Christmas Celebrated at SAME Mission, Africa
Same: December is indeed a joyful season for the Mangalore Diocesan Mission at Sub-Saharan Tanzania, East Africa in the Diocese of Same. The much-awaited proclamation of the birth of Jesus began at Kifaru Parish, extended from 20th till 23rd of December 2016. The Kifaru parish Choir and Drama team proclaimed the message of Christmas of the Birth of Jesus. They put up a 3 hour long outdoor Christmas Program of Carols in Ki Swahili, ice breaking games for Children and a thought provoking an hour-long drama called the “Fourth Magi”, at the foothills of Pare Mountains in 4 villages of Kifaru Mission viz. Kwanyange, Jipe, Kalimani and Kileo.
The Kifaru Parish Catechist Leonardo Laghua, contextualizing it to the African reality, translated the “Fourth Magi” drama from English to Ki Swahili. The hour-long play depicted the journey of the “Fourth King”, in search of the babe of Bethlehem, while attending to the needy and underprivileged on the way, which was very powerfully depicted by the parish artistes.
In all these villages, the Village chairmen along with the secretaries expressed their joy for bringing the message of Christmas to their far off villages. At Kwanyange Village people expressed their happiness for having such a programme for the first time. At the Jipe Lake which is 1200 meters above sea level, the village Chairperson Mrs Samuel Chemchem expressing her gratitude for organizing the programme said that Christmas is all about peace and love and the Lord Jesus must be born in our hearts. She urged to have more such public and community building programmes in the coming days. The Kalimani Village Chairman expressed that the message given by this programme was very powerful which enlightened the people to know the true meaning of Christmas. He felt that the programme has encouraged everyone to share the joy of Christmas with our less fortunate brothers and sisters. He complimented the initiative taken up by the Catholic Church, which brings about peace and harmony in the society.
The Kileo village Chairman Wilfred Daniel was very grateful for giving an opportunity to the people to witness such a unique programme. He said that the message of the “joy of giving” which was given through the programme should be carried to all the families and neighbourhoods. The Village Secretary Krispin Kibarin said that such a programme must continue every year and the people should be able to find the new spirit of Christmas.
In all these villages, Bonaventure Maro, the Parish Council Chairman addressed the gathering and extended Christmas greetings. Fr Hilary Lobo, the Parish Priest, gave the Christmas Message and blessed the people. The three-hour long Programme ended with a vote of thanks delivered by the parish Secretary Mrs Protasia Tarimu. The parish youth Willard Maro and Debora Msofe compered the programme.
Several people worked hard for many days to put up this great show. The Diocese of Stockholm, Sweden supported with needed financial resources. Fr Alwyn M J D’Souza, Mission Superior of SMAM took the lead in planning and executing the programme. Fr Victor Machado worked as PRO for organizing the programme while Fr Jason Lobo took the responsibility of Drama and Choir along with Mrs Leonardo Laghua who was the director of the drama. Bro. Lanson Pinto looked after the sounds and lights and Prashanth D’ Souza, arranged the stage and transport. It was an enriching experience to spread the message of Christmas and the “joy of giving”.
by Prashanth D’Souza, Arva