Hanga Abbey

Last updated
Hanga Abbey
Monastery information
Full nameAbbey of St. Maurus
Order Missionary Benedictines of St. Ottilien
Established1956
Mother house Peramiho Abbey
Dedicated to Saint Maurus
Diocese Songea
People
Founder(s)Abbot-Bishop Eberhard Spiess, O.S.B.
Abbot The Right Rev. Octavian Thomas Masingo, O.S.B. (effective 1 August 2016)
PriorJerome Mlelwa, O.S.B.
Site
LocationHanga, Ruvuma, Tanzania

The Abbey of St. Maurus is a Tanzanian Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien in Hanga, Ruvuma Region. Established in 1956 by Abbot-Bishop Eberhard Spiess as a formation house for African monastic candidates, the monastery is currently home to 122 monks. The abbey operates schools and a dispensary for the people of the local village and a seminary for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Songea.

Contents

Origins

Since their early days in German East Africa, the Missionary Benedictines focused exclusively on establishing Roman Catholicism among African communities. The work of the missionary-monks, which included the creation of parishes, schools, and hospitals, did not allow for a concerted effort in recruiting African monastic vocations. However, a few individual Missionary Benedictine monks did take the initiative. Fr Severin Hofbauer, who had created a minor seminary in 1926, attempted to recruit those seminarians who expressed an interest in monastic life. By 1948, Hofbauer's successor, Fr Otmar Morger, knew of several young men interested in joining the monastic community at Peramiho. However, the Congregation's Archabbot Chrysostomus Schmid denied them this request, desiring that Africans form their own monastic congregations rather than become Missionary Benedictines. [1]

Abbot-Bishop Eberhard Spiess was more receptive to the desire of Africans to join the Ottilien Congregation. However, he realized that the existing Tanzanian communities of Ndanda Abbey and Peramiho Abbey, exclusively European and predominantly German, would not be ideal locations for the formation of African monks. Therefore, Spiess chose to create a foundation separate from these abbeys, a monastery that would allow African monks the opportunity to adapt the Rule of Benedict to their own cultural circumstances. With this in mind, in 1956 he formed a team of Missionary Benedictines who would act as formators for African monastic candidates. The next year, an "African monastery" was opened at Liganga, Tanzania. This early foundation was quickly overwhelmed with numerous candidates, and soon relocated to Hanga village, within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Songea, 80 km east of the Abbey of Peramiho and 70 km north of Songea. [2]

Describing this first African monastic community, Spiess wrote, "The main idea of monastic adaptation consists of the attempt to shape the monastery and the life-rhythm of the monks in such a way that it preserves the essential elements of Benedictine spirituality while at the same time reflecting African thinking and feeling." [3] Further, Spiess hoped that the size of the monastic community would be rather small, in order that it would not run into what he perceived to be some of the downsides of larger monasteries, including a lack of flexibility and adaptability.

The Hanga foundation was granted ten years to adapt Benedictine life to an African cultural setting. This initial period, lasting until 1965, saw a team of German Missionary Benedictines reside at the monastery. These included an agronomist, a formation director, and a master builder, as well as Fr Chrysostomus (not to be confused with Archabbot Chrysostomus Schimd), who acted as the community's first superior. [4]

Expansion

The number of monks at Hanga quickly grew, though the number of monks ordained to the priesthood remained very small. Such large numbers presented difficulties for the early community, and made it challenging to match the ideal of a small, independent African monastery as had been envisioned by Abbot-Bishop Eberhard Spiess. In large part, this was because Hanga lacked any precedent. Thus, elements from existing Missionary Benedictine monasteries such as St Ottilien, Ndanda, and Peramiho were applied to the situation at Hanga. Self-sufficiency in these populous, culturally European monasteries was characterized by large-scale agricultural operations, artisanal work, and the practice of sophisticated trades. Such monasteries as Ndanda and Peramiho, though existing on African soil, in fact received personnel and support from Europe. With this in mind, the monks of Hanga struggled to rely solely on local resources and talents. [5]

YearMonks (ordained)
196015 (2)
197046 (2)
198076 (4)
1990153 (10)

Despite these initial difficulties, the monastery received approval from the Holy See on June 18, 1965. At this time, the initial orientation team of Germans returned to the Abbey of Peramiho. Six years later, the monastery achieved independence, being raised to the status of a conventual priory under the leadership of Conventual Prior Fr Gregory Mwageni. [6]

Quickly, Hanga evolved into a large monastic complex, including a secondary school for candidates of male religious institutes, extensive agricultural operations, and various workshops. Further, the monks began to administer a secondary school for pupils from Hanga village; youth work would be one of the community's primary apostolates. At the same time, the monastery's large numbers allowed for the foundation of a number of dependencies throughout Tanzania. [7]

On December 13, 1993, the monastery was raised to the status of an abbey. On January 2, 1994, Alcuin Nyirenda, O.S.B., was elected the community's first abbot, becoming the first African abbot within the Ottilien Congregation. [8]

Apostolic Work

The monastic community of Hanga provides various forms of apostolic work. Monks administer guest houses at the abbey itself, in Dar es Salaam, and in Mbeya. Additionally, the monks are involved in a "Cultural and Responsible Tourism" program.

The monastery is also host to multiple educational institutes, including Hanga Religious Seminary, Hanga Vocational Training Center, Nakagugu Formation House, St. Benedict Secondary School, and St. Laurent Primary School. [9] As of 2011, the religious seminary counted 143 pupils, while 280 attended St Benedict's Secondary School. [10]

Dependencies

Many of the monks of the Abbey of Hanga are occupied at a number of dependent monastic foundations. One of these, Mvimwa, became an independent abbey in 2001. [11]

Personnel

As of May 18, 2011, 97 solemnly professed monks (21 of them priests) were members of the monastic community at Hanga. At this time, the abbey also included 20 temporally professed monks, five novices, and eight postulants.

Effective 1 August 2016, when he completes graduate studies, Abbot Octavian Masingo, O.S.B., is the current superior of the monastic community. He was elected and confirmed for a twelve-year term on January 23, 2016. Until then the abbey is being ruled by Prior Jerome Mlelwa, O.S.B. [12] The first abbot of the community was Alcuin Nyirenda, O.S.B., who led them from 1994-2004. [13] He was succeeded by Thadei Mhagama, O.S.B. (2004-2016).

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benedictine Congregation of Saint Ottilien</span>

The Ottilien Congregation, often also known as the St. Ottilien Congregation and as the Missionary Benedictines, is a congregation of religious houses within the Benedictine Confederation, the aim of which is to combine the Benedictine way of life with activity in the mission field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Güigüe Abbey</span>

San José Abbey, Güigüe, Venezuela, is a Benedictine abbey of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Currently located to the south of Lago de Valencia, the monastic community was originally established as a mission procure in Caracas following World War I. Caracas' expansion restrained the development of the abbey, and in the late 1980s the monks relocated to Güigüe. The community's superior is Fr Abbot José María Martínez Barrera.

Placidus Gervasius Nkalanga, OSB was a Tanzanian Prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was a monk of the St Maurus & St Placidus Hanga Abbey in Hanga, Ruvuma Region, Tanzania, a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. He lived there for 42 years, from his resignation from the bishopry in 1973 until his death in 2015.

The Subiaco Cassinese Congregation is an international union of Benedictine houses within the Benedictine Confederation. It developed from the Subiaco Congregation, which was formed in 1867 through the initiative of Dom Pietro Casaretto, O.S.B., as a reform of the way of life of monasteries of the Cassinese Congregation, formed in 1408, toward a stricter contemplative observance, and received final approval in 1872 by Pope Pius IX. After discussions between the two congregations at the start of the 21st century, approval was given by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 for the incorporation of the Cassinese Congregation into its offshoot, the Subiaco Congregation. The expanded congregation was given this new name.

Inkamana Abbey, also called Sacred Heart Abbey, Inkamana, is a Benedictine abbey in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Eshowe. It belongs to the Ottilien Congregation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territorial Abbey of Tokwon</span> Monastery in modern North Korea

Tokwon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien, located near the town of Wonsan in what is now North Korea. Founded as a monastic mission in Seoul, the community transferred to Tokwon in the 1920s to take charge of the newly created Apostolic Vicariate of Wonsan. The persecution of Christians in North Korea since 1949 made any church activity in the abbacy impossible. However the Territorial Abbacy of Tokwon is formally still kept as one of the few remaining territorial abbeys within the Catholic Church.

The Abbey of Our Lady Help of Christians, Ndanda, Tanzania, is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in 1906 as a mission station in German East Africa, the monastery is currently home to 71 monks. On 25 March 2021 the community elected Fr. Christian Temu OSB its 6th Abbot.

St Paul's Abbey, Newton, New Jersey, is a Benedictine simple priory of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Originally established as a mission procure following World War I, over time the size of the community drastically decreased. In 2002, monks from Waegwan Abbey, South Korea, took charge of the monastery. On January 25, 2004, Newton II was elevated to the status of a simple priory. The community's superior is Fr Prior Samuel Kim.

St Otmar's Abbey, Uznach, Switzerland, is a monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. It was established in the wake of World War I to expand the Congregation's resources beyond Germany. To this day, the monastery continues to procure funds and send personnel to Benedictine missions in the Global South. The current superior of the monastic community is Fr Adelrich Staub, Prior Administrator.

Prince of Peace Abbey, Tigoni, Nairobi Province, Kenya, is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in 1978 at the request of Maurice Cardinal Otunga, the monastery is currently home to 50 monks. Abbot John Baptist Oese Imai is the community's superior.

Incarnation Conventual Priory, Agbang, Kara, Togo, is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in 1985 by Frère Boniface Tiguila, the monastery is currently home to 28 monks. Conventual Prior Fr Bernard Anaté is the community's superior.

Christ the King Priory, Tororo, Eastern Region, Uganda, is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in the 1980s by Fr John Neudegger, OSB, the monastery is currently home to 24 monks. Fr Prior Fidelis is the community's superior.

St Michael's Priory, Kumily, Idukki, Kerala, India, is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. The monastery was established in 1987 by Zacharias Kuruppacheril, an Indian secular priest. Located on the western slopes of the Cardamom Hills, around 150 km east of Kochi, the monastery is currently home to 13 monks and 6 brothers in formation. Prior Fr.John Kaippallimyalil is the community's superior.

St Benedict's Conventual Priory, Digos, Davao del Sur, Philippines, is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in 1983 at the request of Bishop Generoso Camiña of the Diocese of Digos, the monastery is currently home to 21 monks. Conventual Priory Fr Edgar Friedmann is the community's superior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waegwan Abbey</span> Benedictine monastery in South Korea

Saint Maurus and Saint Placidus Abbey, Waegwan, Chilgok, North Gyeongsang, South Korea is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in 1952 by Korean monks who had survived the dissolution of the Territorial Abbey of Tokwon and Holy Cross Abbey in Yanji, the monastery is currently home to 131 monks. Fr Blasio Park is the current abbot.

Our Lady of the Plentiful Catch Monastery, Osornoe, Kazakhstan, is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in 2006 by the Abbey of Uznach, the monastery is currently home to two monks. Fr Joseph Schnider is the community's superior.

The Monastery of St Odile, Malandji (Kananga), Kasaï Occidental province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in Zaïre in 1990 by two members of St Ottilien Archabbey, the monastery was suppressed in 1996 during the First Congo War.

Holy Cross Abbey, Yenki (Yanji), Jilin, China, was a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in 1922 as a mission station, the monastery later became the seat of the Vicariate Apostolic of Yenki. After the withdrawal of Soviet forces following World War II, the monastery was suppressed by the People's Republic of China. While many of the monks were repatriated to Europe, others moved to South Korea and founded the Abbey of Waegwan.

Abbaye Saint-Benoît de Koubri, Koubri, Kadiogo Province, Burkina Faso, is a Benedictine monastery of the Subiaco Congregation. Founded in 1961, the monastery is located around 30 km from Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. As of 2000, the monastery was home to 27 monks, under the leadership of Abbot Fr André Ouédraogo.

St Benedict's Abbey, Pietersburg (Polokwane), Limpopo, South Africa, is a Benedictine monastery of the Subiaco Congregation. It began in 1911 as a mission territory; the community established a monastery in 1937. As an Abbey Nullius, the monastery governed what is now the Roman Catholic Diocese of Polokwane until 1989. As of 2022, the community numbers about 12 in various stages of formation monks. The community was given the Very Rev. Dominic Mohapi, OSB, as Prior Administrator on August 18, 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Sieber, OSB, Godfrey (1992). The Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien. St Ottilien: EOS Verlag. p. 91. ISBN   3-88096-645-1.
  2. ↑ Sieber, OSB (1992). The Benedictine Congregation. pp. 91–92.
  3. ↑ Sieber, OSB (1992). The Benedictine Congregation. p. 92.
  4. ↑ "About the Abbey" . Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Sieber, OSB (1992). The Benedictine Congregation. pp. 92–93.
  6. ↑ "About the Abbey" . Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Sieber, OSB (1992). The Benedictine Congregation. p. 93.
  8. ↑ "About the Abbey" . Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Hanga Schools" . Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  10. ↑ Schematismus. St Ottilien. 2011. p. 84.
  11. ↑ Schematismus. St Ottilien. 2011. pp. 85–86.
  12. ↑ "News: New Abbot of Hanga Abbey". Hanga Abbey.
  13. ↑ Schematismus. St Ottilien. 2011. p. 78.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.