Welcoming Missionaries from Tanzania
Two Missionaries of the Precious Blood from Tanzania, Fr. Epitasy Makala, C.PP.S., and Fr. Marco Loth, C.PP.S., arrived in the United States in September to begin new assignments within the U.S. Province. Their arrival represents both the global nature of the congregation and the bonds of fraternity that connect us across continents.
Frs. Epitasy and Marco are grateful for the warm welcome they received in their first weeks. “We had a very friendly welcome from our brothers and the people here,” says Fr. Epitasy, noting that the opportunity to stay at St. Charles Center has been a pleasure. “It is beautiful. We appreciate what our brothers in the past did for the congregation,” he says.
Both bring rich experiences of ministry in Tanzania. Fr. Epitasy, the 11th of 12 children, grew up in Morogoro, where parish life and a welcoming pastor nurtured his early vocation. Since his ordination in 2011, he has served in provincial and institutional administration. Most recently, he worked at his province’s headquarters in Dodoma, coordinating finances and guest services. While his priesthood thus far has been centered in institutional work, he looks forward to his first sustained parish ministry in the U.S.
Fr. Marco, born in Manyoni in 1982, has spent most of his priestly life in parishes. Ordained in 2016, he served first as parish priest at St. Nicholas Parish, then at St. Andrew Parish in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam for six years. Although he considered becoming a diocesan priest, his home parish of Mayoni has long been administered by C.PP.S. “It is our mother house, you could say,” he says. “The first Missionaries, when they came to Tanzania, they lived at Manyoni. I’ve known the Missionaries of the Precious Blood since I was young, so they attracted me to join in the congregation.”
Their new assignments will begin in October. Fr. Epitasy will minister at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dayton, while Fr. Marco will join the pastoral team at the Sorrowful Mother Shrine in Bellevue, Ohio. Both recognize that this is an important chapter of learning, adapting, and sharing their gifts.
“We know there will be surprises along the journey,” Fr. Epitasy reflected, “but we are here, ready.”
Please include Fr. Marco Loth and Fr. Epitasy Makala in your prayers as they embrace the challenge of life and ministry in a new culture and new country, far from home and family.