The colorful graduation ceremony took place at Hanga Religious seminary grounds on the 22nd October 2010. A total of 32 Form IV seminarians graduated their four year Ordinary Level Secondary School education program. Some of these young men will continue with monastic life somewhere and some will continue with studies to be priests. At the ceremony the guest of honor was Fr. Christopher of Mbinga diocese (in southern Tanzania). 
In the picture you can see Fr. Chrysostom giving a speech during the ceremony. Note the gues of honor Fr. Joseph is sitting next to him and our reporter, Frater Lucius is on the right. Below: a photo of the Form IV graduating class of 2010 with our reporter in the white habit. 
Archive for the ‘Miscellaneous’ Category
Hanga Religious Seminary 2010 Form IV Graduation
Sunday, October 31st, 2010Hanga dispensary gets donations for cataract sugeries
Sunday, October 24th, 2010The visit of eye doctors, Dr. Ed Tuhy from Kalamath Falls, Oregon – USA in 2009 and Dr. Greg from Canada in 2010, at Hanga Abbey and working with people with eye problems at the Abbey dispensary has led to a discovery of many people with need for cataract sugery. As the word got out catholic parishes of Sacred Heart in Medford, and St. Pius X in Klamath Falls, both in Oregon – USA have contributed enough to help these people with cataract problem to have sugery. We thank all parishioners at the two parishes for their generosity.
The patients have been getting surgery at Songea Regional hospital, 50 km from Hanga, for $30. However, there has been one special case of a girl of 10 years old, Jackline Lunji, who had to be refered to Dar es Salaam National Hospital about 700 miles from Hanga Abbey. She had stopped going to school for 2 years because she could not see. It cost $400 for her sugery to take place due to the travelling expenses to Dar es Salaam and costs of living there with her caregiver, Br. Stanislaus, OSB. By all standards her story is a success strory. Jackline now sees well and back to school! Bellow see her pictures with her parents, caregivers, optomestrists and after sugery.
Jackline with her parents at home in Hanga
Jackline before sugery.
At Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam
Diagnosis before sugery
Treatment after sugery
Fr. Novatus, OSB, Earns MA in Business Management.
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
On the 13th September this year 2010, Fr. Novatus Ngonyani, OSB, of Hanga Abbey earned Masters in Business Management at Maastrict School of Management in Netherlands. It was a tough course particularly because he had to do it within a year, a course that normally takes two years! We congratulate him. “Mwanaume wa shoka” translated “a man of hard work and determination”. We thank those who paid for his education. In the photo Dr. Peter de Gijsel gives him a hand shake of congratulations and Professor Aad van Mourik is standing on his right. 
Below Fr. Novatus with some monks of Benedictusberg of Solesmes Congregation: from left – Fr. Martin Werry, Ans, Francine van Tuijl, Abbot Adrian Lenglet and Markus Ballhausen from St. Ottilien.
Regional Commissioner visits monks at Hanga Abbey
Monday, October 18th, 2010
Early September this year 2010 the head of Ruvuma Region in southern Tanzania, Dr. Catherine Ishengoma, visited Hanga Abbey to talk with monks and see their projects. At the abbey she was able to tour cattle farm, piggery unit, poultry unit, and carpentry shop. In the photo she is listening to Fr. Gregory Mwageni, OSB, the first superior of Hanga Abbey. On the right she talking to Prior Odo Nanyanje, OSB. Below 
Dr. Ishengoma is listening to Frater Peter Claver (Kindimba) in charge of poultry farm.
Hanga Abbey gets a new priest, Fr. Octavian Masingo, OSB
Friday, August 13th, 2010
On June 17th, 2010 frater Octavian Masingo, OSB, was ordained to priesthood by Very Reverend archibishop Norbert Mtega of the archdiocese of Songea. The event took place at Hanga Abbey. Fr. Octavian is a native of Singida region in northern Tanzania. We wish him many blessings in his vacation and service to the people of God.
Hanga's 50th Jubilee
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008Hanga Abbey celebrated its 50th Anniversary Jubilee on August 20, 2008. Hundreds of special guests attended, including Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, Archabbot Jeremiah Schröder, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, and Archbishop Norbert Mtega. Guests came from all over the world to join the celebration: Germany, Italy, Austria, Uganda, Korea, and the USA, as well as guests from all parts of Tanzania. With so many guests, the Jubilee mass had to be held outside. A special structure was constructed so that the Hanga monks, special guests, villagers, and students could all worship and celebrate together.
The Jubilee ceremony was filled with inspiring speeches and music. The choir was directed by Br. Buzaliwao and sang beautiful songs, including some compositions by former Abbot Alcuin Nyirenda.
Many Tanzanian officials thanked Hanga Abbey for their service to the nation, including Regional Commissioner Monica Mbega and District Commissioner Gabriel Kimolo. The Jubilee mass was said by Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, and Abbot Primate Notker Wolf gave the homily in Kiswahili.
After the jubilee mass, the celebration continued with delicious food, cake, and many types of music and dance. The Hanga Seminary brass band played fun music throughout the day. St. Laurent Primary students showed off their English skills by reading poems and singing songs in English. Special dancers came from different tribes of Southern Tanzania for entertainment. And a three-piece rock band had everyone dancing for hours until the power finally ran out late at night. Then through the night and early hours of the morning, Hanga villagers formed drum circles and played traditional Tanzanian music.
The jubilee celebration was a time to recognize some of the monks from Hanga Abbey. Br. Ignas Danda celebrated his 25th year as a Benedictine monk. Also honored were the brave pioneers of Hanga Abbey who traveled into the bush fifty years ago to found a monastery. Three of the original founders were recognized during the ceremony: Fr. Gregory Mwageni, Br. Joseph Chinunda, and Br. Bonaventure Malibiche, who has since passed away. Hanga Abbey would never have been possible without their courage, insight, and motivation.
“Phoenix Rising” Completes Historic Tour
Friday, May 16th, 2008
Riding into Hanga after weeks on the road, the participants of “Phoenix Rising” were treated to a heroes welcome upon their return. Coming up the final hill into Hanga the riders appeared beat, but they reassured the crowd of students and monks that they were excited to be back.
Leaving on the 2nd of May, these three riders of “Phoenix Rising” departed Dar es Salaam and slowly pedalled their way home for the cause of raising school fees for the many students of Hanga who cannot afford to pay them. These young men have been and continue to be fundraising for this cause in the U.S and Europe and are ecstatic about the support the tour has received so far.
To read stories about the journey, see pictures of the ride, or just to find out more about the tour check out the website at http://www.hangaabbey.org/index_files/rising.htm. They riders would like to personally thank those who have already contributed to “Phoenix Rising” and have helped to make it the success it has been. But while they are excited about the donations the fundraiser has received so far, they are still a ways away from reaching the set goal of $25,000 to create a significant endowment for the students. So, if you are still interested in donating to this special cause you can visit this page http://www.hangaabbey.org/index_files/helping.htm and follow the directions posted.
Thanks again to all those who have helped in this educational cause and for giving the students of Hanga the opportunity to make a difference in their own lives.
Golden Anniversaries for the founders of St. Maurus’ Abbey
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008The 15th of January holds a special place on the calendar for Benedictines throughout the world. This day celebrates the Feast Day of St. Maurus and St. Placid, the first students of St. Benedict. Our Benedictine community here at Hanga tend to lay more emphasis on this day than most other abbeys though, because St. Maurus is the namesake for our Abbey: St. Maurus’ Abbey.
As the year long celebration of our 50th Jubilee continues to unfold, this years’ Feast Day of St. Maurus marks the golden anniversary of the profession of the first four monks of Hanga. Of the three founding monks who are still living, two were in attendance for today’s mass in Hanga; Fr. Gregory Mwageni, who celebrated the mass, and Br. Joseph Kinunda. They were both recognized for their significant role in the founding of this monastery and their continued commitment to the growth of this Benedictine community. The remaining founder, Br. Bonaventure Malibiche, was unfortunately unable to attend today’s celebrations due to work commitments in Mbeya.
This year’s Feast Day of St. Maurus and St. Placid was a joyous continuation of our 50th Jubilee celebrations, which will commence on the 20th of August this year.
Tanzanian Prime Minister Visits Hanga
Monday, September 10th, 2007On Sept. 6th, Hanga Abbey played host to one of Tanzania’s highest-ranking officials, Prime Minister Edward Lowassa. The reason for the Prime Minster’s visit was to lay a foundation stone at the building site of the new Abbey Guest House, but the visit turned out to be much more.
With an entourage of over 200 government officials, the arrival of the Prime Minister was a sight the likes of which Hanga has never seen before. A line of over 50 SUV’s crowded the tiny Abbey Drive as the officials made their way to the Guest House building site. As the officials exited their cars, the monks of Hanga and the sounds of the Seminary Brass Band and the Hanga Choir received them warmly. They then seated themselves at the pavilion for the dedication ceremony.
After the short dedication ceremony and viewing of the Guest House construction, Abbot Thadeus presented a speech to the Prime Minister that touched on the history of the Benedictines in Africa and also the importance of the Guest House’s construction. Following the Abbot’s speech, the Prime Minister addressed the crowd of 1,000 villagers that had gathered at the building site.
Apart from praising the Abbey for its dedication to service in Tanzania, the Prime Minster took this opportunity to also address the rising public concern about corn prices in Southwest Tanzania.
During his time at the podium , the Prime Minister introduced the government’s new plan to raise the national price of corn and to also begin buying more corn from this region. This plan was met by ecstatic applause from the crowd, and the applause only grew louder as he promised to personally donate 5,000,000 Tsh to the Guest House’s Construction.
After the Prime Minister’s speech, a group of local villagers showed off some of their talents with a demonstration of the region’s traditional dances and songs. The afternoon came to an end with a lunch inside the Abbey.
