Visit of Fr. Raphael Ma, CR - Part 1 - Congregation of the Resurrection 2025

I am not sure if you know about the political troubles that we have had in Tanzania around the national elections on October 29. These troubles continued for some days after the election. One consequence of the troubles is that the government turned off the internet throughout the country. That meant that we had no connection with the “outside world.” We were not able to communicate with Fr. Raphael in order to tell him that he should delay his visit. We had no way of knowing whether he was coming or not.

In my own limited wisdom, I told people that he would not come. I thought that, given no communication, he would realize that it would be better to wait. But we did not know. It turns out that Fr. Adrian (a diocesan priest from Poland who works with the Maasai) was bringing his mother, aunt, and sister to the airport in Dar es Salaam to fly back to Poland after their visit. However, since his driver is a Tanzanian, he could not drive with the political climate. Fr. Adrian is friends with Fr. Daniel, so we worked out that Fr. Daniel would drive them to Dar es Salaam, and when they went to the airport, he would see if Fr. Raphael arrived or not.

It turns out that he did! Fr. Daniel sent me a message: “The Eagle has landed!” It turns out that Fr. Daniel and his passengers had to go through about 30 military and police checkpoints on the drive from Morogoro to Dar es Salaam (about a 5-hour drive). Because all the people in the vehicle were non-Tanzanians, they were allowed to proceed. It was very tense. In any case, Fr. Daniel arranged for Fr. Raphael to stay overnight and then was able to put him on a flight to Mwanza.

By the way, Fr. Raphael’s luggage did not arrive with him. However, it turned up the next day. We thought that this was “funny” because his luggage did not show up when he went to Rome in the summer for the Formators Conference! As we all know, travel is not so easy today. We were all relieved that, under the circumstances, he arrived safely, that we were able to meet him, and that we were able to direct him to the next part of his journey. In the midst of all of this, I cannot forget that this is a grueling trip under the best of circumstances. There are two flights that total about 20 hours, as well as an 8-hour time change. When you arrive in Tanzania from North America you not only know what the time is, you do not know what the day is!

In any case, Fr. Andrzej Duda, C.R. was ready to meet Fr. Raphael at the airport and was able to take him for lunch at a place near the airport before the 4-hour drive to Buhemba, where Fr. Duda serves the Director of Novices. This was the main purpose of Fr. Raphael’s visit. He wanted to learn more about the different aspects of conducting a novitiate. Fr. Raphael has been appointed as the Director of Novices for the Canadian and the U.S.A. Provinces. This is an opportunity to spend time with Fr. Duda, who has served as Director of Novices for years, both in Poland and in Tanzania.

On the way to Buhemba, Fr. Duda stopped at Butiama so that Fr. Raphael could greet Fr. Phillip (pastor of the Butiama Parish) and Vitalis and Emmanuel (both have finished their theology studies and are on their pastoral year).

Finally, after about 3 days of travel, Fr. Raphael arrived at the novitiate in Buhemba, Tanzania!

Fr. Raphael has taken “a page out of my book” to always make friends with the cook. Here he is with “Mama” Esther who cooks for the novices, taking care of them with food for their stomachs but also love from her heart.

Fr. Raphael was able to meet the nine men who have been on novitiate since August 15, 2025. These young men lived with me in Morogoro last year as they completed their “aspirant year,” which in the language of the Vatican is the “propaedeutical year.”

I grew very fond of these young men and I miss them. I was happy to hear the news that Fr. Raphael had about their wellbeing.

From left to right we have: Luis Kelvin Kiyaya, Emanuel Regius Sanyanga, Desdery Exupery Adolf, Edison Stephen Mahonde, Linus Theonest Kasigara, Fr. Raphael Ma, C.R., Robert Msabila Mzurikwao, Polycarp Kaishe, Hilary Venance August, and Livinus Mkuras Anatory.

The banner written on the wall above the novices reads in English: The Congregation of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The novitiate is located on the same property as the Buhemba parish. St. John Paul II. Fr. Raphael was able to meet some of the parishioners and the altar servers.