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!"