People of the Sea
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.
Fr Marcel Kaberwa
click here for contact details