THE INAUGURATION OF THE 5TH BIRTH CENTENARY OF ST. TERESA OF AVILA AT MATEKA AND MPANDAGINDO, SONGEA.

As the whole Order of the Discalced Carmelites rejoices to celebrate the 5th birth centenary of the reformer St. Teresa of Avila (1515 – 2015), the Carmelites of Songea along with the lay faithful had the privilege to inaugurate this Jubilee year with a solemn celebration.

MATEKA:
The year of Jubilee was inaugurated with a solemn Eucharistic celebration on Sunday 4th of January. The Holy Mass began at 6.30 AM with a solemn procession to the church. Rev. Fr. Baptist Fernandes OCD presided over the Eucharist and the word of God was preached by Rev. Fr. Vivian Menezes OCD. The symbolic inauguration was done by placing the Flax on the altar. And during his homily Fr. Vivian said it is a rear opportunity we get to celebrate this kind of occasion and he continued saying we should thank God for giving a great saint, a mystic and a reformer to the Catholic Church. The speciality of the day was that all the choir members had worn a similar dress stitched out of the kitenge (a kind of Cloth normally women use) and this kitenge was prepared in honour of this Jubilee year.

MPANDAGINDO:
The Solemnity of the Baptism of our Lord was celebrated on Sunday 11th of January. And on this day the Carmelites of Songea and along with the Parishioners of St. Martin the Tour Parish had the joy to inaugurate the 5th birth centenary of St. Teresa of Avila. Rev. Fr. Baptist OCD presided over the solemn holy Eucharistic celebration and Rev Fr Vivian Menezes broke the word of God.