Yesterday, Fr. Nestor and I travelled eighty minutes to con-celebrate the 8 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Diocese of Njombe.

The cathedral offers four Masses on Sundays: 6, 8, and 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. (preceded by an hour of Sunday School for children at 3 p.m.). Although my reputation as a confessor has widely grown in Tanzania, Fr. Nestor and I did not need to hear confessions prior to Mass, because a time for confessions is offered on Saturdays at the cathedral.

You will note that the Cathedral is quite large, and that the Church was nearly full for the 8 a.m. Mass. I don’t know if you will be able to recognize this in the photos, but the two main sections of the Cathedral are occupied by women in one center section, with the men seated in the other center  section. There was also a side section for young families and children, and a section largely populated by teens.
 

The Mass was once again nearly two hours in length. Fr. Nestor offered the homily, and after the final prayer spoke about the history of our friendship and the good work being done by Hope for Tanzania at INUKA. Next, I was offered the opportunity to speak (with Fr. Nestor translating into Swahili.) I was then presented with two lovely gifts: a Tanzanian tablecloth and a framed photo of Bishop Ndimbo and me from the Outpatient Clinic Blessing and Dedication from 2/7.

Fr. Eusebius (who had been present at the Dedication and Blessing at INUKA) invited the choir to join us for a photo on the plaza in front of the Cathedral.  This was the largest choir I have experienced to date.  And when I returned to the Sacristy to get out of my vestments after Mass, the procession had already begun for the 10:30 a.m. Mass; a different choir of similar size was located in the choir area singing the opening hymn (watch video below).