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A little history (written and to be written)
The “Little Brothers and Sisters of Africa” got together as a group on October 4, 1991, at the Izazi village (in the region of Iringa, Tanzania). From there they moved to Mkungugu (region of Iringa) and then, beginning on October 31, 1995, in the outskirts of the city of Morogoro.
A trial period terminated on July 9, 1997, with the official institution of the Association and the approval of the “Constitutions” by the bishop of Morogoro, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Telesphor Mkude.
During the Eucharistic celebration, the 11 founders (6 sisters and 5 brothers) promised to live as a community the Gospel, according to the rule of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, approved by Pope John Paul II, and to their own “Constitutions”.
The first two Mother-Houses were soon joined by the community of Kiroka (January 27, 1998) for brothers, by another one in the same village for sisters (September 15, 1998) and still another one at Langali (July 10, 2000), all in the same Morogoro region.
On November 4, 2004, they have started a presence in the diocese of Mbeya; by now a few sisters live at Kapelekesi, near the boundaries of Malawi.
On January 15, 2009, there were 14 consecrated people in permanent vows (6 brothers and 8 sisters), 22 members in temporary vows (7 brothers and 15 sisters) and 10 in formation (1 and 9 respectively).
The primary goal of all of them is to give testimony to Jesus through their words and their whole life, in Africa and up to the ends of the earth, since every person needs Jesus, the Saviour of the world, and has the right to know him, in order to become one with him and with the Father who sent him.
For this purpose, they hope to get early secular Franciscans, especially married persons, who would testify to their same values in everyday life of common people: in the family, in the economy, in politics,
etc.
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