Salesian Cooperator, Paul Barnes, took some good old-fashioned games to Tanzania for children in St Francis Xavier parish.

 

In Cornwall they say "What goes round comes round". In the early 60's as a Salesian, I helped Sister Georgina McPake (RIP) to run the Sunday afternoon Oratory in Sacred Heart Parish, Battersea.

 

Fast forward 58 years later, and as a Salesian Cooperator, I find myself doing the same thing in my Tanzanian parish of St Francis Xavier on my current 3-monthly visits.

 

 

On this visit, I brought some simple games for the children. At the end of the 11.00am mass for children - and there are usually about 250 children there - the priest produced the gifts and blessed them. I’d brought a draughts game, a pack of playing cards and a game of skittles or bowls. He asked me to say a few words, which he translated into Swahili. It was the start of the Youth Synod so it gave me chance to say how much Pope Francis loves them all and asked them to pray for him with their families later.

 

 

In the afternoon I was able to join in their football match, and then introduce them to the games. It is quite a Catholic area but a lot of poverty and not all go to school. They are lovely children and so cheerful.

If anyone has any suitable games ( not too heavy) I would be happy to bring them on my next visit later in 2019 please God.

 

Paul Barnes