Kitete is a rural village in north-central Tanzania nestled in the foothills of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and overlooking the beautiful Lake Manyara. Its villagers are predominantly subsistence farmers with large Christian families. The village is located about an hour north of the town of Karatu, the gateway to the northern safari circuit.
Kitete's parish, St. Brendan's, is surrounded by rolling wheat fields and shares grounds with the Audrey Veldman trade school where I taught this summer. The parish also administers to seven small Christian communities in the surrounding area. St. Brendan's Parish recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in Kitete, and the villagers rebuilt and rededicated their church this year. The building pictured at left is their new parish; each parishioner contributed funds to make this project possible, and they are incredibly proud of it. Their rededication ceremony drew thousands of Christians from all over East Africa to help commemorate the new church. This event happened within a week of our arrival in Tanzania, and we were privileged to meet many religious and lay community members during that weekend. St. Brendan's performs mass daily, though most villagers attend only on Sundays. The church in Kitete serves as the main social gathering space for the community and offers a nursery school program as well. |
"Tumsifu yesu kristu"
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Let us praise Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen! This "Tumsifu yesu kristu / Milele amina" exchange was used daily by Christians in Kitete, and it was really lovely. One of the very first Swahili phrases we mastered (out of necessity due to its popularity).
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Kitete might be one of the most peaceful places I have ever encountered. The rolling wheat fields, the rural setting, the everyday millings of students and religious, the incredible starry night sky, the comfortable interactions, and the shy friendships of non-English speakers characterize our time here. Each sleep is punctuated with perfect stillness, perfect silence, except for the parish animals grazing through the night. Here we are, in a beautiful, faithful community in the heart of Tanzania’s farmland. -Excerpt from my reflection on My Locale