Relic of St. Teresa in Tanzania
The walking staff of the first woman ‘Doctor’ of the Catholic Church arrived Tanzania on the 14th Jan 2015 accompanied by the team of pilgrims from Spain namely Amaya Alvarez, Pablo Montesinos, Cristina Marcos and Fr. Jerome Paluku, Asst mission secretary from Generalate. The entire Catholic Church joining with the Reformed Order of the Carmelites of St. Teresa of Avila marks the 500th Birthday of St. Teresa who is noted for her life of prayer, prayer for the church and efforts to reform the Carmelite Order.

St. Teresa was born on March 28, 1515 and known as St. Teresa of Jesus or ‘the wondering nun’. She relied on the cane to walk in Spain where she founded monasteries and reformed the Discalced Carmelite Order.

The ‘Staff’ symbolizes her presence because it was with her the whole time throughout her journey as also a symbol of her spiritual journey. Pope Paul VI named her as the first female ‘Doctor of the Church’ in 1970.

On January 14, 2015 at 1.00 PM the Relic of St. Teresa of Avila was received at the border of Sirari from the Discalced Carmelites of Kenya by Frs. Marlon Rodrigues OCD, Fr. Francis D’souza OCD and Fr. Kizito, the Secretary of the Bishop of Bunda with few lay people. We reached Bunda at 3.15 pm where Fr. Paul the parish priest and a good number of people received the relic at the gate of Cloistered Carmel and was taken in procession to the Chapel where there was adoration and Fr. Jerome OCD gave the people the explanation of why this pilgrimage and why the relic of the walking stick. After the adoration each individual had the opportunity of venerating the relic. On 15th January at 10 am the concelebrated mass was officiated by Rt. Reverend Bishop Renatus Nkwande. A good turnout of people came to venerate and join the celebration. In the evening the relic was taken to Nyamuswa parish where the relic was received with singing by children and people and taken in procession to the church where the mass was held at 5 pm.