TANZANIA PRESENTATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN MADRID SPAIN, SEPTEMBER 12 -20, 2023

MAIN THEME: TO BE REBORN

1. LAI, an organization for women and men who have lived long enough to attain experience and wisdom from many walks of life in society has organized his meeting so that we can be reborn despite our advanced age and deteriorating physical strength in order to enable the members to engage in vigorous and active services to Church and society. This is a rebirth and we congratulate this vivacious step to enhance our stability and life. We have to be reborn to enable us pass over to the younger generations the knowledge, experience, wisdom, skills, perseverance, spiritual and mental advancement we have acquired in life. This will facilitate consciousness to us as well as those young generations suffocating in horrors of wars, diseases, moral decay, destruction of environment and natural life and be agents to support the true values of life, creation, nature as well as to adhere to spiritual values and worship for their perfection and holiness.

2.

A.During our meeting in Santo Domingo in 2018, with the presence of Dr. Vittorio Scelzo, LAI accepted to participate in the Congress at Vatican, which gave birth to the acknowledgement of the Elderly in a more extensive manner which later followed the announcement and inauguration of the World Day of the Seniors by His Holiness Pope Francis, now celebrated the fourth Sunday of July each year from 2021. From that year Tanzania has been celebrating the occasion in their own Parishes (See Plate 1) 

Subsequent to the meeting, the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 greatly affected our Association in Tanzania (although with partial bock) as follows: 

• Socially, the Elderly were locked down in their homes, isolated and full of fear of death desperately due to lack of proper care and some old people died. 
• Spatially, the Covid-19 spread widely, people were vaccinated; however, few died due to little or no medical treatment. 
• Spiritually, there was a decline in morals as prayer life in groups and small Christian communities were censured and not allowed in crowded places; however, were allowed at homes with large open spaces; sacraments were administered with care. Sparsely seating arrangements were introduced inside the church. Washing hands at gates entrances of churches were mandatory. Covid-19 hitherto still persists and people’s welfare attention is still required.

B. The quotation of the Pope during the inauguration of the Grandparents say: “I am with you always” (Mt. 28:20) has given a great impact and impetus to OUR REBIRTH. The contribution of the seniors and other Church organizations is great; we have leadership strategy of our Association and all small Christian communities and other solidarities from the grassroots; Spiritual advisers are elected at parish, diocese and national levels. Cooperation with the younger generations is greatly improved; and gradually respect for the seniors is being enhanced.

C. The richness of years, life, experience and history of the Elderly is greatly appreciated by the Church and the society in our country. A New Constitution for the Elderly Association in Tanzania was endorsed in February 2022 by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC). The Association is now operational in 28 out of 34 dioceses in the Country. The Elderly Association in Tanzania sprang from the small Christian communities up to Zones, Parishes, Dioceses up to national levels. Election of office bearers is held every three years and already carried out in June 2023.

D. Multidenominational and cultural dialogue and cooperation is advancing well. We have seminars and meetings with the youth; prayer groups have increased in the Church with seniors also being involved in the motivation. The elders have hailed the Pope’s appeals as the source of facilitating meetings, dialogue, discussion in Church and with other denominations.

3. LAI is requested to extend more support to the Tanzanian Elderly Association and the Anglo-African Region in general to enhance their operations as follows: 

(i). Including the activities of the Association in the VMI budgets to facilitate among other things the spreading of the Association; 

(ii). Support for prayer facilities and self-reliant small projects as most of the elderly members are unemployed and with no pension (no social security);

(iii). Support to conscietise the Church in the continent of the “irreplaceable role of the elderly in society where they exchange the gifts of the Holy Spirit for a new hopeful page in life and holiness.

4. Openness brought to us by LAI: 

LAI has opened doors as per the following:

• Incorporated our Associations to active participation and assistance in different fora; 
• Allowed participation in meetings and communication through newsletters/articles;
• Providing more support and moral encouragement to the weak nations; 
• Exchanging programs between nations. It is time for our renewed and fruitful service and hence BE REBORNE and surrendering to God as we are culminating our life in old age.

Rev. Fr. Gregory Mashtaki

Founder and Spiritual Adviser,Anglo-Africa