THE MISSIONARIES OF THE HOLY CROSS
Catholic Mission Puma, PO Box 207, Singida - Tanzania (East Africa)
Tel. 0025 57 32 96 08 89 / 0025 52 62 50 20 98
E-mail: mothers_of_the_holy_cross@yahoo.de
Mothers of the Holy Cross and Missionaries of the Holy Cross Religious Institute was founded in the Catholic Mission of Puma (diocese of Singida, Tanzania) by sister Maria Stieren (1923 – 2008) and father Cornelio Maria del Zotto, Franciscan friar native to Mussons in Friuli (PN) and born in 1938 and still alive.
Maria Stieren, a nun of the Benedictine Missionaries of Tutzing (Germany), resided in a Mission in Ndanda (Tanzania). She met father Cornelio in 1971, during a stay in Germany, who had lived there to write his theses under the guide of Joseph Ratzinger (elected Pope Benedict XVI). The cooperation between the two religious resulted in the foundation (in 1976) of two Institutes that form a unique spiritual family: Mothers of the Holy Cross and Missionaries of the Holy Cross.
The Institute of the Mothers was canonically erected in the diocese of Anápolis/Goias (Brazil) as a public association of faithful, which had its own facility; on 15th September 1984 and on 15th August 1985 were finally approved with their Constitution.
By Decree of the Ecclesia Dei, the Mothers of the Holy Cross Institute was recognized as an Institution of Pontifical Right on 29th June 1991, and on 6th June 2004 its Constitutions were definitively approved.
Some young people began to devote themselves to the apostolate, teaching Religion in schools or directly committing themselves to the evangelization. Then, when the first priests arrrived, they dedicated themselves to the administration of sacraments, especially among the poorest and most neglected indigenous tribes that were living in the virgin forest. The nuns also managed the services in the Hospitals of the Institute and promoted various activities of spiritual and professional education, as well as helping the poor.
As an Institute of diocesan right, the male branch of the Missionaries (MHC) was approved on 1st January 2004. Then had 3 priest and 7 brothers in perpetual vows, 20 of temporary vows, 2 novices and 17 postulants. Finally, with a rescript of the Commission Ecclesia Dei, it was recognized by pontifical law on 24th June 2004, and on 18th August 2008 the same Ecclesia Dei definitively approved the Constitutions.
Soon after that, Father Cornelius Maria Del Zotto, who still belongs to the Order of the Franciscans, on 3rd September 2008 joined the Institute of the Missionaries of the Holy Cross, and became their Chief (Superior Father). At present, the missionaries are 180 people: 130 sisters and 50 brothers.
The rule of Saint Benedict was chosen to rule community life, the liturgy of the hours, eucharistic adoration and a special consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Each member of the community work with the poor, or in patient care and youth education. They wear a brown Franciscan habit (sometimes white), with a blue belt and a blue cross on their chest.
The Mission is located in the Heart of Tanzania, 23 Km south of the regional capital of Singida (1500 meters above the sea level), on a semi-desert plateau at the edge of the forest. People live in extremely poor conditions in these «lunar landscapes». Every day hundreds of people are fed by the missionaries, and sometimes, when things get worse, they become a few thousand.
The purpose of the Centre is to provide medical care, water and food to a population who need human and spiritual support.
Three Hospitals, many kindergarten and orphanages, schools and professional formation centers, a convent and the construction of a workshop for new vocations were settled.
The Institute has seven important locations in the world: four in Tanzania, one in Brazil (Anŕpolis-Goyas near the capital Brasilia), one in Munich of Bavaria (Germany) and recently one in Romany.
In that arid land, in the same point where elderly remembered the celebration of the first Mass, father Cornelio decided to drill the ground in search of water, and that is what he said: «The Blessed Virgin Immaculate, illustrious Patroness of the Tanzania, brought in the desert for us a beautiful spring of gushing water, mineral and medicinal, the only one in the place, so that the narrative flow of the source, also the Supreme Pontiff exclaimed: "That is a miracle"».
Fr. Cornelio M. Del Zotto
Founder and Father Superior of the Missionaries of the Holy Cross
Fr. Cornelio Maria Del Zotto was born in Mussons in the Italian region of Friuli, near Tagliamento river, a land of strong and healthy people. In fact, just like his fellow countrymen, Fr. Cornelio is a stout man, a man who has always showed enthusiasm for life as well as mental keenness and spiritual delicacy.
He had an early vocation. At the age of 8, he met a Franciscan friar, Fr. Giuliano, who talks to him about offering his life to God. After the Seminary, he went to Vienna where he learnt German and attended the University. One of his professors was Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, whom he remembers as a man «with a strong sense of duty and paternity».
Afterwards, Fr. Cornelio Maria went to Rome, where he became Director of the Antonianum (the Pontifical University). However, his love for Africa eventually brought him to Tanzania.
For those who want to give their contribution
La Fede (Registered with the name)
IT 84 Y 07601 01800 000017024381 (Iban)
Mission Fr. Cornelio - Tanzania (Reason for payment)
or:
Miria Del Zotto (Registered with the name)
IT 46 F 07601 12500000008321782 - BIC/SWIT BPPIITRRXXX (Iban)
Mission Fr. Cornelio - Tanzania (Reason for payment)