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Item Tangaza Vision(Fed Up With Inculturation Talk!)(Tangaza University College, 1993) Tangaza University CollegeWe have been friends=that is what I most think about as I clean my office, answer phone calls, greet visitors these days dropping by. We have been friends .... May 18th 1988 Fr. Luciano Odorico, SDB, the second rector of Tangaza showed me the rector's office, room A 10, at Tangaza. He handed me the keys to the door and said, "I haven't really used it yet, you see it has only a desk in it" --it was a bare room otherwise. Then he showed me the Constitutions of Tangaza, the section on the rector, article 4.55: "it shall be the duty of the rector to maintain unity and harmony of purpose ... " "This is the4 most important thing you have to do," Fr. Odorico V said. "Unity and harmony of purpose"--"He is to see to it that all departments are operated efficiently and according to proper academic and educational standards [art. 4.l]." So the Constitutions say. They don't say much how you are supposed to do all that--"maintain unity and harmony of purpose" ... make sure "all departments are operated efficiently and according to proper standards." How? How? I was eight months in Africa, eight months a missionary. What did I know. So I thought, maybe start by making friends with those who know something. Try to make everyone feel at home, so they can share what they have, share who they are. Maybe something good will happen ... And so I tried ... we tried. To make a friend, start by being a friend--not judging or criticizing, but visiting, asking, listening. And so our friendship grew. So we grew to gether. We did not always agree. It is easy for strangers to agree--the agreeableness of conventional politeness and conformity is easier for mere acquaintances and fellow travellers than it is for friends. Social amenity is easy when you share nothing of any importance. For friends it is another matter indeed. It would be easier to agree if we all shared a common culture, a common tongue; common customs. But how· could we ever agree if we cannot even begin to understand one another.Item Tangaza Vision(Is God a Bully)(Tangaza University College, 1994) Tangaza University CollegeHaving been given new areas of work, many a people do have a lot of new ideas which they would like to have executed. Once such ideas are met with a cold response, many give up. It is always interesting seeing someone assuming his/her new responsibility in an office or establishment. He/she in most cases, has many ideas, to change the place and make it look even better than before. The person will try to execute most of the new plans just to make sure that goals are achieved. . LLt A newly ordained priest, for instance, will try t ' commit himself fully to his first appointment. Working hard with the people to whom he has been sent to serve. Pastorally, he will have his day timetabled. He will have his morning prayers and the celebration of the Eucharist. He will visit the sick, prisoners, and people in their respective homes and do some parish work in the office as per schedule. In his homilies, he will sound holy using many Theological jargons while expecting to change people in a day or two. He will as well, try to see to it that the Par ish/house compound is clean, the flowers are carefully arranged and well maintained, books are well and intelligently arranged on the shelves (if any), just to mention but a few. Once things and all the expectations he had are watered down and people seem to care Jess, when things don't turn up as planned, when he does not seem to see the fruits of his labor, he gets discouraged and he easily thinks of something else. It is at such a juncture that the hard core which was in him, which made him think that he would have great success in life, that he could beat the best, un willingly and suddenly turns "soft". Should such a priest quit? This is but a little challenge in life. It is not always a few faint wishes, but a life-long struggle that makes us valiant. Such is life. It is always a challenge - meet it.Item Tangaza Vision (Religious Life in Africa Today)(Tangaza University College, 1999-05) Tangaza University CollegeSocrates, a philosopher, said that a life that is not examined is not worthy living. For a number of reasons, religious life needs to be examined and re-examined in order to hold its value in society. lt is from this premise that this issue of the Tangaza Vision found its theme "Religious life in Africa today". Pastoral ministries have widened their horizons due to the dynamic nature of society. Fr. Taratara who is involved in refugee ministry in North Western Tanzania, reflects on the situation in the camps. The reflection could be stressing but it puts us into the context in which we' as religious are operating, Sr. Kerber challenges us to live the here and now. With papers to submit. sometimes at the last minute, lectures to attend, apostolate in mind, exams approaching or, for others. papers lo mark, students to tutor/supervise, schemes of work and lesson plans to make it is "understandable" that you could forget to be here and now. To learn to be here and now calls for your metaphysical identity - Who are you? Our identity as religious is fundamentally marked by the evangelical vows we pronounce namely chastity /celibacy, obedience and poverty. A number of articles in this issue are based in these three vows. You will notice that there are more articles on chastity/celibacy. We have purposely published all of them. Perhaps you will discover the reason for so doing after going through them.Item Tangaza Vision ( The light has Dawn)(Tangaza University College, 1998-05) Tangaza University CollegeOne of life's most crucial question which has often been asked is: where do we find inner peace in the midst of a troubled and troubling world? Every time and everywhere we see wars, violence of all kinds and abandonment. Whenever we see pictures of refugee children on TV or even hear stories of their tragic loss of parents, We were moved with tears. Abandonment could as well be experienced in our countries in various ways and forms. Many a time in our daily bulletin either in the front, center or back page, local newscasters have never fail to tell of new born children being abandoned on doorsteps or elsewhere, their parents being nowhere to be found. Moreover, in the lives of many ordinary people, evidence is there of people being abandoned emotionally by families or friends. All of these lacks inner peace. Preoccupied with the thoughts and worries about these traumatic experiences we are drowned in the big ocean of our thoughts. Such that, they blinds us to the immediate graces that fill our day, to the God who is always revealing himself in all creation. We therefore, lack that wisdom that should enable us see God where he may be found. Today, the only answer we have is Christ who in his own humanity has tasted abandonment or hurt. He is like us in all things, but sin. Yet in the faces of these, his response was not to despair. Instead, he showed and expressed his wonderful belief and self surrender in the Father's loving kindness. But he did not trust in vain, because he was raised to glory. Thus, becoming the consoler of all who have been abandoned in one way or the other. He is the "way" for the poor of this age who might feel neglected or isolated. By ~ sending his Holy Spirit, he also invite us to reach through the darkness and grasp the life giving hand of God. Hence, as a small sign of gratitude to God for his gift of the Holy Spirit to us, Tangaza Vision Magazine have decided in this issue to focus more on the aspect of moral and spiritual issues with special attention to the Ordinary situation in our world of today. Being the magazine of a theological, social, educational and Spiritual formation, that should not be neglected. We are called to be bearer and witness to God''s Spirit in the world around us. We are not to be timid Christians or theologians nor are we to saunter in this great mystery of life. If we can in our daily prayerful relationship with God, grow confident of his everlasting presence and love for us, then, our gratefulness for his gifts of Holy Spirit becomes manifest. Finally, our Special thanks to all our writers and to all who in one way or the other has contributed to the success of our past and present publications. We wish all, a happy and graceful year of the Holy Spirit.Item Tangaza Vision(Receive Without Charge Give Without Charge)(Tangaza University College, 1998-01) Tangaza University CollegeOne day a poor young man serving in a big hotel near the town was on the roadside looking for a taxi to go and visit his sick relative in the hospital. As he looked up, he saw a politician approaching in a Volvo car and he waved him down. When he drew near the car he asked," Please sir, could you give me a lift to the hospital?" The politician answered, "Yes, of course." Upon reaching his destination, he asked, ''How much do I have to pay?" "No charge," the politician answered. I considered it a service to my community." A few days later, a young missionary priest was on his way to a remote village outside the town. On reaching a point where there was a cafeteria, he felt like eating something. He entered and had a meal. When he had finished he got up and went over to the counter and asked the waiter how much he owed. ''No charge father," he said. "I consider it a service to the Lord." Now, there comes a day when a poor man who was displaced and beaten up by a band of hooligans was searching for a place to take refuge. For safety he ran into the priest's house. The priest in charge came and asked the man, ''What is it? How much are you going to pay for staying here?" And the poor man responded gently, "Receive without charge and give with- out charge." Dear readers, the relationships that link us together in human society are based on con- tracts: I give you this and you give me that or you do this for me and I will do that for you. So, inevitably life is about duties, pay-offs, and getting the quid pro quo. The life of human society with God is radically different. God deals with us in gifts without strings. Our response then is not one of "paying back" but one of spontaneous praises and thanks for His goodness. God has given us many gifts in life; wealth, intellect, wisdom, creativity and so on. God did not ask us for anything in return. The only way we can show our joy and gratitude is by giving Him thanks and praise. Yet, we have never seen God to express our feelings. Hence, the only possible and efficient way of achieving this purpose is in our neighbour whom we meet on our journey through life. There are many people around us who might There are many people around us who might need our help and support because nothing today is given or done freely. Everyone wants to compensated in one way or another. No one cares. God has shown us what an authentic life means. It means sacrifice imbued in love. That is, love of neighbour, friends, as well as God's creation. And how do we get to express this love for others? It is only through the little ways of sharing what God has given us with our brothers and sisters who might be in need of our sensitivity. In view of this, and the present socio-economic and religious situation of life that effects our African countries, Tangaza Vision has as a response and a reaction focused this present edition on spiritual and socio-religious matters. Our challenge is to give from what we have received without regard for payment or with any kind of reservations. How many times in our lives have we received a gift or help without charge? How many times have we given and requested payment? As we have just celebrated the feast of Christmas, the Tangaza Vision encourages us to remember the Lord's forgotten peo pie. We are called to bring them happiness, joy, peace of mind and hope. Our proclamation of the feast we have just celebrated should be holistic in nature. Moreover we should always be faced with the challenge "To receive without charge and to give without charge." We hope that your celebration of Christmas was a joyful one and that 1998 may be a happy a blessed year for you. •Item Tangaza Vision(Tangaza University College/A Journal of Socio-religious Concern, 1996-12) Tangaza University CollegeOnce there was a farming town that could be reached by a narrow road with a bad curve on it. There were frequent accidents on the road, especially on the curve and the preacher would preach to the people of the town to make sure that they were Good Samaritans. And so they would pick the people up on the road for this was a religious and charitable work. One day someone suggested that they buy an ambulance to get the accident victims to the town hospital more quickly. The preacher preached and the people gave for this was after all a religious and charitable work. Then one day, an elder suggested that the town should authorize building a wider road and taking out the dangerous curve on the road. Now it happened that the mayor had a farm right at the curve on the road, and he was against taking out the curve. Someone asked the preacher to say a word to the mayor and the congregation the following Sunday about it. But the preacher and most of the people figured that they had better stay out of politics; so the next Sunday, the preacher preached on the Good Samaritan Gospel and encouraged the people to continue their fine work of picking up the accident victims, which they did. Here in Africa we have a lot ofvictimazation due to "bad curves" in aour political, economi cal, religious and cultural systems. The Good Samaritan Gospel loses its cutting edge when it is preached to make people nice to victims of their sins and death-serving systems. It becomes a tool for maintaining the status quo politicaly, economically and socialy. Solidarity with the victims of oppression, injustice, and sexism is more than being nice to them through short-term charitable works. It entails walking with them more than just one step. Making pledges for more funds for the poor and those economically disadvantaged in the slums, in our streets and those who frequent our gates is a positive gesture highly appreciated. Crucial questions however remain unanswered: As future pedagogists, gurus, social development and pastoral agents, can we assiduously remain silent about root causes of poverty, environmental degradation and violence in our cities? Is there a link between faith and development? These and many more questions lead us to search for new ways of being in solidarity with the victims of oppression and the poor. The experience with the poor and victims of our systems becomes the kairos for us to see critically the links between our faith and socio- economic and politico issues such as: Urbanization, Environment, politics, Economics, Development, etc. We believe reflections on such issues will shape the new paradigms of mission and relevant ways of sharing our faith through prophetic and vibrant witness of service. The new understanding of mission and the way of sharing our faith that God-is-among us 'Emmanuel' makes the celebration of Christmas even more meaningful to all. Happy birthday Jesus and happy Christmas to you all'Item Tangaza Vision(Tangaza University College, 1994-12) Tangaza University CollegeIn his message for world communications Day in 1992, the pope cited communications media as the admission ticket of every person to the market - place where thoughts are given public utterance, pieces of ideas are exchanged, news is passed around and information of all kind is transmitted and received. Communication, making something known, is one of the basic phenomena of human existence. A person thus is distinguished from other animals in that his/her nature requires that he/she attains full stature as a person through culture. One becomes then, a fully human and a cultural being through communication. As a process, communication starts at the level of individuals/family to the level of a society as a whole; in this matter therefore, at the level of our respective Religious houses to the level of Tangaza College respectively. Besides body language and verbal communication, Tangaza vision gives you an opportunity to inform, educate and make your ideas known to others in black and white. However, we are not looking for treaties of academic excellence and Theological Jargons, but ordinary experiences in our day to day life. A Theological reflection on African Art, both Liturgical and Secular would be greatly appreciated. We therefore call on our readers and the Tangaza Community at large to take up this challenge. Don't just sit on those bright ideas, express them in Tangaza Vision - your magazine. Do not reserve your comments on some- thing or keep silent when you ought not to, for you might be the victim of your silence! If at all we want to have a common possession of Truth, let us communicate for almost always, truth is found in communication. Remember, you wilI never be a writer without writing. So, start writing now and help Tangaza Vision grow.