22. Ndungu Parish (Mt. Yosefu) -2008

Established: 2008
Catholics:  230
Parish priest: Rev.Fr.Samwel Mvati
Outstation: Kihurio, Karamba, and Bendera

Small Christian communities (SCC): St. Yuda Thade (Majengo),St. Theresia (Msufini),St. Lusia (Migombani), St. Petro (Turiani), St.Clara (Kambimbi) and St. Paulo (Magofu).

Apostolic associations: Charismatic, Sacred Heart Jesus, flammable, Kuwata, TYCS, Choir, The holy childhood of Jesus and St. Aloyce.

History

The word “NDUNGU” originates from the pare word “Ndu ngu “means “saving”. Originally, people from the Pare Mountains reserved their grain stocks and other crops but it later it also took on the meaning of a weapon storage area. In spiritual interpretation, Ndungu is an area of storage "weapons of Christian” [Ephesians 6: 13-18].

The geography of the area
The Parish is located at the district of Same in Kilimanjaro region. In the southern part is bordered with Pare Mountains, Mkomazi park north east; Usambara Mountains and in the western side is Maore parish.

 

 

The location of this parish lies in the court of the plains and the mountains of Usambara and UPARE. The weather is warm most of the time of the year. The area is composed of Kihurio, Karamba, Bendera and Kalemawe.

The historical background of people and their residences
The Parish people are part of Ndungu people. The Ndungu residents are naturally people from the Mainland, namely Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Burundi, Kigoma, Mwanza and Dodoma who came to these areas as 'factory hands' and sisal workers under the Indian rule.

The history of the parish

A. Before the arrival of the people from the mainland
This place was not a residential area but the agricultural area for the sisal crop.  Christianity did not exist before the arrival of people from the vicinity mainland and neighborhood areas like Bumba and Makuyuni where there were residents and their natural religion, the religion of Islam, and Anglican denominations and Lutherans.

B. Advent people from the mainland
These are the ones who brought Christianity in these areas because many of them came as Christians prepared and maintained by missionaries from America and the Netherlands coming from Mamba under the leadership of Rev. John Wolsch.

C. Birth and growth for parish
You cannot isolate the parish of Ndungu, agriculture and administration authorities’ sisal. The laborers “Manamba” and employees of sisal who entered these areas in 1950 AD are the founders of this parish in 1960 AD as having the worries of long praying in private houses and building schools, and then they would rather stay in the searched area. It is the efforts of the elders, Moses Mahema, Moses Silla, PIUS and others who displayed the searched area and having achieved the searched area they began the work of carrying rocks, sand and bricks under the leadership of Rev. JOHN WOLSH and elderly Jacob Garam, William parent, and Randu Anthon technicians and others. In 1962 AD the construction was completed and officially opened in 1963 AD by Bishop Henry Winkelmollen.

Parish leadership

The Parish was under the leadership of Bishop Henry Winkelmolen who came to provide service while staying in Moshi in 1979 together with priests JOHN WOLCH [1958-1977], Henry, Gerald Harsh, Vincent Kromming and John Rutter. These missionaries appeared parish Mamba Parish and priests Judah Kihara, Leonard Ure, Wenceslaus Sumwa provided services from Same and Maore Parishes with Rev. Sabas Msuya, Rev. Firmini Kessy [2002], Father Aribogasti Mndeme [2012-2013 JULY], and Rev. SAMUEL Mvati [2013 to present].

Vision
The Parish focuses on building family unity with God in which God's people are proud of living the Gospel values  and relate with other religious communities.


Commission [mission]
The parish is responsible for directing, coordinating, and encouraging all community members to evangelize and provide basic services such as education, vocations, health, strengthen relations with various religions and with the government to build up one human body and spirit.

Parish Activities

A. Spiritual development
Since the original spiritual development of believers have been practiced

Sacrament

 
Spiritual seminars are held constantly as well as spiritual conference.
Apostolic associations include, Charismatic, Sacred Heart Jesus, flammable, Kuwata, TYCS, Choir, The holy childhood of Jesus, St. Aloyce and all these have been the springboard for the spiritual growth in this parish.
[Photos showing various apostolic parties in the parish]
[On the left is-holy childhood of Jesus, St. Cecilia Choir, the Organization of the Sacred    Heart of Jesus, the less they seem TYCS [Kihurio] and St. Aloyce]
Mass- celebration of the Mass is every day
Parish evangelization through the choir and other apostolic associations apply.

B. Economy and Development
Earlier in 1960AD about 80 percent of men were predominantly labourers and dealt with small engagements to generate income as farming, and labourers in the jurisdiction of sisal. It is a step forward and something to be proud of up to now, as the economy of the parish is moving forward through different sources and opportunities through modern development including: [ picture narrating the raising of sheep]
Various economic activities of the residents of brothers [picture narration: here appears Kalemawe pool]

Land and agro-parish is based on the ownership of the sites available for construction of important social institutions such as schools and clinics and vocational training center. We put more effort on rice plantation and other crops for the development of the parish.

[Picture narration Paddy is one of the parishioners’ investments [on top].
Investment-parish invested in the Bank of the Redeemer.
Intensification of savings and credit-has strengthened especially mothers in the parish of Ndungu who grow through VICOBA since they have the economic strength day by day.

[Picture narration Mothers are set to borrow through VICOBA to emerge from poverty]
Another form of development is pork keeping project owned by youth.
[Picture narration Farming is an approach to economic development that the young people of the parish of Ndungu are strengthened day-to-day by livestock pavilion]

C. Cultural and social life
The olds have a saying: He who neglects traditions is a slave; Traditions and cultural practices are also part of the Catholic Christians of the Ndungu Parish. Believers are also involved in social events such as weddings, funerals, as well as governmental activities. The residents here are from Mainland, Makonde and Fipa and so cultures such as generosity, cooperation and unity are also inculcated in the hearts of believers.

D. Relation with other religions
Christians from the mainland found various religions in this area including the Islamic, Adventist, Anglican and Lutheran. It is encouraging and comforting that Catholics have good relationship with other religions.

E. Education
The history of involvement with education has its foundation since then. The emphasis lies on ensuring that everyone has the right to be educated and  this gives us confidence that once one has that knowledge he/she will be a  great member of the community for development of his/her community.
The issue of education was not the priority of the church in the years 1958AD to 1965AD. The church did not have even one school; many schools were owned by the Anglican Community.

Awareness of education began to appear in 1980 through Rev. Sabas Msuya who put efforts by motivating believers in education.  Now the parish has believers who are in secondary schools, colleges and different vocational training centers.

[Picture narration Pupils from the secondary school Ndungu receiving gifts when they did well in the fields of hygiene and good governance [right-Margareth Constantine and Maria Nangasu], left is a standard one student]

F. Politics
Politics in the early days of Christianity; Ndungu had a philosophy of FREEDOM TO WORK [1962].  Religion was not far from politics as respected leaders of state and government also respected religion. For example, the celebration of St. Joseph (the worker) had the national status in these areas and so, the government conducted workshops and concerts to honor this outstanding day in kihurio to Korogwe.  Till now there is a good relationship and the believers have adopted the current philosophy of ‘’Hapa Kazi Tu’’


G. Communication
Information is the most important thing in human life because people need information about their environment, politics, society, government and their health awareness. Communications help people to seek for their development and how to use the resources surrounding them.

In recognition of this, the parish ensures members are using the media to get and send their information.