Fr Charles Serrao inaugurates Carmelite shrine in Tanzania


Dr Lavina Noronha

Tanzania, Aug 4: It was a day of double jubilation for the Discalced Carmelites in Tanzania as the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel located in Kihonda, Morogoro was consecrated and three local priests Fr Theophil Wabukundi, Fr Edwin Mushi and Fr Elius Malale were ordained by the Bishop of Morogoro Diocese Telesphor Mkude.

Fr Elius joined the Carmelite order in 2006 and after completing his initial studies at Jordan University, completed his theological studies and diaconate in Rome.

Fr Theophil from Dar es Salam and Fr Edwin who hails from Kilimanjaro region joined the Carmelite order in the year 2005 and completed their philosophy and theological studies from Jordan University in Morogoro. With the three newly ordained priests included, local vocations to the Carmelite order have reached seven since the year 2007.

Fr Charles Serrao, OCD, the Provincial of Karnataka-Goa Province inaugurated the shrine by cutting the ribbon. Bishop Telesphor Mkude blessed the shrine with holy water which was followed by consecration of the altar with holy oil and incensing. Fr Marlon Rodrigues, OCD, the regional vicar of Tanzania missions was present. The gathering included all the Carmelite missionaries in Tanzania, guest priests and sisters from other congregations and thousands of faithful.

Tanzania mission which began as a joint venture of four different Carmelite provinces from India in 1983 was handed over to Karnataka-Goa Province in 1992. Today there is Carmelite presence in two Archdioceses - Dar es Salam and Songea, and three dioceses of Morogoro, Bunda and Mbeya.

The contributions of the friars have not been limited to evangelization and pastoral commitments but have spread far and wide into the realms of social work, healthcare and education. Mikumi parish in Morogoro was the first station of the missionaries that saw total transformation as the pioneers Fr Walter Lobo, Fr Felix Moras and the late Fr Richard Castelino shouldered the yoke of the missions in unison. Along with their untiring pastoral ministry, these missionaries built a carpentry school for boys, a tailoring school for girls, and a nursery for children, renovated and established a large dispensary which has now become a full-fledged hospital. Carmel primary school and kindergarten are also being operated in Kihonda, right next to the new shrine.

Malolo is one of the mission stations located in mountainous desert land inhabited by venomous snakes, scorpions, lizards and mountain lions. The Friars have established a kindergarten and a dispensary in Malolo which are being run with the help of Holy Cross Sisters. There is also a secondary school which has been providing quality education to students from all over Tanzania in a residential setting. Basic amenities like electricity and communication systems have not reached this region to this day but solar panels are able to generate the electricity needed for the premises.

In Mbeya, the friars have built houses for the poor, constructed bridges, water reservoirs to collect and store mountain water and have provided clean drinking water to several villages by laying pipelines. A tailoring school has been empowering women for the past several years. In Bunda, the friars have set up a dispensary to cater to the health care needs of the locals and also operate a kindergarten.

When you travel through the districts, the great sacrifices made by the Carmelite pioneers are way too obvious. There are a total of 29 friars of Karnataka-Goa Province in different regions of Tanzania today who toil relentlessly to make a difference in this part of the world, leaving their loved ones behind carrying the torch of their predecessors despite the manifold challenges. In addition to battling health issues like repeated attacks of Malaria, the friars have to cover most of the substations on foot due to their locations in mountain beds or desert lands. In the last 31 years, the Carmelites no doubt have come a long way but still have a long road ahead. To know more about how you can get involved and help strengthen their hands with your financial support, please visit the website: www.carmelitemissionstz.org

  

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Comment on this article

  • Eugene Lobo sj, Mangalore

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Dear Fr Charles and all Carmelites. Congratulations to you all for doing wonderfully well at Tanzania. God bless you in plenty.

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  • Fr. George Santhumayor, Mysore

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Dear Confriars,
    we are proud of you! Your determined determination has made you realize, in spite of all the odds, to embark on a mission to honour our Blessed Mother. You deserve our highest praise. May Mother of Carmel bless your hard work. 30 years of silent work by the Carmelites, done only for the glory of God. He alone can recompense you. Congratulations ! May God be praised !

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  • Jeevan, Tanzania

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Thanks for the encouraging comments. God bless you all. Keep praying for the Carmelite missionaries.

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sr M Wilberta BS, Bethany Generalate, Bendur

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Heartiest congratulations to the Carmelite missionaries of Karnataka Goa Province especially those who are serving in Tanzania mission, on the occasion of dedicating a newly constructed shrine to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I believe that it is the first of its kind in Tanzania. Undoubtedly, this shrine will be a place of shelter and solace like the Mount Carmel of old, for all those who are seeking close union with God. May God bless the Carmelite missionaries for their labour of love.
    I am happy to note that the hard work of the missionaries has borne fruit. We pray God’s blessings on the newly ordained priests and the members of their families.
    Having visited Dar es Salem with Sr Lillis, the Asst Superior General and interacted with a few of the Carmelite missionaries working in Tanzania, I acclaim their zeal and diverse missionary endeavors.
    Congratulations to Fr Charles Serrao, the Provincial Superior, Fr Marlon, the Mission Superior, the pioneers of the mission and all the team members serving at different centres.
    With good wishes and prayers,
    Sr. Wilberta and Sisters of Bethany Generalate, Mangalore

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Fr Victor Machado, Mangalore/Tanzania

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Great work by the Carmelites. May it grow during the years to come in the service of humanity. Congratulations and God bless

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  • Alwyn, mlore

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    long live missionaries !! you all make our world a better place since many centuries.

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alban D Souza, Udyavara (BAjjodi) Mumbai Doha Qatar

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Beautiful building of the shrine. May God bless all the Carmelite priests and the people of Tanzania. Congratulations who contributed to this marvelous building. May God's blessing shower upon them. May the Gospel message of Kingdom of God spread all over the world. Great work of the Carmelite missionaries. We pray for the future mission.

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  • Maxim, Bangalore

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    I am very happy to see that finally the Carmelites chose to acknowledge their work in Tanzania and around in the media. As one can note, they have tireless and heroically toiled in the region for over 30 years under very difficult circumstances. Recently, when the Mangalore diocese started its mission in Africa, one got a feeling that an impression was created that they were the pioneers while hardly any mention was made of carmelite mission in the continent! That much for taking pride in each other's work!!! Good job carmelites...

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  • sr Severine Menezes, Belur, Hassan

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Congratulations dear Rev.Fr.Charles and all the Fathers. May you remain a BLESSING to all those who come in contact with you. God bless your mission.....

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  • alwyn, Canada

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    What a great happiness to see such beautifully built temple of God. God bless all worked hard to make this house of jesus. Our prayers for all of Tanzania people of christ.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Fr Charles Serrao inaugurates Carmelite shrine in Tanzania



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