► OUR MISSION
Building a new church in Mwanga sanctuary
In 1988 Franciscan Friars opened mission in Tanzania in a place called Mwanga (Light). From the very beginning they have dedicated their efforts to deeper evangelization, emphasizing especially the need of sacramental life: sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist. In line with it they have started and spread devotion of Divine Mercy, taken as a Patron of parish church.
23th April 2006 (Divine Mercy Sunday) was a particular day for the parish community and also for the Franciscans. During solemn celebration, bp J. Koda, Ordinary of Diocese of Same, has announced Divine Mercy as patron of the Diocese and the Franciscan church in Mwanga. Moreover, the bishop has decided to entrust the whole plot where the church and the friary are situated to the Franciscan Friars as their property.
The faithful of the diocese and from other places started to make pilgrimages to this new sanctuary. So there was need to construct a proper church (because the present building was not a sacral building but a multipurpose one, adapted for the worship) and to provide space and possibility to access to different commodities for the coming pilgrims.
Local community has been very much in favor of building the church that is why they have started to collect founds needed to buy materials for construction. In August 2012 with their own hands they have excavated foundations for the sanctuary and started the work of the construction. Mwanga community does not have big resources but is fulfilled with a great zeal to construct place of worship.
St. Paul said "you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple...." (1Pet 2:5). We hope that construction of the church will strengthen community life and deepen their faith. Let us help them by putting our own "stone" in building this sanctuary of Divine Mercy and implore this Mercy upon them and people of Africa who are in need of it.