St. Maurus’ Hanga Abbey is a vibrant Benedictine community in Southern Tanzania.  Founded in 1957 by the late Fr. Ebehard Spiess OSB, Hanga Abbey was created to allow the Tanzanian population to live in the spirit of St. Benedict. Over fifty years later, the original mission of the  Abbey lives on as the Hanga community continues to grow and promote Benedictine values while remaining rooted in African culture.

Like all other Benedictine monasteries, our motto is “Ora et Labora,” literally meaning “Pray and Work” (or “Sala na Kazi” in Kiswahili).  As a part of our missionary work for the Catholic Church, we engage ourselves in social development and humanitarian services, from the local village to the world at large.

By living in accordance with the Rule of St. Benedict, we also pride ourselves in the hospitality and humility that we extend to our many guests and visitors.  We thank God for the opportunity to share our community with you and encourage you to browse through the website and, if interested, we gladly invite you to visit us in Hanga.

Hanga Abbey: A Model of Hope -  This video introduction to the Hanga community was created by Mark and Judith Upton and dedicated to the late Father Pirmin Ngolle of Hanga Abbey. Although some things have changed since this video was created, it provides an informative and fun glimpse into life in Hanga.