“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, He has anointed me to preach the Good News to the Poor”

(Lk 4/18)

St. Vincent De Paul (1581-1660)

Our Patron

St. Vincent De Paul, born at Pouy in southern France in 1581, succeeded in giving concrete expression to the merciful love of the Lord.  “faith without deeds is useless” (Jas 2/20).  The vision he offers his followers is the vision of Christ not as a teacher, nor as a healer but as the evangelizer of the poor by proclaiming liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, release to the prisoners, and to announce a year of favor from the Lord – to work for the integral development of a human being.  That is why he became an inspiring presence of his time that awakened the conscience of humanity.  St. Vincent De Paul left indelible marks on Christian values on the history of the 17^th century France.  He could command respect from even those who rose up on revolution against the church and the state alike.

St. Vincent De Paul was declared the patron of charitable works of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1833.  Pope John Paul II described him “a man of action and prayer; a man of administration and imagination; a man of leadership and humility; a man of yesterday and today.”

He inspired many generations to be effective witnesses to the merciful love of the Lord and continues to be so.  It was under the influence of this great saint that the Vincentian Congregation was started in Kerala, India in 1904, by Very Rev Fr. Varkey Kattarath of venerable memory.  The Congregation has more than 550 members in three different provinces.  The members focus their energy mainly in preaching the good news to the poor in the mission fields of India and East Africa. 

Sacred Heart Region, E. Africa:

A brief History:  Two pioneer missionaries of our Congregation reached Mbeya, Tanzania on July 10, 1979 for pastoral work in the diocese of Mbeya.  They had been actively engaged in pastoral activities in the same diocese till 1990. Though another missionary from our Congregation joined them later, he succumbed to malaria fever in Jan 1986.  Due to shortage of personnel to look after the parishes entrusted to us, the rest of the missionaries had to wind up their activities in the Diocese of Mbeya and came over to the Diocese of Kigoma in Sept, 1990.  In the course, more missionaries with zeal and commitment came over to African Mission.  Consequently, our service was requested by Bishops in Kenya and Uganda.  Needless to say that the arrival of Rev. Fr. Joseph Kuruppamparambil (R.I.P), Fr. J.K. Bill for short, in our East African Mission accelerated its blossoming.  Quite gradual has been its growth.  Meanwhile, Vincentian Houses were established, Seminarians were sent to Major Seminaries in Tanzania and Kenya for their theology program.  The African Mission was raised to the status of a Dependent Region on Jan 6, 2006.  Presently, fifteen missionaries from our congregation are working in 8 centers of East Africa.

Five Seminarians are doing their theology program at Tangaza College, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.  Local training will definitely stand in their good stead once they are in the field.  Four years of their stay here in East Africa along with other local students will help them pick up the local language and culture. All of them have already become quite proficient in handling the local language.  During long holidays, they conduct retreat program for students in boarding schools.  Such renewal program organized by our Seminarians for youth and children is called “Jesus Mission”.  Late Bill was a great inspiration for them in this regard. Before, they begin their theology program, they have one year of  pastoral course(regency) which they do in one of our mission centers in East Africa. All our Seminarians are from Kerala, South India.  They come here after seven years of formation that consists of three years of Orientation Course, one year of Novitiate and three years Degree course in Philosophy.

Vincentians in the Diocese of Kigoma:

His Excellency, Rt. Rev. Alphonse Nsabi, the then Bishop of Kigoma Diocese had been  requesting  the service of our Missionaries in the Diocese of Kigoma and he offered us a religious house built by the Franciscan Conventuals at Katubuka near Kigoma town with the obligation of taking care of the pastoral needs of  the faithful of that area.   Very Rev Fr. George Manalel, the then Superior General of the Vincentian Congregation, during his visit to Tanzania in 1986 considered the request of the Bishop positively and the first Vincentian House in East Africa was inaugurated on July 3, 1988 at Katubuka. 

In Feb 1989, Katubuka parish was erected and entrusted to the care of the Vincentians. The renovation of the Parish Church began in right earnest and the newly constructed church which accommodates about 2000 faithful at a spell was blessed in the year 2000.  The number of those who attend the Holy Mass daily increased steadily.  Presently about 300 to 400 Christians are there for daily mass. 

St. Vincent De Paul Parish Church

There are three masses on Sundays and the church is packed to the maximum for each service.  The main cause of this spiritual renewal was the popular mission retreats started by Fr. Bill when he came to East Africa in the year 1992. Besides the main church, there are three outstations, each having about 200 to 300  catholic families.  It is quite gratifying to note that about 15000 Catholics benefit the service of  our missionaries at Katubuka, Kigoma, Tanzania. 

The seed of Popular Mission Retreat planted by Fr. Bill at Katubuka, Kigoma in East Africa in the year 1992 grew rapidly spreading its strong roots every nook and corner of the world. After a long break of 26 years, he came to Kigoma in the first week of March, 2008 to rekindle in the hearts of the faithful the love for Jesus, perhaps not knowing that it was his last visit.

Vincentians in the Archdiocese of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

News about Fr. Bill started spreading far and wide.  Wherever, he went, thousands of people flocked to him to get his blessings and to seek his advice for their personal and family problems.  The same news about him reached the ears of the archbishop of  Dar Es Salaam archdiocese, Tanzania.  He was invited to Dar Es Salaam to bring about spiritual awakening through popular mission retreats. Basing at Mbagabala Spiritual Centre, he started his preaching ministry in Dar Es Salaam, meaning “haven of peace.   After experiencing the healing power of Jesus through his preaching, many approached him to begin a renewal centre somewhere in Dar Es Salaam.

Vincentian House:

Jesus Town, Vikindu is the spiritual fruit of Fr. Bill's preaching ministry.  Vikindu is an underdeveloped village in Mukranga distrist on Kilwa Rd in the cost region of Tanzania. It is about 35 klms from the capital city Dar Es Salaam. Mr. Joseph Mtahangarwa, a retired captain, donated 8 acres of land at Vikindu to develop a retreat centre.  The name Jesus Town was chosen as Pope John Paul 11 proclaimed the year 1977 as Jesus Year in preparation for the great Jubilee year 2000.   The Vincentian House was canonically erected in May 1998 and was formally blessed  on March 18, 1999 by His Eminence, Palycarp Cardinal Pengo, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dar Es Salaam. 

St.Vincent De Paul Parish, Vikindu, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Vikindu was one of the outstations of Mukranga Parish.  It was declared a Parish in Jan 200l and entrusted to the Vincentians in the same year.  Daily Mass for the faithful was being conducted in the private chapel of the Vincentian House.  A sudden increase in the number of attendants for mass necessitated the construction of a Church.  Again, Fr. Bill’s encouraging words and deeds were quite visible and tangible in the construction of the Church. It was consecrated by H.E. Polycarp Cardinal Pengo on Sept 26, 2006.  Institutions of Vincentian Sisters, CMC sisters and the newly constructed imposing new parish church make Jesus Town more attractive.

The plan of starting a Renewal Centre for the spiritual upliftment of the people Dar Es Salaam had been in his mind for a long time. The year 2008, being the sacerdotal golden jubilee of Fr. Bill, it was proposed that year 2008 is the right year to fulfill his dream. After one week of retreat for the priests and religious at Mbagala Spritual Centre, Dar Es Salaam, he came to Vikindu on 2^nd of March, 2008.  After the Solemn Mass in Parish Church, he blessed the foundation stone for the proposed Renewal Centre at Vikindu in the presence of hundreds of well wishers and friends.  He was quite verbose about the centre giving the full hope to the faithful that the Centre will be ready by the end of the same year…But he left us giving the responsibility of fulfilling his dream.

Vincentians in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya.

Those who had the chance of attending the preaching sessions of late Fr. Bill became like apostles after the Pentecost.  News about his preaching reached the ears of late Maurice Cardinal Ottunga, the then archbishop of Nairobi Archdiocese.  Fr. Bill was invited to Nairobi in the year 1998 to give retreats to the priests, religious and faithful. Thousands of people flocked to him wherever he went.  Eventually, a renewal centre in Nairobi was thought of to do his preaching ministry systematically.   Meanwhile, daily services were being conducted in a facility that was not permanent and suitable.  The vincentians were on the look out for a plot that would suit the spiritual atmosphere we intended to have.  After the initial instability, a one and half acre plot was bought with a small house in it in the year 2004.

 For the time, Saturday services were being conducted in a makeshift shelter, just big enough to protect the Blessed Sacrament when exposed, the altar and the priest.  The faithful have to be satisfied with the open space under the shade of trees whether it rained or shined.  “What shall separate us from the love of Christ” (Rom 8/35) was the attitude of the people.  “He delivers the needy who call on Him” (Ps 72/12). But God used many of our well wishers and benefactors along with late Fr. Bill to have a perpetual adoration chapel, residence for the Seminarians and a retreat hall.

Perpetual Adoration Chapel

This chapel can accommodate about 80 people.  The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for the public everyday from 7 am to 6pm.  People start coming for making adoration from as early as 6.30 am.  Afternoon service begins at 3 pm with Rosary.  One of the priests will give a talk on a relevant subject from 3.30 to 4.30 followed by confession.  The Holy Mass begins at 5.30.  Every day, about 250 to 300 people come for the spiritual nourishment at this centre. Every Saturday, about 1500 people attend our one day prayer service.

Retreat Hall

Retreat Hall has the seating capacity of about 600 people.  Usually, this hall is packed to the maximum on Saturdays. Saturday program starts at 10.30 with a talk to prepare the faithful spiritually for a good confession.  Minimum 12 priests are available for hearing confession.  By the time, they go out of this campus after the Mass in the evening, they look emotionally and physically relaxed with a strong decision to become a messenger of peace and forgiveness in their family.  Very often they become active missionaries by bringing many more to the prayer centre when they turn up next time.  The number of people who come to this centre is increasing day by day.  Precisely because, there is no other catholic centre of this type in the archdiocese of Nairobi.  At times, we see people who are here to attend the service after traveling hundreds of miles.  These days, many of them don’t seat inside the hall.  But, they have no complaint even they have to stand outside and listen to the word of  God.

For them all, “there is something today in the house of the Lord”.  The Prayer house has become the centre of consolation and spiritual nourishment for them.  “My life has changed since I started coming to this prayer house” says, Bishop David Kamau, the auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Nairobi.

While they are being spiritually fed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, we never forget their natural hunger.  During the lunch break, they enjoy light lunch absolutely free of cost. 

 Faithful enjoying free lunch in the open space :

Vincentians in Uganda, E. Africa.

Late Fr. Bill found Uganda as the most fertile soil for his preaching ministry.  To make matter better, H.E. Emmanuel Card. Wamala, the then Archbishop of Kampala gave him his unflinching support for the renewal programs for priests, religious and the lay people.  Soon, his preaching schedule for different dioceses in Uganda has become very tight so much so he almost fell in love with the people of Uganda…an inseparable love indeed.  The simple, open and respectful behaviour of Ugandans will attract all.  Above all, their open mind to receive the Word of God really impressed late Fr. Bill.  So, he made up his mind to make Entebbe as his best base for his spiritual warfare. People on the other hand were ready to make any sacrifice to keep him glued to Uganda only.  Thus, a good Samaritan, Mrs. Margaret Keyeyune, offered him a piece of land at Entebbe…the best site for the Vincentian House.

The Catholic Church in Uganda, strengthened by the blood of 22 Ugandan Martyrs is the most vibrant catholic community in the whole of African Continent. 

Miraculous Medal Shrine

Vincentian House, Entebbe

Our Mission enjoys immense support and blessings from the faithful as well as the ecclesiastical authorities all over Uganda.  Vincentian House, Entebbe, blessed and inaugurated on June 19, 2004, built in a prime location near to the Entebbe International Airport on the bank of Lake Victoria becomes the hub of Vincentian preaching ministry in Uganda.

Late Fr. Bill had ardent devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary.  During his spiritual talk, he always insisted on praying rosary and developing special devotion to Bl. Virgin Mary.      

 The plan of building a shrine dedicated to Miraculous Medal had been locked up in his mind for a long time.  His dream was fulfilled when the same was blessed and consecrated on Sept 8, 2007 by His Grace, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, and the Archbishop of Kampala. It was his desire that this shrine shall become a Marian Pilgrim Centre in the whole of Uganda.  Spiritual services such as counselling, confession and mass are being offered everyday.  About 200 people attend the daily mass.  One full day renewal program is being conducted every second Saturday.  Besides the usual scheduled services in the shrine, people come to the shrine now and then for prayer and meditation. Nobody knew that this shrine would become his own final resting place…

“I love Uganda and I want to die in Uganda”.

This was the wish of late Fr. Bill. 

How it happened:

He was preaching a popular mission retreat at Holy Rosary Parish in the Archdiocese of Gulu which is about 450 klms away from Entebbe.  He reached there by road along with Fr. Antony Vadakkemury as the flight to Gulu was cancelled on that day.  The retreat was supposed to be from 10 to 15, March 2008. Before going to Gulu, he was in Tanzania preaching two retreats, one at Mbagala Spiritual Centre and the other at Katubukka Parish. 

He was admitted in the hospital on March 13, 2008 due to complaints of abdominal gastric distension and bloating together with chest discomfort and pain but discharged soon after a medical check up. He was advised to take two days of complete bed rest. He developed severe chest pain in the evening of the same day.  His condition started deteriorating from 11.30 pm and was rushed to the hospital.  Medical report reads that his breathing stopped on the way.  He was taken to the ICU directly for immediate medical attention.  All efforts of doctors for cardiac resuscitation were in vain.  He was pronounced dead due to “acute myocardial infarction” at 2.10 am on March 14, 2008. May his soul rest in peace. As he wished, it happened in his life. He was buried right inside the shrine on 19.03.2008 in the presence of many Bishops, priests, religious men and women and thousands of his spiritual sons and daughters from all over the world. 

Vincentian Presence in Uvinza, Tanzania.

Pictures: Vincentian House and St. Francis Xavier’s Church

103 klms away from Kigoma Centre, Uvinza is situated in salt mine industrial area. It was one of the outstations of Kasulu Parish and was declared a full-fledged parish on Oct 22, 2004 and the centre with ten of its outstations was officially handed over to the Vincentians on the same day.  Most of the faithful of this parish are employed in the salt factories. But, work in the salt mine factory is seasonal.  Therefore, their income too is seasonal.   Present structures include a church hall and the Rectory.  The Rectory of the parish functions as the Vincentian House at Uvinza. 

Our Missionaries reached Uvinza in November 2004.  Being uneducated and ignorant of modern development, people here look up to us for timely guidance for their daily problems at all levels. Their inability to keep themselves abreast of modern development keeps them emotionally and intellectually inferior.

As a result of the feasibility study we made over these years, we came to understand that the pressing need of this area is a school (Primary English Medium) under the catholic management.  This has been the constant request from the people here.  There is an insatiable thirst among the people for basic and quality education.  Therefore, the idea of starting an English Medium School under our management emerged against the aforementioned background. Unfortunately, instruction in English medium is not encouraged.  At the same time, it has become the global language.  Therefore, people in Tanzania are deprived of placements in foreign countries.  Those who are well off, manage to send their children to prestigious institutions of neighboring countries.  Others are left to their fate. 

It was the wish of late Fr. Bill that we have to work for the integral development of a human being as St. Vincent De Paul did during his time.  So the inspiration to start an English Medium school for the economically disadvantaged children came from him. Consequently, the foundation stone for the same was blessed by him on March 6, 2008 in a parcel of land given by the Tanzanian government to the Vincentian Congregation for the purpose mentioned above.

Meanwhile, De Paul English Medium Nursery School started functioning in a makeshift facility near the Church. People in Uvinza were eagerly awaiting a school which is under catholic management.  Because, most of the people here belong to Muslim community.  They are very selective in their attitude towards our catholic children.  Catholic children are not free to practice their faith in schools run by Muslim management.  Moreover, catholic educational institutions are famous for discipline and value oriented education.  With the little contribution given by late Fr. Bill, the construction of the school began in right earnest. 

De Paul Mission School under Construction

It is still in its initial stage of construction.  No financial backing can be expected from the local people who live on shoestring budget. 

At least 600 children from socially and economically disadvantaged strata of the society will benefit by this school.  Our plan is to have a campus wherein these children will get value oriented education in Christian atmosphere up to the Secondary Level.  Those who are not lucky to go beyond Secondary Level will be given vocation training such as carpentry, masonry, tailoring etc.  Side by side with the intellectual and spiritual formation in the school, they will get chance to get in touch with modern technology in cultivation.  All programs in the school will have the orientation towards self reliance in the life of the students.  We need lot of finance for fulfilling these dreams of late Fr. Bill.

Vincentians in the Diocese of Masaka, Uganda.

His Excellency, Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa, the Bishop of Masaka Diocese had been a constant support for late Fr. Bill’s preaching ministry.  He had been requesting Fr. Bill to open a House for the the Vincentians for bringing people back to God through the preaching ministry. The desire of the people  for the presence of the Vincentians in Masaka was fulfilled when a well wisher gifted late Fr. Bill a parcel of land measuring about 3.45 hectors at Kabulasoke on his 78^th birth day.   The place Kabulasoke is about 180 klms from Entebbe on the Kampala-Mbarara Road heading towards south-west of Uganda.   The foundation stone for the house was blessed on Sept 6, 2007 by late Fr. Bill.  It was blessed by Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Masaka and inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Thomas Njarackal, the assistant provincial on Feb 23, 2008..  Vincentian House, situated on the top of a hill enjoys the panoramic view of Masaka town.

Besides the residence for the priests, a perpetual adoration chapel, a retreat hall, a residential block that can accommodate about 200 retreat ants, a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Miraculous Medal are in the plan.  Presently there is no electricity or running water.  Our priests depend on rain water for the day to day needs. Spiritual activities of this centre include daily mass for which about 50 to 60 people attend, full day adoration and preaching program on every Saturday,  confession, counselling etc. 

Our Mission in the Archdiocese of Mbarara, Uganda.

Charles Lwanga Shrine, Mbarara:

Archdiocese of Mbarara,  was one of late Fr. Bill’s favorite places in Uganda.  It was his wish and desire that Vincentian Missionaries would begin a retreat centre there.  Though this plan did not work out while he was alive, the official invitation from His Grace, Most Rev. Paul K Bakyenga, the Archbishop of Mabarara Diocese expressing his desire to have this shrine as a prayer centre with prolonged Eucharistic Adoration and instruction to deepen the faith of the people reached our provincial in September 2008.  As late Fr. Bill wished, this shrine will become the hub of our preaching ministry in the archdiocese of Mbarara.

Conclusion:  Love of Christ drives us on (2 Cor 5/14).  We the Vincentian missionaries in East Africa are able to reach out to thousands who are really hungry for the Word of God because of the prayerful support and material backing of so many of our benefactors and well wishers.  We thank them very sincerely.  Your continued support is being solicited to fulfill the dreams of late Fr. Bill for our East Africa Region.