Fr. Pirmin

Hanga Abbey loses beloved member of community

On Saturday March 3^rd 2007 at Peramiho Hospital, God called our beloved Fr. Pirmin Odrick Ngolle OSB to his kingdom. Fr. Pirmin Ngolle surrendered his soul to God after three days of suffering caused by a car accident that happened in the village of Mawa 6km away from Hanga Monastery.

Fr. Pirmin was born on 14/01/1967 to the family of Gaspan Ngolle and Renatha Mdetele. He was the third child of seven siblings and grew up in the village of Mfereke. He was baptized on 29/01/1967 and received confirmation on 09/01/1983 at the Njombe Parish, diocese of Njombe.

He attended elementary school at Utaliangero in 1977 through 1983. He joined the religious life as an aspirant on 16/11/1983 and on 19/01/1985 started form one at Hanga Seminary. Four years later he graduated from Hanga Seminary. On 14/01/1989 he returned to Hanga Monastery to continue his vocation in the religious life. This time he was received as a postulant and on 10/07/1989 he entered Novitiate and made his first vows 2 years later. During his Novitiate years he was assigned to be in charge of the kitchen in the monastery. In 1992 he joined Likonde Seminary for A level studies and finished in 1994. When he returned to Hanga Abbey he was assigned to be in charge of the farm.

In June of 1995 he was sent to the USA for further studies at the University level. He later joined Mount Angel Major Seminary in Oregon for Philosophy and Theology study. He received his deaconate in 2000. On November 26, 2001 he was ordained to priesthood at Hanga Abbey. After his ordination he returned to the USA to study Administration, while at the same time working as a parish priest at St. Pius in Oregon. In November of 2006 Fr. Pirmin returned to Hanga Abbey and was assigned to become the assistant procurator until his death.

Fr. Pirmin was a man who devoted his life to the service of people. He was full of jokes, open to all people, and quick to help those who came to him with problems. He was always ready to fulfill whatever job he was assigned and to spread God’s love and joy wherever he went. He is remembered around the community as a man who was openhearted and sympathetic towards those in need and was always striving to find ways in which he could better serve the church. He was always ready for any work given to him and fulfilled his motto, “Send me Lord.”