WHEN THEY WERE STRONG, THEY SERVED US; WHEN THEY ARE WEAK, WE WILL CARE FOR THEM

 

 

Adeladius Makwega – Chamwino, Dodoma, Tanzania

 

Sunday, August 9, 2026, was another day of worship at the Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Chamwino Ikulu Parish, in the Archdiocese of Dodoma.

 

The faithful gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist on the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A. Hymns filled the church, prayers rose to God, the Word of God was proclaimed, and the altar carried that unique sense of peace found in the house of God.

 

But on this particular Sunday, within the celebration, there was a message that touched on something many people may not often think about.

 

The Church remembers her servants.

 

They are men who spent their youth serving the Church. They walked through villages and towns, baptized children, celebrated marriages, cared for the sick, buried the dead, preached the Word of God, and accompanied the faithful on their journey of faith.

 

But when the day comes when they themselves grow old or become sick, the Church must be there for them.

 

And this is where the Archdiocese of Dodoma has decided to take action.

A FOUR-STOREY HOME FOR ELDERLY AND SICK PRIESTS

 

Through a special message from the Archbishop of Dodoma, Archbishop Beatus Michael Kinyaiya, the faithful of Chamwino Ikulu were informed about the Archdiocese's plan to construct a four-storey residential building that will serve as a home for elderly and sick priests.

For many years, some priests who have dedicated their lives to the service of the Church have lacked a special place to live when they reach old age or become sick.

 

That is why this project is not simply about constructing a building.

 

It is more than cement.

It is more than bricks.

It is more than four storeys.

 

It is about respect for the life of a man who has dedicated himself to the service of the Church.

 

The special envoy who delivered Archbishop Kinyaiya's message at Chamwino Ikulu Parish spent approximately 27 minutes explaining the project to the faithful.

According to the message, the building is expected to cost approximately 2 billion Tanzanian shillings.

 

The Executive Committee of the Archdiocese of Dodoma has already contributed 300 million Tanzanian shillings, equivalent to 15 percent of the total construction cost.

 

This leaves 1.7 billion shillings, or 85 percent, which the Archdiocese is appealing to lay faithful, stakeholders and all people of goodwill who love the Church to help raise.

 

“THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF DIGNITY FOR THE CHURCH”

 

When the message reached the faithful, it left one important question in their hearts:

Is it right for a priest who has served the Church for many years, when he becomes elderly or sick, to come to Dodoma and have to be accommodated in a guesthouse?

 

Presenting Archbishop Kinyaiya's message, the envoy said:

 

“It is a matter of shame for a priest to become sick or face any kind of difficulty, and then come to the Archdiocese of Dodoma only to be accommodated in a guesthouse. This is not a matter of dignity for the Church and her faithful.”

 

The words fell into the hearts of the faithful in silence.

 

Some could be heard agreeing:

 

“Indeed, it is not a matter of dignity.”

 

Because behind every elderly priest is a history.

 

Behind every sick priest are years of service.

 

And behind every servant of God are many people whose lives have been touched by his ministry.

WHEN THEY SERVED THE CHURCH, AND WHEN THE CHURCH MUST CARE FOR THEM

 

Perhaps this priest once woke up in the middle of the night to bring the Eucharist to a sick person.

 

Perhaps he once walked many kilometres to reach a village where there were no good roads.

Perhaps he stood before the altar Sunday after Sunday, year after year, without complaining.

Perhaps he baptized a child who is now a parent.

Perhaps he celebrated the marriage of a couple who now have grandchildren.

Perhaps he comforted families who had lost their loved ones.

Now that he is elderly, who will comfort him?

When he becomes sick, who will hold his hand?

When he needs a place to rest, where will the Church take him?

 

These are the questions that give the Archdiocese of Dodoma's project a meaning far greater than the construction of a building.

A CALL TO THE FAITHFUL

Archbishop Kinyaiya has appealed to the faithful and to all people of goodwill who love the Church to participate in the construction of the home.

Special envelopes have been prepared for contributions.

For those wishing to contribute by mobile phone, the following numbers were provided:

0673 988 687

0745 600 616

0695 558 867

0611 800 794

The name appearing in the transactions is BEATUS MICHAEL KINYAIYA.

Contributions may also be made through:

MKOMBOZI COMMERCIAL BANK

Account Number: 00922111157401

ARCHBISHOP SPECIAL ACCOUNT

 

Father Evarist Mwaudama, Parish Priest of Chamwino Ikulu, also asked the faithful who make contributions to keep proof of their transactions and submit copies so that it can be known:

 

“How much has Chamwino Parish contributed?”

 

In this way, every contribution will become part of the history of the Parish and the Archdiocese in caring for its servants.

 

AN ARCHDIOCESE WITH A HISTORY AND A PEOPLE

 

The Archdiocese of Dodoma is one of the large Catholic ecclesiastical territories in Tanzania, covering approximately 38,743 square kilometres.

 

According to the figures cited for 2022, the Archdiocese has approximately 52 parishes, together with diocesan priests and religious priests.

 

The Archdiocese also oversees the Diocese of Kondoa and the Diocese of Singida.

Within this vast territory live hundreds of thousands of faithful who pray, work and participate in the mission of the Church.

 

But the Church is not only about buildings.

The Church is people.

 

And among those people are also those who have given their lives to the mission of the Gospel.

FOUR STOREYS, BUT ONE MESSAGE

 

One day, when this building is completed, someone may walk past it and see only four storeys.

They will see walls.

They will see windows.

They will see doors.

They will see rooms.

 

But behind every brick will be the story of faithful people who gave whatever little they had.

One gave ten thousand shillings.

Another gave one hundred thousand.

Another gave a million.

Another gave a prayer.

Another offered transport.

Another helped an elderly priest.

And all these contributions became part of one home.

A home for the servants of God.

Therefore, when this building is completed, it will not simply be a home for elderly and sick priests.

 

It will also be a sign of the Church's gratitude to her servants.

It will be a reminder that:

 

Those who served the Church in their strength also deserve to be cared for when they become weak.

Perhaps this is where the Gospel of compassion takes its true form.

 

Not in words alone.

But in action.

Not only in preaching.

But in caring for the one who once dedicated his life to serving the Church.

AND AT THE END OF IT ALL…

 

On that Sunday in Chamwino Ikulu, the faithful left the church carrying a new message in their hearts.

 

A message that the Church must be a family.

A family that does not remember a person only when he is strong.

A family that also remembers him when he becomes weak.

A family that says:

 

“You served us yesterday; today we will care for you.”

That is the beauty of the Church.

That is the heart of service.

And that is the foundation of the Archdiocese of Dodoma's plan to build a home for elderly and sick priests.

Because when a servant of God grows old, his service does not disappear.

His history remains.

His prayers remain.

The fruits of his ministry remain.

And when the Church builds a place for him to rest, in a certain way she is saying to him:

“Father, you have served us for many years. Now rest. Your Church is with you.”

Remember:

WHEN THEY WERE STRONG, THEY SERVED US; WHEN THEY ARE WEAK, WE WILL CARE FOR THEM.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Forever and ever. Amen!

makwadeladius@gmail.com
0717 649 257