In the Diocese of Morogoro, 150 animators of the Holy Childhood successfully attended a seminar organized by the Diocesan Director, Fr. Idan Kadudu, which took place from 12-14 December in Mikumi Parish.

During the seminar, the animators were taught several topics including; Child Protection Policy, the Role of the Animator in the Care of Children in the Stages of Development and the topic of Leadership. Indeed, this seminar has enriched these animators in their care work, considering that in the next few days they will be responsible for leading children in celebrating their important day, the feast day of their fellow martyrs, on 28 December. During this seminar, the animators had the opportunity to visit Mikumi National Park which is located in the environment where they held their seminar.

From: PMS National Office

On December 14, 2024, three children from St. Joseph Parish in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, performed acts of generosity by visiting sick nuns of the Congregation of the Sisters of Usambara Tanga, who currently live in Kurasini, Dar es Salaam.

In fact, these nuns who have health challenges, were very relieved to see the sincerity of these children who were able to set aside their time and thus pray and encourage them that God will restore them to health so that they can continue with their mission of serving God.

Along with the joint prayer, these children also gifted these sick nun’s various things claiming that they planned to live the gospel of the 3^rd Sunday of Advent which says: he who has two coats should give to him who has none, as well as food for the hungry (Ref. Lk 3:10-11)

From: PMS National Office

Today the studios of Radio Maria Tanzania roared with the voices of praying the Universal Holy Rosary, while they invited people from every group: elders, youth, businessmen, farmers, and other groups, with the concept of living the message of Pope Francis for Mission Sunday 2024 which says; Go and invite everyone to the banquet (Mt 22:9).

In honor of the Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization, today October 19, 2024, the children of Tanzania raised their voices together through Radio Maria and other radio stations of the Catholic Church joining spiritually with all the children in the world to pray the holy rosary that is prayed every year in October on the Saturday before Mission Sunday. The specific goal of today’s rosary for the children of Tanzania was to pray for peace, unity and the success of the missionary works in the Local Church of Tanzania and the world at large.

Since it has become a formula for the PMS National Office to choose every year 7 dioceses that take turns in leading others in the rosary, this year the leading dioceses were: Dioceses of Musoma (first mystery), Mahenge (second mystery), Archdiocese of Tabora (third mystery), diocese of Lindi (forth mystery), Mafinga (fifth mystery), Moshi (the litany) and the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam which is given a chance every year considering that they are close to radio headquarters and if unexpected communication errors occur in a certain diocese they can support (their leading part was the opening and closing prayers).

By comparing the statistics that the PMS National Office has been taking every year to know the number of children who were praying the rosary on the scheduled day and time, the office admits that this year the number of children has been more surprising than previous years. For instance; archdiocese of Arusha gathered about 4000 children, Bukoba 2500, Bunda 500, Dar es Salaam 5000, Dodoma 3000 children, Ifakara 210, Kayanga 230, Moshi 5000 children, Mbulu 6400, Mbeya 6000, 1500 Kahama, Singida 3200 children, Mahenge 500, Njombe 1500, Songea 1900, Lindi 300 children, Iringa 3200, Mafinga 200, Musoma 300 to name a few. There were also priests (Diocesan PMS Directors), nuns and animators who were leading the children in the event of praying the rosary for each diocese. The PMS national team (Fr Alfred S. Kwene – PMS National Director, Sr Idda J. Mketi – PMS Secretary and Sr Anagladness Mrumah – National Childhood Secretary) joined to pray at the main center, that is, Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima Parish-Msimbazi, where the children of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam gathered. Hence, with this assessment that the office has done, it has clearly shown that missionary work in Tanzania is growing and spreading rapidly like the seeds of the sower that fell on good soil (Ref. Mk 4:3-9)

It was a joy for us in Tanzania that we were able to have two bishops joining the children’s rosary (His Eminence Protase Cardinal Rugambwa and Rt. Rev. Jovitus Mwijage). Correspondingly, before the blessing His Eminence Cardinal Rugambwa was able to talk to the children and encourage them in living their missionary work tirelessly. In a special way, he was able to encourage all believers to live the message of the holy father of Mission Sunday 2024, which encourages all people to go and invite everyone wherever they are, so that they can follow Christ.

From PMS National Office

Through the Children’s Catechism program which is broadcast on Radio Maria Tanzania every Saturday at three o’clock in the morning, on the 14th and 21st of September, some children were appointed to go to the studio with the aim of encouraging their fellow children to pray the universal rosary on the 19th of October 2024. The names of these children are Fransiska Joseph, David Mpoki, Catherine Raphael and Sylivester Barnabas.

This method has been used as one of the ways to make children help their fellow children to understand their evangelistic mission. In another way, to attract other children who are not in the group, to be motivated and thus follow their fellow children who are already in the evangelization system.

As well as more emphasis on this prayer of the rosary was placed by Sr. Anagladness Mrumah, Secretary of Holy Childhood on 12nd October 2024 that this day of the rosary although it was mainly aimed at children, but also parents should join their children in praying it because they also have their own goals based on their families that they should send to the Virgin Mary. Therefore, Sr. Anagladness stressed that even if some parents fail to come to the radio stations that have been organized, they should pray at their homes with other children who appear to have physical challenges and thus fail to come to the respective stations. Moreover, she emphasized that, for those parents who will miss the opportunity to pray in the scheduled time due to unavoidable reasons, they should give this time spiritually in what they will be doing.

From: PMS National Office