Yesterday was another joyous day as we witnessed the Dedication and Blessing of the new Outpatient Building at INUKA (fully funded by Hope for Tanzania of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church). The Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Njombe, Bishop John Ndimbo, presided at the Mass, Dedication, and Blessing.

The Mass was initially planned to be outdoors, but as I have experienced, this is the rainy season in Tanzania, so rain arrives at some point each day. Therefore, the Altar was set up just inside the entrance to the new building, with all the attendees seated under tents in the open air atrium of the building.

Fr. Bruno, a dear friend of Fr. Nestor’s (both shown), and the Superintendent for Catholic Schools in the Diocese, said this to me prior to the Mass and Dedication: “This is the group of people we have most forgotten in Tanzania; people with disabilities, we hide them.”

Bishop John Ndimbo was overjoyed to see the new building and services at INUKA. In his homily at Mass, the Bishop related that the People of Saints Peter and Paul, gave to this project without questioning, because they knew the work here (at INUKA) would continue the healing mission of Christ. (Fr. Nestor translated for me as the Bishop offered his homily in Swahili.)

Bishop Ndimbo also spoke following the Mass. (There was a roster of speakers including me). Bishop Ndimbo said, “This work between ‘Hope for Tanzania’ and INUKA is a witness to the truth that we are One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church."

Mr. Phillemon Luhanjo is the Chairman of the Board for INUKA (prior to his retirement, he had served as the General Secretary to the President of Tanzania). In Mr. Luhanjo’s comments at the Dedication, he said, “We have no contract with ‘Hope for Tanzania’, but our relationship will be sustainable.”

Fr. Tarcisio Moreschi (from Italy) has spent the last 45 years of his ministry as a missionary priest in several countries in Africa; Fr. Tarcisio founded INUKA in 2011. At one point during the Dedication ceremony, he asked Fr. Nestor to speak. He said, “I thought I was alone, but look at this building, I am very pleased.” (I can only think that at age 75, Fr. Tarcisio was concerned about the future growth of services at INUKA, and now he was witnessing the expansion of medical screening services offered by INUKA in this new outpatient building.)

What follows is a summary of my comments at the Dedication ceremony following Mass. Fr. Nestor offered the Swahili translation of my comments as I spoke:

I began by communicating that one of the great gifts of my nearly 22 years as a priest was the opportunity to live and share ministry with Fr. Nestor for 2-1/2 years. I said that I consider Fr. Nestor to be both a dear friend and a brother.

I related that during his 2-1/2 years at Saints Peter and Paul, Fr. Nestor told us story after story of his homeland, people, family, culture, and Church.

I told those assembled that it was very difficult to see Fr. Nestor return to Tanzania in January 2021. At that time, I promised Fr. Nestor that I would visit.

I said that when Fr. Nestor departed, many in our Saints Peter and Paul community desired to support Fr. Nestor’s work and ministry in Tanzania. Of course we did not know at the time what Fr. Nestor’s work would be, or how we could be of help.

In a short matter of time, Fr. Nestor was appointed as the Managing Director of the INUKA Rehabilitation Hospital by the late Bishop Alfred Maluma. Fr. Nestor began his work at INUKA in March 2021.

Fr. Nestor eventually shared with us a photo of the late Bishop Alfred Maluma surrounded by individuals served by INUKA. Bishop Maluma had a joyful expression on his face; the late Bishop cared deeply about the mission of INUKA.

And that photo (and other photos), gave me and the people of Saints Peter and Paul hope, because as Catholics, we firmly believe that all life has value, all life has God-given dignity.

I also told those gathered that where I serve as a priest in Naperville, and in American culture, it is unthinkable not to seek to provide for the needs of children.

And then I related that the mission of INUKA is very personal to me. I explained that my oldest brother Greg (now deceased), was diagnosed with epilepsy as a child. (Epilepsy is one of the conditions that INUKA discovers now that they are providing medical screenings in addition to rehabilitation services.) And then I spoke of my beloved niece Brianna, who is a child with disabilities. Within months following Brianna’s birth, my brother Todd and my late sister-in-law Kim were seeking medical opinions and assistance for Brianna, because they knew she was not showing the same progression of development as her older brother, Bryan. INUKA exists to provide similar services and supports for families and adults in Tanzania.

Next, I referenced my trip to the Gaza Strip in Palestine in 1999. At that time, I was with my Seminary class for 11 weeks of studies in the Holy Land. We had traveled to Gaza to experience the work of the late Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. While touring their Convent, I witnessed two framed quotations on the walls in their residence. One said, “I Thirst”, and the other said, “You Did It To Me.”

Next, I related the Judgment of the Nations as communicated in the 25th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and sits on his glorious throne, he will separate them; one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The Son of Man will invite the sheep on his right to inherit the Kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink … a stranger and you welcomed me … ill (I then interjected, with a disability) and you cared for me … Then the righteous will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? A stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?' And the King will say in reply, 'Amen, I say to you whatever you did for one of these least of mine, you did for me.'”

I concluded my comments with an image and quotation from St. Teresa of Avila (d. 1582). This quotation was printed on my thank you cards at the time of my priestly ordination in June, 2000:

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which Christ looks with compassion on the world. Yours are the feet with which Christ moves about doing good. Yours are the hands with which Christ is to bless all people now.”

This is the work and responsibility of the INUKA Rehabilitation Hospital.

Blessing and Dedication of the new Outpatient Building at INUKA