MISSIONARIES OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

Breaking News

Vocation Discernment
Retreat
April 25-27, 2008

Two Priests from Tanzania
Come to the U.S. to Minister

The Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.), a religious congregation of priests, brothers and lay associates who minister in this area, welcome two C.PP.S. priests from Tanzania who have agreed to do missionary work in the United States.

One of them, Fr. Alfons Minja, C.PP.S., has
been assigned as associate pastor of Sts.
Peter and Paul Church in Ottawa, Ohio.
The other, Fr. Benedict Magabe, C.PP.S.,
will be associate pastor of the cluster of
parishes in and around St. Henry, Ohio.

The C.PP.S. is a worldwide Congregation
whose members have been encouraged
by their leadership to reach across
international boundaries to explore new
missions and ministries. The Cincinnati
Province of the C.PP.S. has been ttalking
with the C.PP.S. Tanzanian Vicariate for several years about sending members from Tanzania to the U.S. to minister.

Fr. Minja, 46, was formerly the pastor of Mtongani parish in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city. When he was asked by his religious community to go to the United States, he replied, “As a missionary, I am ready.”

Fr. Magabe, 36, worked extensively with the youth of Itigi parish in the Manyoni District of Tanzania, where he was an associate pastor. Ordained in 2006, he had to take a deep breath before he could embrace his new assignment. “I was a little bit shocked” when he learned he had been chosen by his community’s leadership to go to the U.S., he said. “But then I answered right there, ‘I am ready to go.’ As the days went on and others were congratulating me on my new assignment, I grew happy about it. Then, as the day of departure grew near, I became nervous.”

The men arrived in the United States on February 15. They have spent the past two weeks introducing themselves to the priests and brothers of the Cincinnati Province, practicing their driving to prepare for U.S. driving exams, and growing accustomed to a much colder climate.













The province will continue to work with them to help them ease into their new ministry, said Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., provincial director of the Cincinnati Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. “We want to give them all the support possible as they become acquainted with our culture and the American Church,” Fr. Anthony said. “We would never want to drop someone from another country into one of the parishes where we minister without a lot of preparation and cooperation. That would be unfair to the priest or brother and to the people as well. We want everyone involved to have the best possible experience. We have a lot to learn from each other.”

Parish councils in both locations were informed well in advance of the new appointments, and they have cooperated in introducing the priests to their new parishes, Fr. Anthony added. “The people of Ottawa and the people of the St. Henry cluster have been very eager to welcome their new associate pastors,” he said. “We appreciate that welcoming spirit, and we know that’s going to help very much with the transition.”

In Ottawa, Fr. Minja joins pastor Fr. Tom Hemm, C.PP.S., and associate pastor Fr. Tim Knepper, C.PP.S. In St. Henry, Fr. Magabe will minister with Fr. Larry Wyen, C.PP.S., pastor; and Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S., associate pastor.

Stepping Up the Call
Walk, drive, pray for vocations on Saturday, May 10

Join in “Stepping Up the Call,” the annual pilgrimage for vocations awareness on Saturday, May 10. The event includes stops for prayer/presentations at up to seven churches and religious sites in Mercer and Auglaize counties in northwest Ohio, beginning with morning prayer at St. Augustine Church in Minster at 8:30 and closing with Eucharist at St. Charles Center in Carthagena at 4 p.m. Lunch and snacks provided. Walk or drive, visit all or some of the sites. Sponsored by the Sisters and Missionaries of the Precious Blood and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. For more information, contact Sr. Carolyn Hoying, CPPS, (937) 231-1244, or Linda Thieman, (419) 678-4403.