Mission: Experience in Tanzania, Summer 2024

Every experience has various interpretations and every person has their own subjective take and opinion. As those close to me know, I’ve spent the past ten years working on a pastoral programme in Valletta, as descibed in this website. There was a time when I used to think that the experiences I had on mission in Ethiopia between 2001 and 2007, and again in 2017 and 2018, were in preparation to embrace my vocation to be in the heart of the pastoral work and evangelisation with youths and children in Valletta. However, from the beginning of the year, a missionary spirit ignited once again and a new vision came to light about how we can expand our pastoral services in countries in the east of Africa.

Our group, that forms part of Kenosis Foundation, was in Gozo together for a weekend of rest. By chance, or rather thanks to God’s providence, we met with a Carmelitan nun of St Theresa of Lisieux Missionaries at the chapel of Savina in Rabat, Gozo. We were leaving Holy Mass in the morning and she was leaving from a time of prayer from the chapel. She told us she is from Tanzania and that she was sent to the convent in Gozo three months before. This sister, Sr Janet, welcomed us into the convent to share some ideas, wishes and possibilities of collaboration. In a nutshell, we expressed the wish we had as a foundation related to this growing desire to expand our mission. She immediately put us in contact with Sr Flora from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. From then on, we continued working and evalutating ideas in this regard.

To continue making this dream a reality, in July and August of this year I went to visit this place in Tanzania. In the time I spent with the Carmelite Missionary sisters, we had many discussions about a project involving a centre of formation being built near their convent in Boko Dar es Salaam. I met with various material needs that the Church is continiously trying to meet, as well as several expenses incurred by ongoing actitivies. Without closing any doors, I listened and took interest in every person that opened up to me about the particular needs they have.

This progress brought great joy and boundless blessings because we undertand what an immense priviledge it is that God opened this door and is trusting us with this work. As members of the Kenosis Foundation, we have a special connection with Mary and this continues to grow thanks to our contact with these sisters, who are Carmelitines dedicated to the patron saint of missionary work, St Therese of Lisieux.

When you are on mission in Ethiopia you can’t but come across projects that Dun Gorg Grima was involved in to some extent or another. When he would go on mission he would meet with the Bishop and superiors to see what needs to be done and would help out in various projects. Lately an Ethiopian priest was in Malta, Fr Petros, and in the two days we spent going around together we went up to Gozo and visited the grave of Dun Gorg Grima. We prayed the rosary and thanked God for the great material and spiritual work He did with those in need in Ethiopia through Dun Gorg Grima. In the silence of my heart, my prayer was like that of Elisha:

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. (2 Kings 2:9)

I prayed that the way He used and blessed Dun Gorg Grima in his mission, He will use me to do good for His glory.

I can’t help but be realistic. When I was seeing the many needs there are and how much I wish to be of help, I felt a bit helpess before the demand. I started to give up, but this verse quickly came to mind and filled me with hope:

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)