OUTREACH
Walking
in the foot steps of
the
Missionaries of
the
first Caravan
Second
Part
26/05/2012
- 09/06/2012
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| Wanafunzi wa kungwe njiani kwenda Mpwapwa |
On
May the 26th eighteen of us gathered in Mpwapwa, 12 from Kungwe
Centre, 3 from Agape Centre, one from Bagamoyo, and two former students of
Kungwe, one from Sumbawanga and one from Kigoma. We celebrated the feast of
Pentecost in Mpwapwa, then, on Monday, the next day, we started our walk. When
we left we did not know what to do as a rememberance of him.
Fr.
Joachim Pascal is the first of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa to die
in the heart of East Africa. From Bagamayo up to Mahaka he walked more than 500
km in two months time. When he reached Kikundi, near Kungwe in Morogoro Region,
he wrote: “All of us we walk with Sister Fever. All of us are enduring with joy
the sufferings and the lack of anything. We are consoled to the thought that we
are suffering with our Lord for the sake of the souls he has redeemed by his
blood.“ On August the 15th his health was greatly detoriating. Day after day he
was weaker and weaker, answering in an incoherent way when addressed to. On
Saturday the 17th he did not sleep as he was in a state of delirium, but when
it was time to get up and go, he refused to be carried in a hamac in order not
to take the place of another missionary sick like him. He knew that he will die
shortly, probably by a revelation, and continually he offered the sacrifice of
his life to Our Lord Jesus Christ, exhorting his confrères to do the will of
the Father.
On
August the 19th , at 3h ½ in the afternoon he died in Moukondoukou – now called
Mahaka – Parokia ya Chibumagwa, diocese of Singida, after receiving from the
hands of Fr. Livinhac the sacrament of the sicks. His confrères could not bury
him at that place, for fear of paying another tribute to the Sultan of the
Wagogo. Two guides and six soldiers went in the night to bury him, outside the
country of the Wagogo, deep in the forest, in a place which is not known up to
now.
From
Mpwapwa we followed as much as possible the path which they imprinted and stayed
in the
Following the example of our predecessors, we
got early everyday and tried to leave before 6.00 a.m. In doing so we avoided
the heath of the noonday. Halfway we stopped to meditate the Gospel of the day.
Arriving at the place where we camped – generally in the ground of the Church
of one of outstations or the Church of the Parish – we said mass in the late
afternoon inviting Christians to attend. We camped near the Church of the
Parishes of Handali, Bihawana, Chikopelo of the diocese of Dodoma, and at
Sanza, diocese of Singida, where some White Fathers stayed there for a while.
We camped also near the Church of Chunyu (Parish of Kongwa), Mvumi (Parish of
Handali), Mpunguzi (Parish of Dodoma Cathedral), Mpalanga (Parish of Bihawana)
and Kitunja (Parisho of Chibumagwa). Many parishes but few Catholics as the
Anglicans have preceded us many years before. In the big village of Mgunga there
was no Catholic Church !!! In any case we were better off than our predecessors
as they never found any Christian all the way up to Kigoma and Uganda.
Among the Wagogo we were well received in many
villages. Christians provided us with food and
presents. It was the time of the
harvest and people offered us very often groundnuts. At Mpalanga they welcome
us three km from the church and accompanied us with dances at the rythm of the
tamtams. They cooked for us the traditional meal, ugali ya uwele, na mtindi, mboga wa majani, yaani mlenda
uliochanganyika na maboga na karanga, maziwa yaliyokahangwa. But this was
nothing compared to the reception at Kitunja/Mahaka, formerly called
Moukondoukou/ Muliche, where Fr. Pascal died.
The next day, early in the morning, Shemasi
Sosthene came back from Chibumagwa with the drawing
of a church. With him and
the Christians of Kitunja we went to pay a visit to the Mtemi, chief of that
part of the Ugogo, Simon M. Musinga, an old man of 86 years. He was overjoyed
to see us. First he gave us a present, a cow, so that we can celebrate during
the days we will be present at Moukondoukou. Then he brought us in the compound
of the Ikulu – Muliche – to show us the scattered tombs of his ancestors. I did
not see any sign of a burial place, only a few pieces of wood, but from year to
year they came to pray there to remember them, to sing and danced, but not to
sacrifice as he is a baptized Christian, Anglican, with 2 wives. He explained
us the whole history of the Wagogo in this part of the country. As he was
talking he told one of us to write down. He himself did not go to school but he
sent his sons to school and his grandsons. Then with his son, the future Mtemi,
who is actually the Chairman of the village, he showed us a place to build a
church to remember Fr. Pascal. We thanked him and went back to Kitunja. There a
meal was waiting for us, 5 chicken and ugali.
Because of his qualities he was chosen to led
the first caravan to go to Kigoma, Tanzania. He did not reach there, God had
another plan. In his safari God prepared him to be a pure victim, without
defects, offered for the salvation of the people of Tanzania. Cardinal
Lavigerie wrote about him: “This man was truly a saint, still young but already
consumed with the virtues of humility, charity, purity and zeal to preach the
Good News of the Gospel. He died, as Moses, before entering the land which he
was hoping to see.“ [2]
The
former Parish Priest saw big. He designed a church of 30 m long by 8 m large.
We decided, for the time being, to build only part of it. We built a small
church, 12m x 4m, in the place which will be the choir and the sacristy, so
that people will be able to pray in their own church. When we left the walls
were well up. A few Catholics came to help us to carry sand and stones. Some of
them used donkeys. At the end of our stay we entrusted to two Christian
bricklayers to finish the cement in making blocks before the water holes dry
up.
Mahaka
is situated in the Rift Valley, between the Bahi swamp and the escarpment of
the Rift Valley. A place where the sun is very hot during the day, and during
the night, early in the morning, it is cold. Sleeping in the tents it was difficult to find
some good rest. We had no mattrasses, no chairs to relax. So it is not
astonishing that some of us also got sick with high fever and vomiting. However
we went back to Kungwe tired but full of joy.
Fr. Etienne Sion, M.afr.
 |
| Tayari kuanza matembezi |
laces where they pitched their tents. We did not succeed many a times,
as the countryside has changed considerably. Mountains and valleys are
still there, but forests disappeared or
great parts of them are cleared up, roads have been built, and above all where
they did not encounter any village, now people are cultivating everywhere. From
example from Chunyu to Ndebwe, they made, what they called a Tirikeza, in other words a Marche forcée of 13 h ½ with a rest of
an half hour between because of lack of water. Now big villages are there,
provided with water from sources far away, or from created ponds. As the first
Missionaries we suffered from heath and lack of water. We took our precautions
from drinking water but not enough water to have a good wash everywhere we
pitched our tents.
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| Wagogo wanatupokwa kwa |
In the
diairy we read that the Missionaries had to pay a high passage toll (hongo) to the many chiefs of the Ugogo.
To the Sultan of Mvumi they paid 80 dotis[1] of good quality, a baril of 20 pounds of
gun-powder. At Matumburu, they paid 140 dotis, a gun brought to a soldier for
20 dotis, six rolls of copper wire and 10 pounds of gun-powder. At Bihawana,
they pay 20 dotis. At Kididimo, they paid 21 dotis and 5 pounds of gun-powder,
a gun and 2 rolls of copper wire, plus one donkey stolen brought to the sultan
who asked again 10 dotis to redeem it. At Nyambwa they paid 200 dotis. At
Mhumpa 46 dotis, 2 barils of gun-powder. At Moukondoukou 40 doits, a roll of
copper wire and a baril of 5 pounds of gun-powder. When the Sultan of
Moudondoukou learnt of the death of Fr. Pascal they had to pay again 40 dotis
and 2 rolls of copper wire. Altogether to pass through the country of the
Wagogo they paid 606 dotis, 50 pounds of gun-powder and 11 rolls of copper wire
to walk about 150 km!!!!
When
we arrived at Kitunja/Mahaka, the place formerly called Moudondoukou/Muliche,
Christians received us at the rythm of the tamtams, 2 km away from the church
where nearby we pitched our tents. The church building is just a former shade
of a grinding machine bought to an Arab. There we met Fr. Emmanuel and deacon
Sosthene from Chibumagwa Mission. We planned together to meet Mtemi the next
day and agreed to ask for a plot to build a church in rememberance of Fr.
Pascal. Then they left to go back to Chibumagwa, while we said mass for the
Christians there. On that day we were quite exhausted after a walk of 30 km in
the burning sun through the Bahi swamp. Altogether we walked 230 km from
Mpwapwa to Mahaka. Christians brought us drinking water, 2 bottles of Uhai
water for each one of us. It was well appreciated. We relaxed and washed. In the evening we ate rice and goat meat
killed for celebrating our coming.
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| Pd. Etienne anapokea zawadi ya ng'ombe |
On
Friday, we, and the Christians of Kitunja, went to Mahaka and started to
measure the future church building, a big church of 30 m long for 9 m large.
The men dug the foundations, while the women with two elders went to gather
stones from the dry water course, three km away. Unexpectedly while we
were
working the Mtemi came and gave me 10.000/- T.shs as he could not come to work
with us, he had to go to herd his cattle. In the late afternoon we finished the
work and went to relax, eat and pray. In the evening I read to the Students of
Kungwe the life of Fr. Pascal.
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Mtemi na wanafunzi wa kungwe
|
On
Saturday, the next day, early in the morning Christians gathered on the spot of
the future church. I said mass and blessed the foundations of the church. Then
we went to Chibumagwa Mission, 34 km away, and the day after came back to
Kungwe, thanking the Lord for what he has done. Truly, if the blood of martyrs
are the seed of Christianity, the sweat of the missionaries is like blessed
water poured out on the land. Fr. Pascal did not do any missionary work as
such, but the sacrifice of his life will be now remembered by the people of
Mahaka. May be next year we will be back to Mahaka to go on with work which has
been begun!
Father
J. Pascal was born in 1847 in the diocese of Viviers, France. He has a good
character and the
Lord has bestowed on him wisdom, humility and above all love.
He always rejoiced to humble himself in front of others. His joy was to be the
servant of all and to serve them in many ways. One day, in the neighbourood of
Géryville, Algeria, he met a young boy badly wounded. He was abandonned by all,
even by his parents. Fr. Pascal took him and brought him into the house. He
rejoiced to look after him for the sake of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ,
as he said in one his letters. He knew that the boy could not be healed, but Fr.
Pascal, with care, helped him to live his last days . He won his heart. Even if
the Lord did not allow the boy to live, Fr. Pascal was overjoyed to give life
in Heaven.
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Misa katika eneo la kanisa
|
When
he was in Algiers, in charge of the Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Africa, he showed
his patience in an admirable way. Day and night he was at the service of all.
His charity was without limit, ready to give what he has. On a feast day, one of
the orphans could not change cloth, having nothing else. Fr. Pascal noticed it.
He called him and told him to follow him. He gave him one of his shirt and told
him: “Go to change and be careful not to be seen by anyone. Don’t tell
anybody“. The young Arab, could not keep the secret. One missionary told Fr.
Pascal that he must be rich to be able to do things like this. Fr. Pascal
answered him: “I had three shirts, could I not give one for the sake of the
Love of Jesus Christ!“
Another
time, there Algiers, a poor man came to ask money. He met Fr. Pascal coming out
of the house to go to hear confession. Fr. Pascal had no money, but not wanting
to send him back without helping him, he went back to his room, took a pair of
sheets, the only one he had, and gave it to the poor man. As this man was going
away, he was seen by people who thought that he was a thief. He explained to
them that Fr. Pascal gave it to him. The Superior called Fr. Pascal who confirmed that it was the truth. Then
Father Superior reproached him to be too prodigal. Fr. Pascal answered him that
what cost him most was that it was a gift of his mother.
When
he was in seminary at St Laurent-d’Olt, France, many a times he was seen,
during winter nights to sleep on the floor without a blanket. One confrère told
him one day: “I cannot sleep in bed, with two blankets, without trembling
because of the cold, and you on the bare ground!“ Fr. Pascal answered him
gently: “Our temperaments are different, I have no merit of doing that“.
The
courage of Fr. Pascal was as great as his mortification. One day he was told
that two Arabs were quarrelling with knives in their hands ready to stab each
other. Fr. Pascal ran up to them and he threw himself on his knees between
them, telling in Arabic to the one who was the most furious: “Hit me if you
have the courage!“ Seeing this the Arab went back and Fr. Pascal jumped to him
and embraced him.
Fr.
Pascal pray for us and all the people of Tanzania that they may know Jesus
Christ, their Saviour.
Fr. Etienne Sion, M.afr.
Building
the Church in memorial of
Fr.
Joachim Pascal at Mahaka
11/05/2013-24/05/2013
On
Saturday, the 11th of May 2013, we, ie. I and the students of Kungwe Centre
(Morogoro), altogether 14, went to Chibumagwa, a parish of Singida Diocese. We
slept there. The next day, after celebrating the feast of the Ascension in the
Parish Church, we went to Mahaka (formerly called Mukunduku), an outstation of
Chibumagwa Parish, where Fr. Pascal died, on the 19th of August,
1878. The people received us well. Again the Mtemi gave us a small cow for our
stay in the village. We pitched our tent and on Monday we started to build the
church in memorial of Fr. Joachim Pascal. We worked ten days, making cement
blocks, laying the foundations and building the walls of the Church.
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| Women and their donkeys bringing sand |
The
Parish Priest asked me to baptize children on Pentecost day, forgiving them for
what happened the years before. So I baptized 17 children and one Catechumen. I
was astonished to find so many Catholics in an area where we thought there were
practically no Catholics. During the ceremony of baptism I got sick, vomiting
and so on. At least I could finish the ceremony in shorting it. Then the fever
got high, probably the same kind of fever that our forefathers in the faith got
during their safari. Back to Agape I was sick for two weeks, having no
strength. Anyway I thanked the Lord to make me experience a little bit what the
Missionaries of the first caravan experienced all the way.
We
met with many problems. In preparing our expedition, on Sunday the 28th
of Arpil, I went to Dodoma and brought to the Parish Priest of Chibumagwa, two
millions T.shs, a gift that the Province gave me for starting to build the
church in memorial of Fr. Pascal. We agreed that he will buy 100 bags of cement
and with their lorry to bring them to Mahaka. There the lorry will make trips
to bring stones and sand, so that when we come we can start straight with the
work. One week before we arrived to Chibumagwa, on the day they wanted to leave
for Mahaka, 40 kms from Chibumwaga, with the lorry full of 100 bags of cement,
just before passing the gate of the Parish compound, the housing of the gear
box of the lorry broke into pieces. They could not repair it immediately. No
money. So no cement, no stones, no sand when we arrived at Mahaka!
We,
before arriving to Chibumagwa, we got a flat tire. Amazing as it was, I could
not find a place to
repair it until I sent one of us to Manyoni, 50 km away.
We repaired it and got again
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| Our camp and the escapment |
Before
leaving the place we went to climb the escarpment. There is a path from Mahaka
to the top of the escarpment which is used since many many years according to people.
They said it was always there. It is quite possible that the two guides and the
six soldiers, who buried Fr Pascal, used it during the night to climb the
escarpment and reached the forest of Ukimbu kingdom, which extended at that
time, until the top of the escarpment, if I am not mistaken. We heard that a
hunter discovered an old burial place, but no one from Mahaka knows where it
is.
We
hope that in the future we will find money to go on to build this church. A
memorial plaque will be
placed on the walls of the church to remind people of
the passage of the first caravan and the death of Fr. Pascal at that place. I
am sure that confreres who love Tanzania will be happy to hear about it and
will share in one way or another.
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| The wall of the church |
Fr. Etienne Sion, M.afr.
10/06/2013
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