Good for Mwanza, Sad for Us

The Archdiocese of Mwanza has been without an archbishop for a year now. Today that changed when Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Jude Thadaeus Ruwa'ichi, OFM, Cap., as the next archbishop of Mwanza.

Bishop Ruwa'ichi is loved by the people of Dodoma, and he's been very supportive of our many Jesuit projects. He often stops by to say hello to us here at the Jesuit residence. In fact, earlier in the summer when Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, the archbishop of Dar es Salaam, visited Dodoma, the first stop they made upon their arrival in the city was our community to have a refreshment and to enjoy our company before heading to the episcopal residence at the cathedral.

When people ask Bishop Ruwa'ichi what his name means, he tells them, "God knows." Often people press him, "No, really, please tell us what your name means." "My name means 'God knows!'" Ruwa in Kichaga means "God" and ichi means "knows." (You'll note the capitalization of the "g" in God. That's because Christians did not introduce monotheism to the Wachaga. The missionaries may have introduced them to the person of Jesus Christ, but they didn't introduce them to God.

Karibuni Dodoma, Laura na Sean!

Our volunteers from JVC arrived yesterday evening. They arrived in Tanzania earlier in the week but spent some days getting to know their counterparts in Dar es Salaam. After spending Saturday at the beach, they hopped on a bus for Dodoma yesterday. They arrived just in time for a treat: dinner out with the Jesuit community, our other volunteers from Germany, our provincial, and Jack Paquette, the assistant to the provincials of Wisconsin and Detroit, Chicago, Wisconsin for Development.

We're so glad that they arrived safely. We'll let them spend some days of adjustment and then put them to work!

Laura arrives from Dar.

Sean likes his room.

St. Ignatius is happy that they've arrived!

More Fun with Google Maps

I just discovered that Google has gotten around to improving the maps for Tanzania. Here are the directions from Airport Parish (where I presently live and where our temporary offices are located) to the OLQP campus.


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OLQP from Google Earth

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Mavuno

That's the Kiswahili word for harvest. Last month the harvest was celebrated here. The harvest festival among Catholics in Tanzania is celebrated as a thanksgiving celebration. It is not celebrated with any great feast; no turkey (which is called a "wandering duck" in Kiswahili) and stuffing is served; no one suffers from tryptophan overdose. It is celebrated simply by sharing what one can with those who have less.

As you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States later this month, may I invite you to consider the psalmist's words, "How can I repay the LORD for all the good done for me?" (116:12).

Our needs are great here in Dodoma. Please feel free to email me -- I can help you answer the psalmist's question!

Karibuni Tanzania Sean na Laura!

Our two volunteers from the US have arrived safely and are resting and getting to know the volunteers in Dar es Salaam. On Sunday they will make the six-hour-plus trip by bus to Dodoma.

We're very much looking forward to their arrival and are thankful for their generosity. Sean and Laura will be with us for two years. I'll introduce you to them after I've met them myself!

What's that in the TV?