Easter 2011

     Dear friends,                                                                                                   March 2011

     Peace and Joy in Jesus, A few weeks ahead of Easter, it is time to send some news. I still reside in the mission called Kasamwa, within Geita diocese, North-West Tanzania. It is a parish which has about thirty villages. Following our arrival on the new parish compound last October, we pursue our settling down. For instance, we realized various finishing works on our building and also the electric installation of a solar system. It is a rather heavy investment, but we believe it to be worthwhile. The national electric company now severely restricts its distribution of electricity because of rain shortage this year. We have opted for autonomy! Besides, we are getting prepared to the building of a new church which should eventually shelter 900 people. Our solar installation should be sufficient to pump the needed water from our already existing well.

     About the personnel of the parish, our community is now affected by important changes. Our Canadian confrere Jean is safely back from a long home-leave, but our Indian confrere called Biju is now called to serve a community in India. For the time being he is not being replaced. Therefore, we shall continue as we are, two priests teaming up with a young Kenyan stagiaire called Robert. Among many other things, Robert visits very faithfully the five secondary schools which are on the territory of the parish so that he may give some courses on religion over there.

     Pastoral activities mainly consist in preparing and celebrating sacraments, visiting villages and animating various parish groups such as youth. Right now, youth prepare themselves to a yearly festival or pilgrimage which is due to take place on Saturday and Palm Sunday. They will come from the four corners of the parish and eventually gather in the parish centre for a night vigil of prayer, singing, teaching and recreation. Usually they are very many to participate within such an event. We expect something between 500 and 1000 people! It is a unique opportunity for renewing the faith of our youth.

     Among other things, I am still managing the parish finances! When time allows, I continue to collect local proverbs. With the help of a Catechist, we are compiling a proverb book which may eventually contains proverbs in 9 different languages. This time I am thinking about a translation into English. There is still much to be done, but a small part of it is already available on the Internet site which is mentioned at the end of this letter. These are spiritual commentaries on local proverbs.

     Right now in Tanzania we are approaching the end of the rainy season. But this year, rains have clearly not been sufficient. A lot of maize could not ripen, and there is almost no rice at all. Cotton is performing much better but last year’s prices were very discouraging: very few farmers invested in cotton this year, it is a pity as it is expected that now prices may almost double. Our area will suffer, but other areas will suffer still more. Foods stemming from roots such as sweet potatoes or cassava will be important. These kinds of plants do resist well to draught, but people do not like to farm them as they are not making attractive food.

     Future seems very bleak: our small earth has to face severe political turmoil in North Africa and in the Near East, and also more frequent catastrophes. In Tanzania, we have neither political turmoil nor severe natural disasters. But the rain shortage together with the inflation and the raise of food prices are not good news. It is like we are now entering into a period of fasting which for some may last for a long time.

     Nevertheless, let us continue to hope that this present crisis will end. Is it not here an aspect of the Easter message? Indeed, Easter means a time of passage from tribulations and doubts towards the celebration in joy of a hope and belief that nothing will remove from us: suffering and death will not have the last words!

     May God bless you all,

     Pascal Father Pascal Durand M. Afr.                                                    E-Mail: pascalbcd@yahoo.fr

     Missionaries of Africa                                                                              Tel: +255 783 07 89 85 or +255 753 01 87 66

     Parokia ya Kasamwa                                                                               www.pascalbcd.over-blog.com (French)

     P. O. Box 475 Geita                                                                                   www.pascalbcdeng.over-blog.com (English)

     Tanzania