Having spent nearly 50 years in Tanzania as
a missioner, having been joyfully present at the birth of this nation and an
enthusiastic follower of the Ujamaa (Swahili for "familyhood")
philosophy, I could tell many stories of why I believe that Julius Nyerere is a
Saint. One stands out in my memory. Some months after his retirement in 1985 and
his return home to Musoma, Tanzania, Julius was feted by Musoma Diocese with a
Mass of Thanksgiving and a banquet. As the Maryknoll Society Superior at the
time, I was seated beside him at the “high table.” While all of us priests,
religious and lay leaders of the diocese enjoyed the plentiful meat and rice,
soda and beer, Nyerere very unobtrusively had a spoonful of rice and a glass of
water. It was Lent and he was fasting.

    At the end of the meal a young priest on
behalf of the diocese gave a speech of thanks in Swahili for Nyerere’s
leadership. It was a very fine and enthusiastic talk, but I could tell by his
reaction that Julius did not agree with the final sentence! In his own remarks
later he referred back to the speech. He said, “The padre in his talk said to
me, ‘We know, Mzee ("Elder"), that when you finish your earthly journey you can
stand before God and say, “Father, the work that you have given me to do, I have
accomplished."’ No, no! Only one person could say those words and that is Jesus.
When I die, I will stand before God and say, ‘Baba, nimejaribu, nimejaribu’
(Swahili for ‘My Father, I tried, I tried’).” I feel certain that Julius
heard in reply, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”