Flaggy Shore walk for Pemba Support

A 10k walk takes place on Sunday, March 24, at the Flaggy Shore, New Quay. The walk will benefit North Clare -run charity Pemba Support, which works in educational and community development on Pemba Island off the coast of Tanzania. Pemba, along with its larger neighbour Unguja, makes up Zanzibar.
Fr Mathius Ng’oja is currently visiting North Clare. He has worked in Pemba for more than three years and will shortly take up a role in Unguja, an island that has recently witnessed increased religious tensions peaking with the murder of Catholic priest, Evarist Mushi last month.
Fr Mathius is originally from Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He recently finished preparatory courses in physics, biology and chemistry with the hope of studying medicine in August.
“I am looking forward to it. I don’t know which part I would like to specialise in, I like caring for the sick and that is what I really like and I would like to serve the sick,” he said.
Before he can go to university, Fr Mathius has a different mission. When he returns to Tanzania he will work in Unguja.
“I will be working in a parish there, the parish where the other priest was killed I think,” he told The Clare Champion.
“The situation there is really bad. It is uncomfortable to be in that place because a group of people are threatening people, especially the Christians. The bishop cannot go out openly, the religious, so the priests, the bishops, the nuns cannot go out openly,” he added.
“I was in Unguja. Workers in the parish have been threatened to tell them not to work in the parish so you can imagine the situation but I place my trust in God and I think he will help me and I am going to work through it,” he went on.
Fr Mathius admits that his placement in a parish in Unguja is daunting.
“It is only human. I am worried because of the situation, as I said, is bad, to be honest. I have to go. I have no alternative. I have to go to encourage them people there not to despair. I am ready to go and I want to give support to the priests who are there,” he explained.
The priest recognises that the work will be a challenge with just nine priests to cover seven parishes and nearly 30 outstations.
“I think I will be at the parish but at the same time I may be assisting a school around the same place,” he said.
The move will also be a big cultural change from his two weeks here in Ireland.
“I don’t see any problem here in Ennistymon, people here are good. They socialise together and live together very well but there is not the problem of religion here. It is a problem in Unguja because there is a group that don’t want Christians to be on that island. You can’t compare Ennistymon  and Unguja. When I am here, it is like being in heaven” Fr Mathius believes.
Fr Mathius’ time in Pemba was positive but while the island is peaceful, it is not without serious problems.
“The situation in Pemba is good. There is a good relationship between Muslims and the Christians, and the people I met felt good compared to people on the other island. Relations-wise things are good on Pemba but the people are poor-poor, poor in the strictest sense of the word,” he added.
Pat and Neilus O’Doherty set up Pemba Support to work developing nursery education, adult education, health, construction and horticulture on the island.
Registration for the Flaggy Shore 10k takes place at Linnane’s Pub, New Quay at 10.30am. The walk will be led by Joe Lillis, Bridget Hayes and Fr Mathias Ng’oja of Pemba.
Refreshments in Linnane’s Pub after the walk. Sponsorship cards are available from 065 7071024 or 087 9157363.