Bravo, Fr. Lado
By Abel Ogonah, SJ
On Sunday, September 8th, 2024, a delegation of Jesuits from Dodoma made their way to Mtera, Tanzania, on a mission of their own to retrieve their beloved companion, Fr. Lado, who had spent years toiling in the rugged, mountainous frontiers. The scene at St. Agatha Catholic Church, where Fr. Lado had served as the pioneering parish priest for four years, was one of bittersweet emotion. The air buzzed with the tension of joy and sorrow. On one side, the congregation radiated gratitude for the work their pastor had accomplished; on the other, a somber cloud hung heavy as they braced themselves for the inevitable farewell. The same mood was exhibited by the faithful of the Lutheran and Anglican churches that share a compound and gate with the Catholic church.
This day marked the end of an era for the faithful of Mtera, a humble town resting on the border between the Iringa and Dodoma regions. Life here, nestled beside the great Mtera Dam a reservoir that provides both fish and hydroelectric power marches to its own steady rhythm, much like the work Fr. Lado had undertaken with quiet determination.
Fr. Lado’s mission had been a daunting one: to breathe life into dormant outstations, to kindle the flame of faith among the people, and to build the long awaited priests’ house. And it was a mission fully realized—Mission Possible, as it came to be known. With these monumental tasks completed, Fr. Lado passed the torch to his successor, Fr. Sinya, leaving behind a legacy not only of brick and mortar but of spiritual renewal.
As the shadows lengthened on that final day, the people of St. Agatha stood united in their emotions—grateful, yet heavy-hearted. Fr. Lado’s chapter in Mtera had closed, but the stories he had helped write would live on in the hearts of those he served. Karibu nyumbani baba Lado!
