The OLA’s have been working in Tanzania since 1991. There are three OLA communities in Tanzania, one in Isamilo, Mwanza which is in the Archdiocese of Mwanza, one in Mwamapalala, Bariadi District and one in Bugisi, Shinyanga Rural District, both located in the Diocese of Shinyanga.

Srs Mairead Hickey (Cork) and Deanna Donohue (Laois) were the first OLA’s to go to Tanzania. They went to Mwamapalala in 1991 to take over the running of the local Health Dispensary and to engage in pastoral work in the large parish. They were joined in 1992 by Sr. Sally Forde who taught English and Mathematics in the local secondary school. Since the beginning much of the work in the community involves outreach to the poor in the surrounding areas, offering assistance whenever possible.

In 1994 a second community was opened in Bugisi, about four hours by road from Mwamapalala but still within the same administrative region and within the Diocese of Shinyanga. Srs Amme McCormack, (Dublin) Lucy Dumenu and Regina Opoku (both from Ghana) were the Pioneers in this mission. Here they began with a small English Medium kindergarten, a Sewing Class for women and again running the local health Dispensary.

The third OLA Community in Tanzania is located in Mwanza town and Srs Maura Cranney (Down) Perpetua Acquah and Regina Opoku (both Ghana) were the pioneering Sisters in this community. Mwanza is the first OLA Community in an urban setting in Tanzania and this poses its own challenges. The needs are great and the Sisters respond to the best of their ability. From the outset, Sisters have been involved in education of Girls in a Diocesan Girls Secondary school. There has also been involvement in educating the most marginalaized and vulnerable in society, the intellectually and physically challenges in a Special Unit attached to a local primary school. There is also involvement in tertiary Education with a Sister lecturing in SAUT St Augustine’s University of Tanzania. This is a catholic University run by the Episcopal Conference and with one campus located in Mwanza.


Since 1991 many Sisters from Ghana, Nigeria and Ireland have worked in the mission in Tanzania. They have also been helped by long and short term lay missionaries from Ireland, England and Holland. Read more about OLA's are doing in Tanzania.