MATER SALVATORIS MOROGORO: THE LENTEN ACTION ON MARCH 2020 (By Frt. John W. Nsenye, SDS)

THE LENTEN ACTION ON MARCH 2020 AT MGOLOLE ORPHANAGE

Mater Salvatoris Scholasticate House has a tradition of going to do Lenten action whenever it comes the period of Lent. As a community we have already gone to Aman Centre to visit Mental retarded ones, We have visited at Fungafunga, Tungi small Christian community etc, and on 2020 we decided to go At Mgolole Orphanage Centre. This year we visited only one place as the community decided that it is better to do our charity actions at one place instead of many centres, the community decided that it is better to collect whatever we have and go with them in one place according to the choice of the community.

LENTEN COMMITTEE MEMBERS (2020)
The MAIN COMMITTEE for the LENTEN ACTION 2020 was established during the community meeting on Friday 21^st February. Its main task was to organise and plan out for the LENTEN ACTION. The members who volunteered to be part of the MAIN COMMITTEE were, Frt. Francis Kafuru SDS, Frt. Edward Lupaka SDS, Frt. Robert Marwein SDS, Frt. Joseph SDS and Frt. Andrea SDS.

DATE /DAY OF LENTEN ACTION

On 22^nd February, the MAIN COMMITTEE had the first meeting in order to organise and plan out for the LENTEN ACTIONS. In this meeting, the MAIN COMMITTEE decided to choose a single place for the LENTEN ACTION, and the place chosen was Mgolole (the Orphanage centre). The date chosen to perform the LENTEN ACTION was on 21^st March.

THE TRAVEL PLAN

In Regard with travel plan, the main committee decided to borrow the car of Br. Philip SDS, the car of the Benedictine, and to use the community’s cars. After the meeting, the Prefect Frt. Francis Kafuru, SDS met the Assistant Formator, Fr. Alain SDS to confirm the decision made by the MAIN COMMITTEE. Fr. Alain accepted it and encouraged the MAIN COMMITTEE to go ahead with the plan.

PRIOR VISITATION TO MGOLOLE ORPHANAGE CENTRE

Prior visitation was very important, hence On 23^rd February, three members of the MAIN COMMITTEE, Frt. Lupaka, SDS, Frt. Joseph, SDS and Frt. Adrea, SDS went to visit Mgolole to inquire about the place and to inform those who are in charge about the community’s intention to visit them.On 24^th February the MAIN COMMITTEE had the second meeting; this time the meeting was about hearing the feedback from the last visit made to Mgolole. The Members who visited Mgolole gave the feedback. There were 51 children between the ages of 2-5 living in Mgolole in 2020. The times for various activities of the house begin at 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. At 13:00 hour the children take siesta or rest. The Sister in charge of Mgolole proposed that a preferable day for them to receive quests was Saturday, which was compatible to the MAIN COMMITTEE’s plan. Rice and cooking oil were the two major things that the community would provide as gifts. The children eat ugali during noon and they want rice during the night. The Sister also agreed that our community can share lunch together with the children. our committee also planed to assist them working manually such us slashing, or colleting leaves, cleaning toilet.

E EFFECT OF COVID-19

The outbreak of Corona virus affected our plans, the main committee arranged that all community members should go to visit the orphanage centre, to eat lunch together with children, play with them, and even do some manual works together but due to Corona virus all these turned upside down. On 20^th March, Frt. Lupaka and Robert went to Mgolole to remind them about the visitation. At the same time, to inform them that the entire community will not be able to come due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The Sister in charge was not available on that day, but Mr. Sephrain who was also the member of the house agreed to take the information to the sister. The MAIN COMMITTEE received clear instruction from the Formators that they should be very sensitive about the spreading of the Coronavirus, therefore to avoid having any contact with the children. Following this instruction, the MAIN COMMITTEE decided that only its members should go and represent the community to Mgolole.

A JOURNEY TO MGOLOLE FOR LENTEN ACTION

On 21^st March at 9:00 AM all the five members of the MAIN COMMITTEE and Frt. John Nsenye (as a DRIVER) went to Mgolole together with some groceries. The following are the groceries;

ITEM	AMOUNT	DESCRIPTION
Rice	40kg	40KG @2000= 80,000
Oil	20kg	20LT@2650 = 53,000
Sugar	20kg	20KG@2350= 47,000
TOTAL		180, 000/=

NB: Apart from the above items we had also one sack of Maize of 100kg

Once the members of the MAIN COMMITTEE arrived at Mgolole, they met with the incharge, Sr. Maria Mbenna and talked with her about the program and its intension. Sr. Maria acknowledged that the gifts the community provided for the children were very important as they were in real need of them. Following the instruction from the Formators the members of the MAIN COMMITTEE did not have any contact with the children, except Peter who was a spokesperson of the children. Peter thanked the members of MAIN COMMITTEE for the visit and the gifts. The members of the MAIN COMMITTEE in return gave thanks to Sr. Maria and Peter, and before departing from the place a short prayer was made by Frt. Joseph. At around 11:30 AM the MAIN COMMITTEE departed from Mgolole and returned to the community.

SOME CHALLENGES AND FAILURES

1. Since the financial situation of the house is not that good, the community failed to contribute more.

2. Unfortunately this year due to the coronavirus outbreak not everyone in the community experience the LENTEN ACTION

ACHIEVEMENTS/SUCCESSES

1. Regardless of the Coronavirus outbreak the MAIN COMITTEE managed to fulfil the LENTEN ACTION as it was planned.

2. The gifts provided by the community for the LENTEN ACTION were valuable.

3. Active participation among the members of the MAIN COMMITTEE.

SOME PROPOSALS FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS
The Main Committee suggests the following;

1. The LENTEN ACTION to be continued

2. To consider choosing a single place for the LENTEN ACTION because it is more effective and practical.

3. To add more contributions like financial support, clothing, and food commodities.

CONCLUSION

in the final analusis, let our community be more active in these charity actions, let us help people in need. And he said them "Go into the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation" (Mk. 16:15). We salvatorians, we are supposed to help people in need by doing lenten action oftenly.

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