Spiritan Marian School in Tanzania “a mustard seed”: Official on Institution’s Jubilee

For the last 25 years of its existence, Marian Girls’ High School has continued the ministry of liberation, “liberating girls whose cultures are segregating them”, Fr. Mallya said about the institution of learning in Tanzania’s Catholic Diocese of Morogoro. 

Credit:  Courtesy Photo

“The school is like a mustard seed which has grown to give shelter to many who have come to seek education,” he said.

The school, he went on to explain, “began simply with about 45 students and five teachers, but through this school, others have come up.”

A series of other Marian institutions have been established, the Superior of the Spiritans in the Province of Tanzania told ACI Africa, making reference to Marian Boys High School Kerege, Marian Pre and Primary School, and the Marian Boys Secondary School Mlingotini.

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Other institutions that Marian Girls’ High School pioneered include the Marian University College, which is a constituent College of St. Augustine University of Tanzania, St. Joseph Vocational Training Centre, St. Elizabeth Dispensary Bagamoyo, Nazareth Dispensary Kerege, and Stella Maris Hotel Bagamoyo.

Bagamoyo has become a hub of education, Fr. Mallya told ACI Africa during the April 27 interview, and explained, “When you talk about going to Bagamoyo, there is not only the beach and the hotels but also education.”

Fr. Florentine Mallya, CSSp. Provincial Superior, Spirita Province of Tanzania. Credit: Courtesy Photo

The establishment and the progress of Marian Girls’ High School over the last 25 years gives Spiritans in Tanzania an “inner satisfaction that we are fulfilling our mission”, he said about the learning institution whose mission is the “provision of quality education through high committed teachers, disciplined students” as well as the “promotion of high moral and spiritual values and good governance”.

The school for girls, the Tanzanian-born Spiritan Priest said, “is a fulfilment of our mission because both formal and informal education are an integral part of the Spiritan mission.”

“Through education we are empowering the poor to develop their given talents and open them to the society. We give everyone the chance to develop their God-given talents. We empower them through education,” said the Provincial Superior of the Spiritan Province of Tanzania.

He continued, “We have that inner satisfaction that we are fulfilling our mission. When we offer education, we have our core values on education and we don’t just offer any kind of education. We have values that we bring into education such as the preferential option for the poor, and faith development.”

“Through our schools we promote justice, peace and integrity of creation, holistic person-centered education, academic excellence and our schools are very inclusive,” Fr. Mallya told ACI Africa April 27 ahead of the culmination of silver jubilee celebrations of Marian Girls’ High School, to be presided over by Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, the Archbishop emeritus of Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Archdiocese.

Other activities planned for the culmination of silver jubilee celebrations of Marian Girls High School include a walk, marathon, and a fundraiser for the construction of a dispensary to serve the people of God in Mlingotini village.

Credit: Courtesy Photo

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In a message about a previous marathon, the founder of Marian Girls’ High School says, “We conducted the first marathon with the intention of improving healthcare in this village of Mlingotini. I hope that this race is the beginning of an annual race aimed at improving the lives of our community in Mlingotini, Bagamoyo, and places that have been forgotten when it comes to vital development services.”

In the message that was shared with ACI Africa, Fr. Bayo adds that the first marathon that was conducted in 2015 was his way of showing gratitude to God for the success of the 25-year-old Marian Girls’ High School.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.