Saturday, 24 September 2016 11:03

Tanzania


In September 1990, the first Ursulines went to Africa– two Italian and three Tanzanian sisters in order to take up work in Singida diocese, one of the poorest areas in the country. Two sisters started work in the hospital of Itigi led by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and lived in one of the buildings dedicated to medical staff. At the same time, the preparations of our own Ursuline mission started in Mkiwa – 30 km in the north of Itigi. The work there began in November 1991 and we may call this place the “motherhouse” of our missions in Tanzania...

At present, we have fifteen communities in Tanzania. Each of them focuses on apostolic activity that is turned to children and youth. As elsewhere, the sisters in Tanzania take care of the needs of the poorest.

The biggest community is situated in Mkiwa where the sisters do intensive apostolic work: they run a kindergarten for 150 children and a boarding school for 50 schoolgirls from the nearby high school. Moreover, three sisters work in an infirmary for children and adults. There is also an all-day open obstetrics ward. The sisters help in the pastoral work of the local parish, lead different parish groups and prepare for the sacraments. In Mkiwa, there is also a canteen for children from the kindergarten and primary school as well as for older people.

Itigi is still the “hospital” community – among the sisters is a paediatrician and a nurse. The sisters work in the office of the hospital and as teachers for children who stay in hospital for a longer time. The second community in Itigi runs a boarding school for girls.

Damaida and Diagwa are communities with kindergartens for about 50 children.

In Dodoma the sisters run a home for orphaned children whose parents died of AIDS. At present, there are 50 in the age between a few months to 20 years. Now, in Dodoma live nine fully committed to children sisters.

Also, in Rombo the sisters lead a home for orphaned children between 0 to 8 years. At the moment there are about 60 of them.

In Issuna, a dressmaker college with a state-certified exam works successfully. There is also a boarding house for schoolgirls near the school.

Kisawasawa is a community where the sisters are mainly involved in catechetical activity. They work in the parish, prepare for sacraments, lead pastoral groups, teach religion at primary and high school, work in the kindergarten and in a little hospital.

The first house in Morogoro serves as a house of studies for our sisters studying at the local Catholic university. The second community in this town came into being near upper high school “Padre Pio” and the boarding house for 160 young women.

Mweka is a typical educational community – the sisters there took up cooperation with a private boarding primary school.

The sisters in Singida do catechetical work in a primary school, a diocesan school for primary school teachers and run pastoral activity in the parish.

The sister’s activity in Sukamahela is dedicated to people with leprosy.

Our youngest community in Tanzania is situated in Kibaigwa, where the sisters work in the parish kindergarten for 70 children.

Read 1497 times Last modified on Saturday, 24 September 2016 15:27
More in this category: « Brazil Philippines »