Hanga Abbey

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.

Hanga Abbey Celebrates Monastic Vows and Jubilees

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 02:07:02 +0000

On 11th July, this year 2011, the feast of St. Benedict the founder of Benedictine monstic life, Hanga abbey monks had the joy of having more members committing themselves to monastic life at the abbey. Frater Jesephat Haule and Frater Deogratias made their perpetual vows. Frater Killian and Filbert made theri first vows to monastic life. Those admitted to novitiate (time for monastic formation) were Frater Fulbert Ngwembele, Frater Zenobius Mwanyika, Frater Raphael Msigwa, and Frater Gozanga Gonza Haule. Both Frater Zenobius and Raphael had finished Secondary School education at our Hanga Religius Seminary. Frater Gonzaga comes to the abbey with degree in civil law. Two young men were received to rank of postulancy a time for them to observe and try to live monastic life before they are admitted to full formation as novices. We welcome these new members to the house of God to serve Him and His people.

In the left photo from left: The novices Frater Fulbert, Frater Zenobius, Frater Raphael and Frater Gonzanga Gonza. In the right photo from left is Frater Jesephat and Deogratias who made their perpetual vows. Below: the postulants.

Last but not least were Frater Odilo Matembo, OSB, and Augustion Mgedzi, OSB celebrating 50 years as monks. Also Frater Blasius Maganga, OSB, Policarp Hongoli, OSB and Gabriel Wangabo, OSB, celebrated their 25th anniversary in monastic life. We congratulate all of them their many years of service to the people of God.

Below left are Frater Agustino Mgedzi, OSB and Frater Odilo Matembo, OSB, who celebrated their 50th aniversary as Benedictine monks of Hanga Abbey.

Visitors from Austria

admin — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:57:48 +0000

In June a couple from from Austria, Mr. Fritz and his wife Traude visited Hanga Abbey to see the monks especially their long time friend Frater Anselm Wella, OSB. Mr. & Mrs. Fritz have been helping several needy children in Tanzania. For the abbey, they are particularly remembered for their contribution to build the currenct Trade School girls’ dormitory.

Pictured below from left: Mr. Fritz, wife Trude, Br. Anselm, Fritz’s friend, Br. Lucius and Renata Mbiliyi a laboratory technician at Hanga dispensary.

Celebrating Corpus Christi Sunday at Hanga

admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 05:55:47 +0000

The Corpus Christ Sunday, is a special Sunday for Catholics when they display the Holy Eucharist and process to acknowledge and express their faith in the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. In Tanzania this tradition continues. At Hanga village monks, students and catholic villages gathered to pray and process with the sacrament. It was a day of meditation, prayer, thanksgiving and pouring out personal concens to God through the adoration of the Holy Eucharist.

Monks in the procession

Incensing the Holy Eucharist

Villagers in the procession

Children spread flowers to honor the Holy Eucharist.

.People sing in the procession

Adoration of the Eucharist in the abbey church.

Benedictine Superiors Meet at Hanga Abbey

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:39:38 +0000

Benedictine monks of St. Ottilien Congregation whose headquater is in Germany comprises of monasteries in all continents. Each continent forms a region in which the superiors meet once or twice a year. This year, 2011, the African region superiors met a Hanga Abbey on June 12th & 13th. It the second time to meet at the abbey. The last time they met here was in 2008. The African region comprises monasteries from Togo, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Tanzania. Tanzania has more monasteries than any other African country with abbeys of Peramiho, Ndanda, Hanga and Mvimwa.

It is nice and asier to host these dignitaries at the abbey at present than before since there is much room now to host visitors at Hanga Abbey. St. Pirmin’s guest house,though not finished, serves the purpose with a few rooms available.

In the photos are the Benedictine superiors from abbeys and Priories in Africa who attended the meeting. Some recognizable faces are (from left) Abbot Godfrey of Inkamana in South Africa, Abbot Anastasius of Peramiho (Tanzania), Abbot Thadei of Hanga, Prior Wilbrord of Katibunga – Zambia and the third from right is Abbot Dionis from Ndanda Abbey in Tanzania.

A Bishop and Monk of Hanga Abbey Celebrates 50 Years as a Bishop

admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:44:35 +0000

A man of great simplicity striving for his holiness, Bishop Gervas Placidus Nkalanga, OSB, retired bishop of Bukoba northwestern Tanzania, celebrated his 50th anniversary as a bishop on June 7, 2011 at Hanga Abbey in southern Tanzania. Bishop Nkalanga, joined the Benedictines of Hanga Abbey 27 years ago after his retirement as a bishop and celebrated 25 years as monk of Hanga Abbey in 2008.

At the celebration, bishop and monk, Very Reverent Gervas Placidus Nkalanga, OSB, was joined by so many people. There were more than 30 bishops from the body of bishops in Tanzania including the archbishop of Songea Norbert Mtega who also celebrates 25 years as a bishop this year 2011. There were numerous priests and religious people not to count lay people. The former president of Tanzania Benjamin William Mkapa na his wife were also present. The Cardinal of Tanzania, Polycarp Pengo, presided at the Holy Mass. Most speakers at the celebration hailed Bishop Nkalanga for his humility and simplicity. He in turn admonish people to act like salt dissolved in food but without being physically seen. We pray for many more years of blessings to bishop Gervas Placidus Nkalanga, OSB.

Monks of Hanga Abbey with bishops who came to the jubilee

Bishop Placidus Nkalanga with Archbishop Norbert Mtega, of Songea diocese in the left and Polycarp Cardinal Pengo on the right.

Sisters from defferent religious communities with the bishops on the occation of the jubilee

Below from left: Retired abbot Alcuin Nyirenda, OSB, of Hanga Abbey, Archbishop Nortbert Mtega, Bishop Gervas Placidus Nkalanga, OSB, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo and Abbot of Hanga Abbey Thadei Mhagama, OSB.

On the left is the archbishop, Norbert Mtega and behing the president is abbot Thadei Mhgama, OSB. Prior Frater do Nanyanje, OSB, is on the right.

In the photo are the former president of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa with his wife Mama Anna Mkapa.

Bishop Placidus Nkalanga in Nakagugu Formation House at his banana field where he works always with the resident youths.