The Gappa Bariadi Fund was founded in March, 2020 to continue the lifelong mission work of Fr. Herbert Gappa, MM by supporting construction of facilities for advancing Catholic worship, education, and service in Bariadi, Tanzania.  When he first arrived in Tanzania, Fr. Gappa lived with a catechist and his family for five years observing, asking, listening and discussing needs and solutions for the faith community.  From this extensive learning process, Fr. Gappa laid out three clear objectives for his work:

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• Building Blocks of People, which included faith formation, religious education, and  sacramental life;

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• Cement Blocks, which included the buildings, equipment, supplies, and personnel needed to operate a parish;

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• Basic Human Needs, which included food, firewood and water.

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The idea was to integrate all three areas and Fr. Gappa took a light-hearted approach to stressing this goal.  When parishioners would ask him for baptism to be saved, Fr. Gappa would tell them they were being baptized to plant trees and dig wells, and that God would ask them two questions when they reached the Pearly Gates of Heaven: “How many trees did you plant?” and “How many did you cut down?”  The point he always conveys is that the Church is present so that we and others can begin to taste salvation, and that salvation included all three elements of body, mind, and soul. The parish was present to MAKE A DIFFERENCE, and working together, the parish members did just that, reflected by the changes in attitudes toward the environment and trees. Tens of thousands of trees have been planted throughout the Bariadi Parish, and the Small Christian Communities were the catalyst for community members to form “Water User Groups” and dig hundreds of shallow wells to provide clean, safe water.

Fr. Gappa's years of service generated so much growth that Bariadi's faith community now needs a second large church in addition to two multi-purpose “centers” and numerous small chapels throughout the area.   The Gappa Bariadi Fund was established to help address these needs.  “Liturgy was one of the greatest gifts in Africa” according to Fr. Gappa.  Donations to The Gappa Bariadi Fund will provide this gift and other blessings to the Bariadi people.