Tanzania
 Pastoral care of fishers on Lake Victoria
Fr Marcel Kaberwa has been ministering to fisher people
on Lake Victoria since 1985. A priest of the Diocese of
Bukoba in north west Tanzania, he is AOS chaplain to the
Bumbire Islands. The main island, also called Bumbire, and
numerous small islands are situated 15 km off the western
shore of Lake Victoria.
Fr
Marcel works from eleven different mission stations on the
islands travelling between them by canoe. Canoes are powered
either by small engines or by oars.
The people of the islands make their living by farming
and fishing. The fishers catch sufficient to feed their
families with perhaps a very small surplus to sell in order
to earn a little money.
In addition to local fishers, migrant workers from
different parts of Tanzania fish in the waters surrounding
the Bumbire Islands. These live in fishing camps on the
shores of Lake Victoria. Fr Marcel also ministers to them,
celebrating Mass in sheds in the camps.
 As
part of the pastoral care of the fishing communities, Fr
Marcel visits families, counselling them and mediating in
domestic disputes. He encourages them to send their children
to school and, in some cases, is able to help financially
thanks to the donations of generous supporters. As medical
services are not available on the islands, Fr Marcel ferries
those needing treatment across the lake to the mainland.
Fr Marcel is also educating fishers to preserve their
environment by planting trees. He has already planted some
2,500 trees. Now the fishers are following his example and
planting trees in their surroundings.
About Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake, situated in the
western part of the Great Rift Valley. It is subject to
territorial administration by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Millions of people live around its shores making it one of
the most densely populated areas on Earth.
The lake has more than 3,000 islands, many inhabited.
Relatively shallow with a large surface area, Lake Victoria
is vulnerable to changing climates.
About Tanzania
Tanzania is in East Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean
between Kenya and Mozambique. It has land borders with
several other countries. The economy is dependent on
agriculture.
The population is estimated at 37 million composed of
some 120 ethnic groups. Religious adherence is believed to
be 30% Christian, 35% Muslim and 35% traditional local
beliefs. The de facto official language is Swahili. English
is also widely spoken.
According to the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees, almost half a million refugees currently live in
Tanzania, the majority from Burundi and the Democratic
Republic of Congo. |