St. Thomas More Parish, Itaka, Tanzania

In July 1998 St. Augustine's twinned with St. Thomas More Parish, Itaka, which is in the Diocese of Mbeya in Tanzania, East Africa. Itaka is a village almost 920km. drive west from the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, which is on the east coast.

The Parish Priest of St. Thomas More's is Fr. Michael Joseph Kelly. He was born and grew up in Leeds and on leaving St. Michael's College, Leeds followed a calling to the religous life and subsequently was ordained a priest with the "White Fathers". He also qualified as an achitect, a skill that he has put to good use in Tanzania. During the latter part of the 20th century, when there were enough Tanzanian priests to manage the parishes, the "White Fathers" left and Fr. Michael was given permission to become a Diocesan Priest in the Mbeya Diocese. In 1991, his bishop sent him to Itaka to start a parish there.

At that time Itaka was a very small remote village on a hill and Fr. Michael was given a hill opposite the village on the other side of the river, where he subsequently built a Church, a Parish House, a Kindergarten, a Home Crafts school, a primary school and a Secondary and Vocational Training School. The Vocational Training part of the school remains unfinished due to lack of funding. The Homecrafts School has now been converted and used as an intermediate class to prepare the students and help them improve their english before moving up to the secondary level of education.
- ITAKA WEB SITE -and also - LATEST NEWS

The Parish Tanzania Group Committee

Members who have previously visited our twinned parish in Itaka, Tanzania keep the parishioners informed of developments and organise fund raising events.

The Beginning
When St. Augustine's initially twinned with St. Thomas More Parish in Itaka ,the then curate plus three parishioners went to Tanzania to visit our new sister parish. One of those parishoners was Maggie McDaid and in her own words this is how events unfolded.....

The Visit
Our first visit to Itaka, Tanzania was a very emotionally moving experience and by the time we arrived back at St Augustine's, we had already promised Fr Michael in Itaka that we would raise £20,000 to enable him to complete his new primary school in time from the millenium! It just rolled off the tongue and we set ourselves a target of two years to accomplish our promise. Well - all things seemed possible!

Fortunately with the encouragement of our own Father Michael with an appeal from the altar steps, the parish responded and our campaign began in earnest.

Fundraising
The campaign to raise funds for Itaka immediately enhanced the social life and activities in the parish. Parishioners responded by committing themselves to direct monthly debits and by holding anniversary, birthday and special events, where their friends donated money to our fund as gifts. There was even a parish pantomine!

Lent and Advent Stall

A stall is put up at the back of church during each Lent and Advent. We receive donations in the form of unwanted presents, unopened gifts and various other household and personal items. They never fail to keep our stall ticking over. This also lends to those people who have skills in card making and flower pot power (Christmas wreaths, garlands and other decorations). Without these people our achievements would have been greatly reduced.