude of trust. Trust, in fact, is the capacity to encounter and accept others just as they are. And before being a virtue, it is a target in life which has to be achieved through hard work, determination, and prayerful engagement with the Almighty God. Yes, no one is more loved that a person who accepts others simply, naturally

Abortion is an issue that evokes, from all parties, very strong feelings and judgments, and even very heated debates. Abortions are done round the clock in clandestine clinics and sometimes in the most unexpected places. Here, abortion is to be understood as the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of a fetus or embryo from the uterus, resulting in death. I know I am not saying everything here. I'm just thinking around. Lack of love is at the root of all evils, and especially the evil of abortion. If love were to be freeing as its nature is, then one cannot try to eliminate another in order for her to feel free from the supposed "burden" of a pregnancy or child. These days I'm planning a seminar for young people wherein I intend to share with them the fact that love is above all sacrifice for another. It is death to the self in order to let emerge another. I want to share with them the fact that abortion is violation of the sanctity of life. I si

Let me begin by clarifying that this Solemnity should be understood in the context of Resurrection, the Easter Event. The Apostles are clearly sad. The Lord has in the last days behaved "strangely", like one really serious when He says, "I'm going to my Father and your Father, My God and your God." And even more saddening facts, "The world will hate you [read, will treat you badly. Think of the Good Friday Facts fresh in mind!] just they did to me!" (John 16:16-20). It did not feel good at all, nor did the disciples seem to receive it with the faith expected [They received it with the faith they had, their little faith!) Ascension, as it is presented to us, is clearly the feast of glory. First, if we still stick to our faith that God cannot lose his Glory [Not even theoretically!]then we've already admitted that the Son kept his glory through his earthly life: birth, life, teachings, suffering, death and resurrection, even to Ascension. For us t

I now remember the witty words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of the Church.[...] Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without repentance; it is baptism without the discipline of community; it is the Lord's supper without confession of sin; it is absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living, incarnate Jesus Christ." And without being aware of what we are asking for, we want to obtain what we do not know. Good Friday, for instance, is the event [sic, the experience!] that frees us from thinking about small gains in order to ponder on our own personal fate, about the ultimate meaning of all life. And yet, many abhor the Good Friday, all set to grab the sweet glory of Easter. Easter, in fact, is a big and loud 'No' to cheap grace, if cheap grace were to be understood in terms of separation of the Good Friday experience from the Easter glory!

Easter is a period full of meaning for the believer because besides the many times that we hear the "doubting Thomas" syndrome, we also hear the consoling "they saw and believed". I've been rethinking my choices in these days. Resurrection does not mark the end of suffering. If it does, it also marks the end of suffering for Pilate too! Pilate was not free: conditioned from without and yet from within truth echoing, he suffered. He was troubled. But the Risen Lord gives the Pilates of this world freedom to choose the truth, the voice echoing within. That choice must always involve some suffering. Believe me then, Easter does not mark the end of suffering. Resurrection is the end of the rule of pettiness, the inability to see beyond. The human heart is a courtroom wherein truth can be exposed and embraced or veiled and ignored. The fact is like in every courtroom, if justice is not done, if truth is not embraced, people will fuel hatred. Yes, because justic

We are all longing for peace, inner peace I mean. It can never do any good to fool oneself into ignoring the truth, for in deceiving oneself about the truth of one's own life, one is certainly deceiving oneself about the Truth, God's truth as well. The truth shall make you free. Yes, the Truth shall make you True. The truth shall make you free. And the Truth will sure make you a Son of God. God's truth is God's love, and God's love frees us from ourselves for the other. To be free means nothing except being in love. And being in love means nothing except being in God's truth. If I let this be, I can say like the Lord, "I'm the Way, the Truth and the Life."

Every new morning is a new beginning of our life. Every day is a completed whole. This day, today is the limit of our sorrows and efforts. It is long enough to find God, or to lose Him, to keep faith or to fall into sin and shame. Just as the good old sun rises every morning anew, so is God's eternal mercy new every morning. I will always begin my day with a smile!

My friends, sometimes people can’t express love in the same way as you can and they are often thought of as not loving you. yeah, some of us have chosen not to express love in some of those mundane-carnal ways. Understanding that everyone is different helps you to understand your own capacity to love and not put expectations on someone else to fulfill you. " I'm busy putting expectations for myself and fulfilling them to my satisfaction. I really do not have time to fulfill yours ". Such a statement is a statement of love, not indifference or disrespect. And God has said, " Love them as I have loved you ". It sounds like, love them by obeying Our Father, who speaks through his Spirit deep down your heart!

Anyone who has discovered Christ leads others to Christ. A great joy cannot be kept to oneself. It has to be shared, passed on, and multiplied. Some people tend to live their lives as if with or without God everything would be the same. Yet, the great secret is always the same. There is always a feeling of frustration, a sense of dissatisfaction with everyone and everything. No wonder those who refuse to acknowledge God in their lives become victims of other strange attachments. We who have discovered Christ have a duty to save others from the dreadful feeling of dissatisfaction and hopelessness. Faith shared is faith growing or expanding. Needless to say, faith is nourished by such commitment.

My very Dear brothers and sisters, In these days we've been reflecting on the life of our Founder, St. J B Cottolengo, a man of God chosen to be a priest for the poor. We surely have heard of the singular event of September 2, 1827, when Fr. Cottolengo witnessed the death of Maria Gonnet, a death which was surrounded by so much pain and confusion that we too still need to reflect on it to unveil its impact. We know it is after that fateful day that all the Cottolengo enterprise came to be. My dear loved ones,we follow Christ by following St J B Cottolengo, who chose to follow Christ, the friend of the poor and the smallest. Of the many people who have been fascinated by St. J B Cottolengo is Blessed James Alberione. Blessed James Alberione (4 April 1884 – 26 November 1971)was an Italian priest and publisher, the founder of the Society of St. Paul and the Daughters of St. Paul , besides other orders and institutes of the Pauline Family. He was born on 4 April 1884 in San Lore

St. J B Cottolengo has been gathering his family together once more through the annual Solemnity--normally on April 30--this year set for May 2. We of the fraternity in Tanzania had a get together on April 27. Fr. Philip, Sr. Carla, Sr. Oliva, Sr. Margaret, Sr. Agnes, Sr. Ann, Sr. Lucy, Fr. Ngatia, Sr. Pauline and Fr. Kirimo. With us is Vincent Patrick, a young cottolengo admirer. All at Peace! With such unity we can testify that we are truly followers of Christ. D

Easter is joy multiplied because that joy was totally missing on the Good Friday.It is joy because all beauty of life was completely absent on Good Friday! Do you remember the words of Pilate to the people, "Ecce Homo"! [Jn 19:5]? Yeah. Nothing was admirable in the whole scene. Nothing. Imagine the people declaring, "His blood be on us and on our children" [Mt. 27:25]. How will the blood of Jesus be on them? Are they taking the blame on behalf of Pilate, one man? Then, the One Man they claim to know and want to eliminate becomes their blessing, their excuse, their "scapegoat". They will not be condemned. No, they will simply be forgiven. Actually, both the multitude that claim to "do away with him" and the Roman Officials who participate in doing away with him "do not know what they are doing"[Lk 23:34, Acts 3]. And therefore, Easter is the return of that Joy and Beauty, that Truth which we did not admit well in advance. Easter is

Qui a Kisarawe viviamo questa settimana Santa con uno stato d’animo molto particolare. Cio' non solo per le funzioni religiose così ricche di significato per chi, come i nostri anziani, gli ammalati che soffrono nel corpo, per le mamme singole e per i giovani che si sentono solo ed abbandonati, vive la passione.Oggo, giovedi santo, vogliamo riflettere sulla liturgia carica di riti significativi. Il condividere con noi il pasto solenne dell'Ultima Cena arricchisce il cammino pasquale per tutti noi perché apre a noi la dimensione della vicinanza di un Dio che si fa nel pane e nel vino il Corpo e il Sangue di Gesù. Arricchisce il cammino pasquale perché ci orienta all'annientamento, in questi due simboli, nella persona stessa di Gesù che serve i suoi; quindi, nel passaggio a noi (pasqualità della fede). Eccp,proprio qui arriviamo al punto, al messaggio stupendamente antico e modernissimo per il mondo di oggi, in attesa di un'alba pasquale rinnovante: nel perdersi si s

Dominika ya Matawi – Siku ya Vijana Ulimwenguni Tumsifu Yesu Kristu! Mapendo! …. Mt. 26:14-27:66 Wahusika na majina yao ya mitaani Baadhi ya watu tunaokutana nao katika injili ya leo ni maarufu kiasi cha kuwa na nickname. 1. Yuda Iskariote Yuda hana jina la mtaani kwani jina lake tayari ni matusi. Linatosha. Ni mmoja wa wale thenashara, wale marafiki kumi na wawili wa Yesu. Marafiki? Utamwitaje Yuda rafiki? Mnafiki labda inafaa. Uhusiano wake Yuda na Yesu ni fumbo kweli. Alikuwa mmoja wa wafuasi wake wa karibu. Hakuwa katika lile kundi kubwa lililomfuata Bwana kwa mbali, mara kwa mara, au katika matukio makubwa. Yaani, Yuda hakuwa mmoja wa wale wakristu wanaojitokesha kipindi cha Kwaresima, Mkesha wa Pasaka/Krismasi, au siku kama ya leo ya matawi. Alikuwepo kila siku. Ni mmoja wa wale wanaosali ibada za kila asubuhi, alishiriki mipango yote ya jumuiya ya wafuasi wa Yesu. Yuda, kama mimi na wewe alikuwa karibu na Yesu, katika Mwili lakini sio Mtazamo! Ninapoongea kuhusu Yuda, nap

Lenten Reflections: Holiness as our Mission Statement (Acts 4:32-37). Introduction Today, I propose a reflection a little different from yesterdays. What are the characteristics proper to a Cottolengo Missionary? And on the other hand, what are the ideals of a Cottolengo Missionary? The following, I am convinced, are some of the essential characteristics of a Cottolengo Missionary: - One called by the Love of God to follow Christ in the Little House of Divine Providence, also called Cottolengo, and sent by her into particular missions. When Cottolengo started sending sisters to the provinces of Italy, he chose to enter into official agreements with dioceses and parishes. He demanded that the priests respect the particular life of the sisters. This was to safeguard their identity from influences that would water down their particular formation and spirituality. Today, this kind of risk is always high. Our duty as Cottolengo followers is first of all to be a different presence for

Centered on Divine Providence (Mt. 6:31-34). Introduction This evening our series of reflections will be a look into our activities as people called to live charity as a witness to the love of God the Provident Father. I know we all will see that we want to focus on Divine Providence as the Key to Cottolengo Spirituality but also as part of Christian living. What aspects should be reflected in our work so that all our institutions, our activities and our plans appear as the work of Divine Providence? In other words, what are the characteristics proper to Cottolengo institutions, to people who live a spirituality centered on Divine Providence? Let’s try to analyze some. 1. A Cottolengo institution that is founded on the Divine Providence recognizes God as the principle cause and the human person takes the role of “the manual labourer”, in terms used by Cottolengo Himself. This does not mean that the human person is untrained while God is the absolute expert. No. It rather means t

Missions and Adventures: Lenten Reflections 3: The Word

God, our Father, You have chosen us for your own nation; And we your people, pilgrim on earth, Look forward to meeting you in heaven. We bring our deepest desires, our love for you. While we want to understand life in a flash, You want us to go step by step every day, And our patience, tested, tried and proved worth, Finally cools down and hears your word, Which comes in bits too! O Lord, you who give us all our needs, Continue guiding us every day, With those bits which are enough for the day. O Lord, drive us to your bosom, With your word applicable for the moment. Amen!

Introduction Recently, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, the Archbishop of Dar Es Salaam, called Christians to repent and review their ways of life. His homily, preached at “Pugu Martyrs” pilgrim site, was taken up by several media houses. The reason why they focused on it might not be so obvious but his call was clear. “God is inviting us for the safety of our souls so that everybody is involved directly in hearing His word and change his ways for us to be saved,” he said. He has earlier insisted, “I will continue to denounce every evil done by leaders [politicians] who are in the government now, even if it means I have to die fighting for the truth, I am ready.” This call to change, together with my previous reflection on penance and reparation calls for this question: how shall we “change our ways”? How to Practice Penance and Reparation We have come to the third and, in a way, most important part of our subject: How? I say it is the most important because we could talk for hours about t

Penance and Reparation: A Lenten Meditation Introduction It is lent. Lent is a period of penance and reparation, made visible in deeper prayer, more sacrifices, and a sense of responsibility shown in alms giving. Lent is also a period of many other forms of mortifications which are our own way of getting into terms with the fact of our faith. In order to better understand the meaning of penance and reparation, let us have a look at what happens whenever we sin. Several things happen but I will focus on two: • First: we bring upon ourselves guilt before God for the self-will that caused us to sin. We become more or less at odds or estranged from God, depending on the magnitude of our sin. • Second: We deserve punishment for the disorder we cause by our sinful conduct. We become liable to suffering pain, again more or less pain, depending on how seriously we have done wrong. What is the meaning of Penance? What do we mean by the term reparation? • Penance is the atonement we must

These young people decided to sit down and make a serious evaluation of their lives. It was a very moving experience. While some thought that no one was to blame for their predicament, others said the task at hand was to look for a solution to the precarious situation of the youth in the Church today. Meanwhile, everyone was called to look into his life and see how and what he/she can contribute to better the image of the young people today. The task is lasting. We hope and pray that the will to face it remains even more lasting.

Hallo my dear reader, I know you are now saying to yourself, "Finally! He has remembered his blog". Very true. It has been ectic, to say the least. I have been literally taken into bondage by duties that I have had no time to write and post here. I have this post titled "Outgrowing my to do list" because that is what I have gone through in these days. First, the year began with the visit of our General Superior, who was here with us for the Consecration of the Altar and the blessing of the Church of St. Stephen the Martyr, Kisarawe. Then, it goes without saying that such an occasion needed thorough preparations. Secondly, I had been asked by my community to represent them on the Priestly ordination of Nicholas Mukembu, SSC, just a week after the inaugural events in Tz. That was to be so soon that I had no time to update my blog. The third reason why I have been away from this page for long is the departure of Form 6 students of Minaki High School, Pwani. Thes