Locations
Delegation (Tanzania)
Houses of Formation
Postulancy Santa Jacinta and Novitiate Santa Josefina Bakita in Ushetu
Apostolic Houses
Community Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Ushetu (medical care, parish work, & school)
About the Mission
In 2009 we began the mission in Tanzania, a country located on the eastern coast of Africa, just below Kenya. We live in Ibelansuha, a small village in the poor, rural area of Ushetu, in the Shinyanga Region of Tanzania.
About 200,000 people live in the vast area of Ushetu. They are mostly farmers and herders of the Sukuma and Nyemwezi tribes, speaking a dialect called Kisukuma. In school the children learn Swahili and later, English. However, due to the economic needs of their families, many children only go to elementary school. The houses are commonly built with rustic materials like mud, wood, etc. Health conditions among the people can be poor because of lack of education about good nutritional and hygienic habits. The main sources of water are rain or natural springs. Cooking is done with firewood; batteries, solar panels and gasoline-powered generators are the most common sources of energy.
Apostolates
Parishes: Our priests (IVE) and sisters work together in the 43 outstations of our sister parishes: Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Martin de Porres. With over 1,000 children in sacrament preparation, a booming young-adult apostolate, an ever-growing number of weddings, and much more, the harvest in this mission is truly great!
Schools: Our first school, Stella Matutina, opened at Ushetu in 2013 with 27 students. It has now grown to 207 children, Pre-K through 7th grade and 15 faculty and staff members! In 2022, Our Lady of Lujan kindergarten began! It now boasts of 60 children from Pre-K to first grade.
Medical Clinic: The St. Bernard Medical Clinic started in 2010 and currently offers services such as: pregnancy check-ups, deliveries, wound cleaning, infectious disease treatment, oxygen therapy, mental health, diabetes treatment, chronic illness, HIV testing, counseling and lab analysis. People come to the clinic from up to three hours away, by motorcycle, bicycle, or on foot. Our clinic has grown immensely!
Home of Mercy: Houses of mercy for the elderly and disabled are one of the non-negotiable elements of our religious family’s charism. In virtue of this truth, in January of 2023, our priests and religious brothers began receiving residents at the Don Orione House of Mercy.
Religious Formation: Our mission has a house of formation for young women considering religious life and the IVE fathers have a house of formation as well.
Mission Highlight: Diary of a Tanzanian Missionary
Photos from the missions
How you can help
Use PayPal to make a tax-deductible donation to this mission. Your mailing address only will be used to send you a thank-you letter with our tax ID number for your records.
Or send your charitable donations payable to:
SSVM Missions Inc.
Attn: Tanzania
533 W Tioga Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
All the sisters thank you for your prayers and support!
