Lesson from Tanzania

This past weekend St Joseph’s hosted a priest visiting from Africa.

Fr Mansuetus Setonga, who works closely with his bishop in Same, Tanzania.

We had breakfast together and he told an interesting story.

Thirty years ago a priest, Fr Richard, wrote to the bishop of Same.

He was tired of watching his congregation dwindle in Germany.

He wanted to spend a few years doing missionary work.

He wanted to carry the Gospel to people who might be hearing it for the first time.

The Church in Tanzania was already growing rapidly, but there was much to be done.

So the bishop accepted his offer of a five-year assignment.

When Fr Richard arrived, the bishop offered him any parish he wanted.

But Fr Richard said he’d done further research, and wanted to go work with the Massai.

The  bishop said that would be a waste of time.

The Massai were committed to their own god and didn’t welcome missionaries.

They practiced some barbaric customs and they were dedicated polygamists.

But he let Fr Richard go anyway.

And they heard nothing more from Fr Richard.

Until five years later, when the agreed assignment was up.

The bishop was surprised when Fr Richard showed up and reported great progress.

He had built a church and baptized the tribe he had been living among.

In fact, they wanted the bishop to come and confirm them.

Fr Richard said he wanted to extend his assignment for another five years.

But he’d have to travel home for a few months to get permission from his German bishop. 

The surprised Tanzinian bishop said okay.

And assigned Fr Mansuetus to pastor the Massai while Fr Richard was away.

Fr Mansuetus traveled to the Massai village and returned with a report.

He told the bishop, I don’t know what Fr Richard was doing out there.

You cannot go to confirm those people.

I said Mass for them and see that they all come to Communion. 

But afterward I learned that they’ve made improper changes to the Mass.

Then I visited their homes and found that they are still practicing polygamy!

The bishop said, Let us think on this; What would Jesus do if he were here?

The next day he sent some sisters to live in the Massai village and teach catechism.

When Fr Richard returned, the bishop told him the Massai were not ready for Confirmation.

But he sent him back to their village for another five years.

During those next five years, those Massai truly converted.

They celebrated the Mass properly and changed customs that violated Christian principles.

They even found a way to give up their practice of polygamy,

Without harming the welfare of the former wives and the many children.

Today, the bishop says those Massai are the most committed, fervent Catholics in Tanzania.

And he says Fr Richard’s arrival was truly the work of the Holy Spirit.

In our Gospel today, Jesus says:

My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.

Fr Mansuetus’ story gives us three examples of people who heard and acted.

Fr Richard heard the call and got up and went across the world to Tanzania.

The bishop asked what Jesus would do, heard his answer, and acted with patience.

Thanks to Fr Richard, the Massai finally heard the Word of God—the Gospel.

And then they heard their individual calls and transformed their lives.

What are we hearing?

What action are we taking?

Tuesday, 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Lk 7:11-17           Read this Scripture @usccb.org