OUR HISTORICAL JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH

It was an historical trip when all Salvatorian scholastics gathered together down south. We began our journey soon after finishing the final examinations at the end of the first semester. In our way to Namiungo some used the Eastern route the Kibiti-Lindi road and others used the Western route the longer Songea road. It took us almost one week in which everyone was expected to be at Namiungo on 23^rd December 2003. Despite all the difficulties of a long journey nearly all scholastics were at Namiungo on the date allocated.

We were very happy and thankful to reach there safely. Not only us but also all of the colleagues we met there were very happy to see us. The joy became more strong because for some scholastics it was there first time to be at Namiungo and others hadn t been there for a couple of years. Therefore, it was good to meet once again and to be together for some days.

While at Namiungo we had a retreat of five days, lead by Fr.Francis OSB, who is the guest of our community in Morogoro. The retreat went well and was very meaningful that we got new experiences, which were characterized by many examples from monastic life. I do hope that everyone else like me enjoyed the talks given by the retreat master since they were short and clear and full of wisdom. It was pleasant that we were not only scholastics from Morogoro but also some brothers and Fr.Carol joined us in that occasion. I can describe that annual retreat as one of the best, I have ever attended.

Our stay at Namiungo was a joyous one to all Salvatorian brothers, fathers, and sisters living down south, also to the people living near by Namiungo community. I have mentioned this trip as historical because it is the first time when all Tanzanian and Congolese scholastics gathered at Namiungo for final and renewal of vows. The long and difficult journey made people be happy instead of sad. The togetherness and brotherhood simplified the voyage; hence it made us cheerful all the time in our journey, though things were not so good. All in all, we thank God that we went and returned safely.

Our pleasure was redoubled when six of our brothers made their final vows on 1^st January 2004. In our community the three brothers were Amon, Josephat and Justin. The three brothers from Namiungo community were Alestasius, Deogratius and Justus.The rest of us renewed our temporally vows for one year. Also we were very happy to receive five newly professed members who joined our community for pre-philosophy course. Rev, Bishop Magnus Mwalunyungu who was the main celebrant in the mass, Rev.Fr, attended the final vows ceremony. Africanus Lokilo SDS and his council, Salvatorian brothers, fathers, sisters without forgetting villagers from Namiungo, Majimaji and Nakapanya. The house was full of joy and crowds of people. We saw people eating, drinking, dancing, jumping, shouting etc, everyone had his or her style of showing how she or he felt happy.

After the ceremony, we had to begin our journey back to Morogoro. Some used Songea way and many of us passed through Masasi to Dar road. Here we convey our sincere thanks to those who were kind to us with their good welcoming whenever we passed in their houses and asked for accomodation. First of all we show our appreciation to Namiungo community for accomodating us, we felt at home for all days we stayed there, Fr. Eugene at Masasi community was very close to make sure we feel at home till the day we left. Finally in Dar-es-Salaam we had a good welcoming at Kurasini procura, Kurasini parish and at Sinza parish, thank you very much for your generosity.

Lastly, we thank almighty God for his long lasting, unending guidance in our travel down south. We thank because we went there and turned back safely. The journey was too long and difficult but the good Lord was before us in all our travel. Also we thank the Provincial superior and his council, our superior of Morogoro students community Fr.Daniel and our treasurer Br. Donald for organizing and arranging this trip. It was enjoyable and historical; we pray that this should not be the first and the last. We hope that, this will be done the same in the coming years. This kind of occasion has helped much to intensify our relationship and brotherhood between Morogoro and Namiungo community, also other members and all people we met in our travel. Since we are one in Jesus Christ let us not stop this type of assembly, it is important for streingthening and bulding a worth Salvatorian family.

By Frt. Ngilangwa Paulinus Ponder, SDS.