Hanga Abbey

Abbot Thadei Mhagama, OSB, of Hanga Abbey Makes 8 Years of Leaderhip

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:46:03 +0000

On March 25 this year 2011, the abbot of Hanga Abbey reached eight years tenure as abbot of the abbey. The monks made this day special with mass and special banquet to thank and congratulate Abbot Thadei. We wish Abbot Thadei great wisdom like Somon and many years of life like Metuselah and blessings in his leadership. We thank him for his special charism of gentleness and patience.

In the photos abbot Thadei is cutting a special cake made for him and addressing the monks.

An Austrian Nurse Donates Medical Supplies for Hanga Dispensary

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:10:40 +0000

In the period of Februaty and March a nurse from Austria, Barbara Kramer, came to Hanga to work at the abbey dispensary. Other than offering her time and expertise for the people Barbara also offered medicines and other medical supplies. Thank you Barbara for your generosity in kind. Of course there have been many volunteers working at the dispensary in differents times and from different countries such as Italy, Germany, England and USA.

In the photo Barbara Kramer is recording weights of children.

Songea Girls High School Students Study Hydro Power Plant at Hanga Abbey

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 03:23:58 +0000

For the many workshops and activities that monks of Hanga do, make Hanga to be an attractive venue for many visitors. Some want spiritual atmosphere at the abbey, some workshops, some schools, some health services and others recreation. Recently five advanced level secondary school students from Songea urban (Songea Girls’ Sec. School) came to Hanga for the purpose of seeing the hydo electric power plant. They had to write a project on Hyodroelectric power production and Hanga was a choice place to augment their theory and knowledge. Br. Mhajuki was there to explain how the water turbine works.

In the photos Br. Mhajuki giving a tour and explaining about the water turbine and its power production mechanism to the students. At the bottom Br. Fraternus (middle) and Br. Lucius in a picture with the six students from Songea Girls Secondary School. The names of the students are: Rukia Zuberi, Yasinta Sinyenga, Aurelia Kayombo, Daima Fussy, Elvira Msemwa, and Nashira Riyani.

Hanga Abbey and the Bottled Water Project

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:32:30 +0000

Back in 1995, the then ruling abbot Alcuin Nyirenda, OSB, was able to garner some funds to establish bottled water project at a farm in Nole in Njombe on the southern highlands of Tanzania. This was the effort of abbot Alcuin in finding projects that would help the abbey to get some income. Since then the bottled water project has been in operation and the demand for the bottled water from the site has been more than it can be supplied. At the beginning of this year 2012, under the supervision of Fr. Salvatory Ngimbudzi, OSB, the abbey got loan to update the plant. A tripple function machine has been bought that will be making bottles, filling the bottles with water and putting labels on the bottles. Thanks to abbot Alcuin for establishing the project and thanks to Fr. Salvatory for his good supervision and new ideas of improving the project.

In the photos find the new facility for bottled water project with bottled water ready for consumption.

Tutzing Benedictine Sisters Visit Hanga Abbey

admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:56:46 +0000

In February 2012 twelve nuns of temporary religious vows from the women Benedictine Missionary congregation paid a visit to the abbey at Hanga. They had been staying at Peramiho convent of the Sisters as they prepare themselves for perpetual religious vows. They were from different religious houses in their congregation namely India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Phillipines.

While at Hanga they had the opportunity to see different activities run by the monks. They saw schools (Hanga Seminary, St. Benedict Secondary School, and Trade School), automechanic workshop, dispensary, carpentry, and poultry unit, to mention but a few. Particularly they were amazed and impressed by the inlay work in the carpentry shop -the work of Frater Blasius Maganga, OSB,- and the large amount of eggs produced at the poultry farm the work of Frater Peter Claver Kindimba, OSB.

At the dispensary they met our three confreres working there as nurses: Frater Lucius Matembo, OSB, (head), Frater Josephat Haule, OSB, and Frater Benedict Kaguti, OSB. In the righ photo Frater Josephat is on the left and Frater Benedict is on right. In the right photo Frater Lucius is at the middle.

At St. Benedict Secondary School Fr. Angello Mugaga Mselle, OSB, was there to give the nuns a tour.

At the Trade School Frater Patrick Mwinuka, OSB, gave the Sisters a tour showing them the new kitchen and the computer center where internet service is available for students, monks and the public.

The Sisters were very much impressed by the inlay work at the carpentry shop. They saw different articles ranging from chair, to tables, to bed frames so well and sofsticatedly decorated.

At the automechanic workshop the nuns praised the carts made by Frater Jerome Mlelwa, OSB. The carts are very useful to farmers in hauling farm produce, firewood, building materials, etc.

A Village Gets Piped water

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:04:45 +0000

The need for clean water in the world is so huge. Reserch shows that 80% of the world population does not have access to clean water. It is a priviledge to have clean and safe drinking water. In August 2011 a small village at the boarder of Mawa and Msindo, in southern Tanzania in Ruvuma region, had a priviledge of getting clean water. The water was hooked from the current system which Mawa village uses. It is the system that already serves five villages.

It was nice to have all villagers getting involved in the project. Both men and women, adults and children alike participated in the project which involved digging a trench and laying pipes.

Villagers participate in digging the trench and laying pipes

People are enjoying tap water! The women are most joyous!

Frater Justin Salingwa, OSB, of the Hanga Abbey Dies!

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:37:37 +0000

A sad news happed to St. Maurus Hanga Abbey on November 12th, 2011 due to the death of their beloved member Frater Justin Salingwa, OSB. Frt. Justin died in Muhimbili National Hospital due to urinary system complications. Prior to his death, within a week, he was being treated for malaria at Hanga Abbey. Then he fainted and was rushed to Peramiho hospital, 70km from the abbey. There he was diagnosed with diabetes and symptoms of kidneys failure a situation that neccesitated to be flown immediately to Dar es Salaam. Frt. Justin survived overnight and died the next morning at Muhimbili National Hospital.

Frt. Justin Salingwa, OSB, was a dedicated monk and trustworthy. You could trust him with any responsibility. For over 15 years he was running the abbey general store (duka in Swahili). It was his creativity and dedication that the store has flourished so well and has been the mainstay of the budget of the abbey kitchen.

Frt. Justin died a the age of 50. Next year 2012 would be his 25th anniversary as a monk. He will be greatly missed by the community. May he rest in peace!

In the photo below Frt. Justin is first from right. The thoto was taken in June 2011 when bishop elect (then) John Ndimbo visited Hanga Abbey

St. Benedict Secondary School Graduation – 2011

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:15:52 +0000

Students and teachers at Benedict Secondary School celebrated their 2011 graduation on the 24th of September. Girls and boys of the graduating class were congratulated for completing their four years of secondary school education. After their graduation they had their National Examinations in October which marked their conclusion of their secondary education. We pray and hope that these young men and women will be salt to where they will be going having acquired good moral upbringing in this school run by the Benedictines.

Photos of the graduating class

Graduating students receiving their leaving certificates from the guest of honor Jane Mapunda

Hanga Religious Seminary Brass Band leads the procession to the Hall for ceremony (left) & Traditional dance being performed during the graduation ceremony (right)

Br. Benedict Kaguti, OSB, Graduates with Diplama in Advanced Nursing

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:55:04 +0000

The monks of Hanga Abbey are happy to have one of theirs achieving high training in medical field. Br. Benedict Kaguti, OSB, graduated with diploma in Advanced Nursing at KCMC hospital at the northern health instituion in Moshi, Tanzania, this August 2011. This is a good news for St. Bernard’s dispensary: workers and patients. Yet he is like a drop of water in a bucket. We wish Br. Benedict success in his work. He will be joining two other Brothers who are nurses at the dispensary namely, Frater Lucius Matembo, OSB, and Frater Jesephat Haule, OSB, and also Frater Christopher Hunja, OSB, who is a laboratory technician.

In the photos Br. Benedict on his graduation day.

Optomestrists from Netherlands Serve People at Hanga Dispensary

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:07:34 +0000

During the first week of Agust 2011 a total of 11 optomestrists of Vosh Mission from Holland led by Dr. Ella came to Hanga dispensary to help people with eye vision problems. They brought with them a stock of spectacles and diagnostic tools to diagnose people with problems to see. About 1,ooo people were served and glasses were given for free. We thank them wholeheartedly for serving the poor.

In the photos: top is the group of the optomestrists Vosh Mision from Netherlands; bottom – one of the the Vosh Mission member examining a patient.