Form VI Results

Our students did well. The school struggled with recruiting and retaining good science teachers at the advanced level, and that is reflected, I think, in the scores. But with a few of exceptions the students did well enough that they’ll be offered seats at universities across the country.

Here is the link to the results.

Why Is This Young Lady So Happy?

Because a good friend of mine helped her with her school fees and she was able to continue her education! Brigiter has a lot going for her. She wants to be an architect and is working hard to achieve her goals.

Let me share with you a letter she wrote me. I share this thank you letter because I know so well that it is not I who am responsible for her ability to continue her studies but so many friends and family members who continue to support students needing financial assistance.

Dear Fr. Martin,
There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and nothing can measure his excellence. To me you have been more than a teacher, a parent, a guardian -- and so you have been a friend to me. Nothing -- no scale -- can measure that love you have, coming every year since you left the school. Even when you do not come you write letters to show that you still love us.
I really lack the words to express my gratitude to you, especially the way you support me and my family in my academic life. Studies have been a little bit hard, but I am still struggling!
I promise to be a good student and a leader that people will look up to.
May Almighty God less you as you leave Tanzania. I wish you safe travel. I’ll always pray for you and [my friend]. There is nothing I can give to show my gratitude other than good results
Yours faithfully,
Brigiter 

A Statue for the Chapel

Patrick Loti, the Ugandan sculptor responsible for the Queen of Peace statue the welcomes visitors to the campus and the crucifix in the chapel, was visiting the school while I was there. Here depicted in a series of photos is the progress of the sculpture of Our Lady.

Sunday Mass

I was asked to preside at the school’s Sunday Mass. The Mass is typically in Swahili, but I was given the option of using English. I decided to go ahead and use Swahili. Frankly, I was amazed that after 5 years it was as easy as it was. (Incidentally, all the students attend Mass every day at St Peter Claver High School. During the week Mass is at 6am; Saturdays at 7am, and Sundays at 8am. The chapel is built for 1,200, so there’s no problem fitting all the students.)

Puppies!

Haki, the community’s watch dog, had puppies (ahem, the watch dog could have used some watching over). This one initially was full of bravado until a hiss put him in his place.

Stations of the Cross

These were done by a local artist who is a member of the Jesuit parish in Dodoma. They are mounted on the exterior walls of the chapel, giving access to them whether the chapel is open or not.

View from the Sky

Because my time was limited, I chose to fly from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam. This afforded me the opportunity to get an aerial shot of part of Dodoma and more importantly of the school campus.

SPCHS Choir Sings 1 Corinthians 13 (Love is patient, love is kind...)

SPCHS Choir Sings Baba Yetu -- Our Father

I heard some members of the school choir (about 1/4 of the choir) practicing and went over to visit with them. They obliged me by singing some of my favorites.

In case you want to chant along with the choir:

Baba Yetu uliye mbinguni,

Jina lako litukuzwe;

Ufalme wako ufike,

Utakalo lifanyike

Duniani kama mbinguni.

Utupe leo mkate wetu wa kila siku,

Utusamehe makosa yetu,

Kama tunavyowasamehe na sisi waliotukosea.

Usitutie katika kishawishi,

Lakini utuopoe maovuni.

SPCHS Choir Singing National Anthem

I heard some members of the school choir (about 1/4 of the choir) practicing and went over to visit with them. They obliged me by singing some of my favorites.

My Annual Trip

I was able once again to visit my beloved St. Peter Claver High School in Dodoma, Tanzania. And will share some of the photos from the trip over the next several days.

Let me begin by sharing a picture of Mzee (Elder) Michael, the retired night guard who had worked at our Jesuit parish. I was very close to him and was fortunate enough to visit him at his home before leaving Dodoma.

Miscellany

Here are some pictures less easily categorized.

A view of the dorms, the classrooms, and the library.

Students on the way to 6am daily Mass.

The library

Trip to the Goat Auction

The Swahili word for auction in Swahili is mnada; the occsion/place for auction is mnadani. One of my favorite things to do is to go to Mnadani Msalato, a goat market about ten kilometers outside of Dodoma -- on the Cape to Cairo Road.

I usually manage to leave before people are drunk from the local brew;
these two on the right had been over served. 

Maasai at the market. I have great respect for the Maasai;
Tanzania and Kenya use them for tourist purposes but disrespect their rights as pastoralists.

Nothing better roast goat and a Castle lager.

Novices at Work

I interviewed two of the novices about their experience and about their vocation. It’s not edited yet. In the meantime, here are some videos of novices working.

A Panoramic of the Campus

The Chapel

This corpus will be mounted on a cross in the chapel

Men and Women for Others

The students do service in Ihumwa, the local village, but they also have had collections and fundraisers to improve the learning conditions at the local primary school.

A classroom before renovation

Classroom doorway

A classroom before renovation

Renovated

Renovated

Incidentally, St. Peter’s is committed to accepting and providing financial support to capable students from the village.

Jesuits and Astronomy

Folks know that Jesuits have a long history with astronomy. It was among the things that opened the imperial court up to us in China in the 17th century. The Vatican Observatory is in our custody. 

Knowing this history, I asked folks if they had any telescopes sitting in closets, not being used. Two friends in Santa Barbara bought a new, state-of-the-art telescope, which the students enjoyed. Well, now there is a Jesuit who is passionate about astronomy -- so passionate that he’s built an observatory on campus.

You can tell that Jim Strzok, SJ, is an engineer. 

Uji

Uji is porridge, made from either maize flour or millet flour. It’s a common breakfast. The students are served uji after 6am Mass (yes, 6am!). They have something more substantial at tea time (around 10am).

Flora and Fauna -- Domesticated, Mostly

You’ll see here that the school grows much of its own food, especially vegetables. In addition to vegetables (sukumawiki [between kale and collard greens], mchicha [like spinach], onions, and tomatoes), they also grow sunflowers for oil and peanuts for sale.

 Brother Soreng still takes care of trees including an orchard (which suffered from neglect while he was away for three months visiting his family in Ranchi, India).

Here are the ashok trees he planted near the dorms in order to break the wind:

The grove of mwarubaini trees (also called neem trees) that brother planted is doing well:

And now for the fauna:

The progeny of Moshi, who replaced my beloved Chui

Not watch dogs but rather fire-fighting dogs

They work at night, so they have every right to sleep during the day