A Vehicle for a New Parish in Tanzania
In 2020, the parish of Kumsenga was established in the Diocese of Kigoma in western Tanzania. on the border with Burundi. Covering a very large area, the parish has seven outstations 8 to 22 miles from the parish center. In addition to visiting these various outstations, sometimes the parish priest, Father Michael Daniel, has to travel to meetings in the diocesan center in Kigoma – a distance of over 150 miles from his parish.
A major problem for Father Michael is that he has no car. For some of his journeys he can hire a moped, but the roads are extremely poor and in the rainy season virtually impassable. At those times, Father Michael finds himself wading on foot through muddy roads. Worse, on longer cross-country journeys, there is a real risk of being attacked and ambushed by criminal gangs who make a special point of attacking vulnerable riders on mopeds.
Given these difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions, a car would be very useful, since Father Michael would then be able to more quickly and safely reach the various outstations where the faithful are waiting for him. He would also be able to better serve his community, since all are affected by the limited means of transport in this region of Tanzania. When emergencies arise and there is a need to ferry sick people or expectant mothers to the nearest hospital, which is some distance away, the priest‘s car can double as an improvised ambulance and actually help save lives.
Such a vehicle would greatly facilitate the pastoral care of the Catholic faithful in the parish. Father Michael could then visit the schools in the parish and give religious instruction, as well as visiting the sick and elderly and bringing them the sacraments, intensifying the instruction of those preparing for baptism and above all celebrating Holy Mass more frequently in the various different outstations.
His bishop is very keen for Father Michael to be able to reach out pastorally to the Catholic faithful. He has asked our help and is praying fervently that we will be able to help his priest with a pastoral vehicle. We certainly won‘t let him down, and we have already promised him $27,400 for a robust all-terrain vehicle.
Can you help Father Michael purchase a vehicle so that he can better serve his community in Tanzania?
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