This year, 2014, the Assumptionists of the Province of Africa have accepted responsibility for the administration of three parishes in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Assuming responsibility for the two parishes in Tanzania, Murugunturu in the diocese of Bunda, and Digodigo, in the archdiocese of Arusha, came in conjunction with the silver jubilee of the Assumptionist presence in East Africa and as a sign of the Congregation's commitment to serve the Church throughout the area. The first Assumptionist community was founded in Nairobi in 1988, a joint effort of three provinces of the time, the Congo (now part of the Province of Africa), England, and North America.

The parish in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Emmanuel Parish, in the easternmost city of Goma, on the northern shores of Lake Kivu, came as a result of the 2011 general chapter decision to encourage an Assumptionist community dedicated primarily to peace and reconciliation.

Goma, a city of more than a million inhabitants, has been at the center of regional tensions for decades, and most recently since hundreds of thousands of refugees fled there during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. This tragedy spawned tribal rivalries that have led to the creation of dozens of militias, the death of a countless number of residents in the region, the creation of numerous refugee camps, and to daily violence, ethnic mistrust, and the ghettoization of the city. The archbishop of Goma, who has personally expressed his gratitude for the Assumptionist presence and work in the city since their arrival in 2012 and acknowledged their ability to reach across rivalries of all kinds, requested that the Congregation assume responsibility for a newly created parish in the heart of the city with the hope that the Assumptionists might be able to extend their work of peace and reconciliation throughout the city.

The situation is somewhat different in Tanzania. For more than seven years Archbishop Lebulu of Arusha where the Assumptionist already have three houses in the diocesan see (a parish, a novitiate, and a house of philosophy) has been expressing his heartfelt desire that the Congregation take responsibility for a large, isolated sector of the archdiocese that has no priestly presence. This vast territory, reached by crossing the majestic Ngorogoro and Serengeti National Parks, mainly serves Masai herders and members of the Sonji tribe, more involved in farming. The Oblates of the Assumption founded a community about 45 miles away and are anxious for our arrival this fall. The parish has been dedicated to St. Augustine.

And finally, there is the parish of Mary, Mother of God on the island of Ukerewe in Lake Victoria in the town of Murutunguru. The diocese of Bunda is a vast territory with less than 20 priests at the bishop's service. Because of the extreme needs of the diocese and the welcome of the local bishop, the Congregation agreed to go. The parish has 16 outstations and a secondary school that will become the responsibility of the Assumptionists. There is already a church and a rectory on site.

It is hoped that the expansion of the Assumptionist presence in Tanzania will attract more vocations from this country that is 20% Christian.

APPEAL: Anyone interested in contributing to the expenses associated with the opening of these three parishes and supporting the Assumptionists are invited to send their donations to the following address. Please include a note indicating that your gift is for this purpose:

The Assumptionists
330 Market Street
Brighton, MA 02135 USA

Some urgent needs:

+ 2 motorcycles/motorbikes for the priests on the island parish of Mary, Mother of God to visit their 16 outstations   approximately $3,000 each

+ furnishings for the rectory of this parish        $2,000

+ an all-purpose vehicle for St. Augustine Parish near the Serengeti National Park  $30,000

+ a radio station for Emmanuel parish in Goma (part of the ministry entrusted to us by the archbishop)   $25,000