Paul Barnes, who has been a volunteer in Moshi, writes about the recent celebrations marking 25 years of the Salesian presence in Tanzania. Our Province has a long connection, and a group of staff and students from Thornleigh Salesian College will be visiting Moshi again soon.

On Saturday 22nd April 2017 representatives of the whole Salesian family gathered at Don Bosco Moshi, Tanzania, to celebrate 25 years of Salesian activity. Moshi is in the foothills of Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa and known as the rooftop of Africa. The Salesian foundation is part of the East Africa Province whose Provincial House is in Nairobi, Kenya.

Fr. Tony Fernandez, Rector of Savio House, was instrumental in setting up the presence from the beginning and Fr Brian Jerstice was also around in the early days. More recently BOVA volunteers have spent time there and Moshi has seen regular visitors from Thornleigh Salesian College since early years this century.

Presently the provision consist of the formation house for about 60 young men studying Philosophy and Education plus a well established secondary school of up to 250 students boys and girls. There is also a thriving oratory at the weekend plus a Salesian Cooperators Group.

The Rector Major arrived for the event and was the main celebrant with over 20 priests in the 2.5 hour mass including various dances , choirs and a spectacular offertory procession which included a football and young life goat. Also five new Cooperators were enrolled and all Cooperators present renewed our Promise.

Following mass we had the laying of the foundation stone for the extension to the school which various people and organisations had contributed £16,000 since I first started fundraising in 2012. This represents about 50 million Tanzanian Shillings.

Following mass there was a sumptuous meal for all with the traditional ceremonies associated with the carving of a large goat and the cutting of a four tier cake.

Afterwards young people had games and dancing whilst past pupils and Cooperators had a special session with the Rector Major in which he explored how both groups could further develop

On a personal note I was so pleased to be there having spent 12 months volunteering there since June 2012 and been so involved in the school extension project. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those in the UK Province how contributed in any way to the fundraising effort.

Paul Barnes