Tanzanian listening, learning in Glenville

"This kind of weather, I like," he remarked during a recent interview, glancing out his office window at a balmy spring afternoon. "But last week, we had snow. That wasn't too good."

Father Magesa will probably see a lot more of the white stuff in the next year and a half. On sabbatical from the Diocese of Musoma, Tanzania, he'll be spending that time doing parish work at Immaculate Conception.

Contrasts

"You say Mass in each one at least once a month," he explained. "Most of the time, they're taken care of by a catechist" who leads Communion services.

Father Magesa considers himself lucky to have been granted a three-year sabbatical from his bishop in honor of his 25th anniversary as a priest. The priest shortage is affecting parishes in Tanzania just as it is in the U.S., he said, adding: "Some [parishes] are combined; we don't have enough priests to take care of them all."

Theologian

The priest originally planned to teach moral theology at Rochester University this time around, but he found it was too difficult to get a teaching visa after the Sept. 11 attacks. Besides, he said, simply doing parish work will be a change of pace: "I wanted to learn something, and I am learning things."

He noted that one obvious difference between African and American parishes is the amount of lay involvement. His parishioners at home tend to leave leadership roles to clergy and catechists, while the laypeople he's meeting at Immaculate Conception are immersed in scores of ministries.

"The way the people participate here is fantastic," Father Magesa stated. "It has been interesting to see."

Culture gap

After several weeks in his new digs, Father Magesa said he was settling into the routine of celebrating the sacraments and visiting the sick.

"I'm very comfortable," he commented. "I want to keep my eyes open so I can bring something home -- not talk too much; watch and ask questions."

He admitted it takes a while to get used to speaking English again instead of his native Swahili. But he had only one real concern about his time in upstate New York, expressed with a slight groan: "the winter. I didn't get used to it in Canada, and I won't get used to it here."

(05-30-02) [[In-content Ad]]