The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Mwoleka, Christopher, Bishop, 1927-2002

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1967-1968, 1972, 1984

Volume: 13 item(s); 20 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Merton and Mwoleka discuss a number of topics, including a Christian's place in the modern world, racial problems, the eremitical life, and the religious traditions of Asia. Merton asks for some books of African poetry and thought.

Biography

Fr. Christopher Mwoleka became Bishop of Rulenge in Tanzania in 1969. When he first wrote to Merton in 1967, he explains that he had first read Merton in 1952, and that «Seeds of Contemplation» was an inspiration for him to leave his job as an office clerk and enter seminary. He was ordained in 1962 and would later read a number of Merton's books. Shortly after beginning their correspondence, Mwoleka began teaching at St. Charles Lwanga's Katoke Seminary in Biharamulo.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also published letters from Merton to Mwoleka published in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 461-463.

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1967/08/31 (#01)TL[c]to MertonOn the feast of St. John of the Cross 1952, 24th November, passing by a book-stall in Dar es Salaam,   
 1967/08/31 (#02)TLS[x]to MertonOn the feast of St. John of the Cross 1952, 24th November, passing by a book-stall in Dar es Salaam,  [from one folder from the "New Directions Publishing" papers at Harvard, entitled "Letters (carbons) to various people, 1967"]
 1967/09/13 TLSfrom MertonI was so happy and touched by your warm and kind letter. In this world where there is so muchYes  
 1967/12/27 TAL[c]to MertonLet me console myself by saying "better late than never" for sending you my Christmas greetings now.   
 1968/02/10 TLSto MertonWhen I wrote to you last time, if the letter hadn't been too long I should have said a word about   
 1968/02/24 (#01)TLSfrom MertonThanks for your two very good letters. I am most happy and interested to hear about your reactionYes  
 1968/02/24 (#02)TL[c]from MertonThanks for your two very good letters. I am most happy and interested to hear about your reactionYes  
 1972/09/22 TLSto Center from Mwoleka, ChristopherYour kind letter which I received two years ago is now here before me and find, to my shame, that it   
 1972/10/05 TL[x]from Center to Mwoleka, ChristopherThank you for your kind letter of September 22 regarding our request for correspondence   
 1972/10/25 (#01)TLS[x]to Center from Mwoleka, ChristopherWith reference to your letter of October 5, I am enclosing herewith originals of two letters   
 1972/10/25 (#02)TLS[x]to Center from Mwoleka, ChristopherMay I ask for a favour from your Centre. At that Meeting in the Far East after which he died,   
 1972/11/09 TL[x]from Center to Mwoleka, ChristopherPlease accept our sincere graditude [sic] for the contribution of your correspondence with Thomas   
 1984/01/18 TLS[x] from Shannon, William / to Christopher MwolekaI am a priest of the diocese of Rochester, New York and have taught for some years in one of our  seeking biographical information, other letters, and recollections of Merton
        

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