Independence Square

La Virgen de las Treinta y Tres

Día de la Independencia de Uruguay

I was able to celebrate a second Independence Day this year - today in Uruguay.  Being a national holiday, there was no school.  I concelebrated Mass in the Cathedral with Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo as principal celebrant.  Then, Frs. Bernardo and Juan, and Ramon, the cathedral sacristan, and I went on a pilgrimage to the city of Florida, about 75 miles north of Montevideo. There, on August 25, 1825, Uruguay declared its independence from Brazil.  In the Cathedral in Florida, there is a statue of "La Virgen de los Treinta y Tres" (The Virgin of the Thirty-Three).  In 1825, thirty-three Uruguayan patriots placed the future of their new nation at the feet of the Virgin. Ever since, the image has been called "La Virgen de los Treinta y Tres."  It is a baroque, wooden carving of the Assumption of the Virgin.  Its cloak and robes seem to move because of their many pleats.  In 1962 Pope St. John XXIII declared her the patroness of Uruguay.   

Padres Juan, Bernardo, y yo

Uruguay Arrival

What was supposed to be a 20-hour trip turned out to be 31 hours!  The plane from Miami to Montevideo encountered mechanical problems after about three hours enroute, and had to return to Miami.  We had to wait in the Miami airport for almost 6 hours for a different plane.  When we finally got one, we had a nine hour flight.  Needless to say, I arrived in Montevideo tired!  But, thanks be to God, Fr. Bernardo was there at the airport to meet me and take me to the Cathedral rectory.  He lives there with Fr. Juan Gonzalez, who is the pastor.  I'm so grateful for the worldwide fraternity of Catholic priests.  Wherever a priest travels in the world, he can always find a brother in a fellow priest.  Frs. Bernardo and Juan have welcomed me into their home which is situated right next to the Cathedral, and across from the Plaza Matriz, named for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.  I concelebrated Mass with Fr. Juan for the Feast of the Queenship of Mary.  I walked about the city a bit today and down to the sea.  I found my school, Academia Uruguay, located only two blocks away.  Classes start Monday.    

Mass music at Bwambo and Matamba

Market at Bwambo

Videos of Schools at Bwambo and Matamba

Videos of Same (Sah-may) and Bwambo

Bwambo and vicinity

Hospital at Bwambo - Fr. Beda is also Dr. Beda

The church at Bwambo

The parish rectory

Views from my room

Hot lunch at school - beans & corn

Maasi village - houses built from cow dung

School classroom 

Their science lab!

Baptism at Ngujini outstation

Goodbye Tanzania

Have not had WiFi for over a week, so haven't been able to post. Has been an amazing experience!  Have met lots of wonderful people. Will post some photos when I get better internet access. 

Matamba

Tarangire to Dar Es Salaam

We did see a lion - but not on the night safari.  Saw it during the day.  The lion had made a kill and was enjoying eating it - an impala.

We flew to Dar Es Salaam and are spending the night here.  On to Mbeya then Matamba tomorrow.  

Tarangire National Park

At Tarangire for 3 days. Have gone on 2 safaris and seen amazing animals - elephants, zebras, wildebeests, impalas, giraffes, cheetahs (with cubs), colorful birds of all kinds, etc. Often can get very close to the animals. Had giraffes walking right by our tent last night!  Plan to go on a night safari tonight. Just had mass on the deck overlooking the savannah, with elephants in attendance!