Greetings from Kigoma
Warm greetings from Kigoma in western Tanzania.
It is a privilege to share with you an overview of the Spiritan Refugee Ministry serving refugees in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp. This ministry reflects the Spiritan commitment to accompany those whose needs are greatest by offering pastoral care, psycho-social support, and practical assistance to people who have been displaced by conflict and hardship.
Our Mission
The Spiritan Refugee Ministry is a pastoral mission of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), also known as the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers. Since 1997, Spiritans have served refugees in the Catholic Diocese of Kigoma, working first in Mtabila/Moyo Vozi Refugee Camp and now in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp.
Today, our ministry primarily serves refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi. According to recent UNHCR data, Nyarugusu hosts approximately 150,000 to 160,000 refugees, making it one of the largest refugee camps in Africa.
Working in a refugee camp is both demanding and deeply rewarding. We accompany people whose lives have been profoundly affected by war, displacement, trauma, poverty, and the loss of family, community, and stability. Our mission is to restore hope by affirming the dignity of every person and encouraging resilience through faith, compassion, and practical support.
Our Ministry
The Spiritan Refugee Ministry embraces a holistic approach, responding to both the spiritual and human needs of the people we serve.
Spiritual Care
Our pastoral ministry includes the celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays and holy days, administration of the sacraments, and regular visits to the sick, elderly, and persons living with disabilities. We pray with individuals and families, offering spiritual guidance, emotional encouragement, and pastoral accompaniment during times of hardship.
To strengthen community life, Christians are organized into Small Christian Communities, allowing us to remain close to families and respond more effectively to their pastoral needs.
We also encourage children, youth, and adults to participate in parish organizations and pious associations that deepen faith, promote Christian values, and foster responsible leadership. Throughout the year, we organize seminars, workshops, retreats, and faith formation programs that address the spiritual and moral challenges facing refugee communities.
Psycho-Social and Human Support
Displacement affects every aspect of life. Many refugees have experienced violence, separation from loved ones, and prolonged uncertainty. Alongside our pastoral ministry, we provide psycho-social support through counseling, listening, encouragement, and accompaniment.
Our office also serves as a place where individuals and families can seek guidance regarding marriage and family issues, health concerns, refugee documentation, and other personal challenges. When appropriate, we provide referrals and letters of recommendation to organizations that can offer additional assistance.
Socio-Economic Assistance
Although our financial resources are limited, we strive to assist the most vulnerable whenever possible. This includes helping families obtain prescribed medicines and connecting those in need with organizations that provide food assistance, medical care, or specialized services.
We maintain good working relationships with humanitarian agencies such as Medical Teams International, the Red Cross, the World Food Programme (WFP), and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). While we are not a registered humanitarian agency ourselves, we often advocate for individuals by sharing information and referring cases to organizations better equipped to respond.
Community Development
To promote personal growth and peaceful coexistence, we organize leadership seminars, youth symposiums, sports competitions, and children’s recreational activities. These programs encourage leadership, strengthen families, promote peace and justice, and help refugees recognize their own dignity and potential.
Although the camp population is very large, our ministry focuses on the Catholic communities entrusted to our pastoral care so that we can accompany them effectively.
Sustainable Development
Because our financial resources are limited, we have established small-scale agricultural projects to generate income. The proceeds help provide medicines, food, and emergency assistance to refugees with the greatest needs while also supporting some of the basic operational expenses of the ministry.
Challenges
Limited Financial Resources
The greatest challenge facing the ministry is limited funding. Our work depends largely on support from the Spiritan Province of the United States. These funds provide modest support for priests, catechists, domestic workers, and the daily operation of the ministry.
The growing needs within the refugee community far exceed our available resources. Greater financial support would enable us to expand our pastoral outreach, provide additional emergency assistance, and strengthen our programs for vulnerable families.
We also hope to strengthen partnerships with international Catholic and humanitarian organizations dedicated to serving migrants and refugees, enabling us to advocate more effectively and expand our capacity to serve.
Need for Specialized Skills
Refugee ministry requires more than pastoral commitment. It also calls for professional expertise in trauma care, counseling, refugee studies, conflict resolution, advocacy, community development, and self-reliance programs.
We appeal for Spiritans and collaborators with specialized training in these fields to support the mission. We also encourage opportunities for scholarships and further education for confreres serving in refugee ministry so they may better respond to the complex needs of displaced communities.
Human Rights Concerns
Recent repatriation efforts involving Burundian refugees have raised serious humanitarian concerns. While voluntary repatriation is an important and recognized solution for refugees when conditions permit, our pastoral experience has brought us into contact with individuals who have reported distressing experiences during the process.
We continue to pray and advocate for all repatriation efforts to respect international humanitarian principles, uphold the dignity of every person, and ensure that returns are conducted safely, voluntarily, and with full respect for fundamental human rights.
Looking Forward
The Spiritan Refugee Ministry embodies our charism of serving those whose needs are greatest. Our mission extends beyond sacramental ministry to embrace the whole person through pastoral care, psycho-social support, advocacy, education, and practical assistance.
Despite limited resources, we remain committed to proclaiming the Gospel through acts of compassion, justice, peace, and hope. Every day we witness remarkable resilience among the refugees we serve, and we are humbled to accompany them on their journey toward healing and renewed dignity.
We remain deeply grateful to God for this ministry and to all our benefactors, partners, and friends whose generosity makes our work possible. We humbly ask for your continued prayers and support so that together we may continue promoting justice, peace, and the God-given dignity of every human person.
Thank you, and may God bless you abundantly.
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