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As reported from Africa by Fr. Onil D’ Souza, (Director St. Antony Ashram, Jeppu)

Simanjiro is a remote place in the Region of Manyara of Tanzania, East Africa.  From the City of Arusha the nearest main town one has to travel a long distance of hundred kilometers in the dessert on the bush roads to reach Simanjiro. The inhabitants of the place belong to Maasai Tribe the main occupation is to grazing Cattle and Sheep.  That’s their main source of income.  In 1952 the Holy Ghost Fathers’ came as missionaries to work among Maasai tribe.   Rome of the east Mangalore also has connection with Simanjiro mission.  Fr. Fredric Castillino of Belvai parish worked here from 2002 to 2007.  Presently Fr. Peter Pinto of Shirthady Parish is the mission superior.  The mission has 18 substations of Maasai Tribe and two substations of non-Maasai tribe having a Catholic population of four thousand.

The Mission runs 45 bed hospital to take care of the health needs of the people of Simanjiro.  But for this hospital Simanjiro people would have had to travel, hundred kilometers to reach the nearest health center.  One in fifteen days ‘flying medical services’ land at Simanjiro making Simanjiro as the base and visit near by villages to administer vaccine to pregnant women and children below 5 years each.  They take the assistance of Simanjiro Hospital.  In addition to this Simanjiro hospital on its own provides similar kind of service to another five villages along with a twenty four hours Ambulence service to the people in the bush which saves precious lives.

Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore, is very much pleased with the work done by SVD Fathers in this remote place.  He appreciated their work and invoked God’s blessings on Simanjiro mission. The people of Simanjiro accorded a warm welcome to the Bishop and his delegation with colourful Maasai dance and Songs and presented him with a ‘shuka’ (Massai blanket ) and ‘Rungu’ (that is presented to the chief of the tribe recognizing him as the head of the tribe) along with a ‘Maasai’ Cross.