Church fundraiser nets 3m/-, 45m/- more needed
 
2006-09-25 08:53:02
By Gerald Kitabu, Coast Region

	Sunday School children from Vikindu sing as they enter St. Vincent of Paul Church soon after Polycap Cardinal Pengo inaugurated it at Vikindu, Mkuranga District in Coast Region yesterday. (Photo: Selemani Mpochi)

A high profile fund raising ceremony in Mkuranga District yesterday presided over by Archbishop Polycarp Cardinal Pengo managed to raise about 3m/- only out of 48m/- needed to finalise construction of 290m/- church complex.

The fundraising for completion of the building to house St Vinsenti Paulo Roman Catholic Church was held at Vikindu parish here.

Apart from Cardinal Pengo, who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Dar es Salaam Diocese, the ceremony was attended by the country’s representative of Pope Benedict XVI, Arch Bishop Joseph Chennoth among other dignitaries.

To finish the construction of the building about 45m/- more will have to be raised.

Cardinal Pengo called on worshipers to build a culture of contributing for community development activities including church affairs.

”The development of Roman Catholic Church depends on you and me. We should therefore come forward in big numbers to contribute for our church,” Pengo said.

He expressed Vikindu worshippers and development partners for the moral and material support extended so far towards construction of the church building.

On his side, Archbishop Chennoth called on the church to build a new spirit of praying to God.

”Worshippers should use the church to enhance moral values and support the needy in the society,” he said.

The Church’s building committee Chairperson, Janeth Kahama, said the construction work realised thus far was made possible by the joint efforts of worshippers, local and foreign development partners.

She thanked Cardinal Pengo for offering the church moral and material support, which had enabled it to carry out the construction successfully.

The new church building, after completion, will be able to hold at one time about 800 worshippers.

• SOURCE: Guardian