About Roads to Life Tanzania

Roads to Life Tanzania, Inc. is an American nonprofit organization building and expanding health care facilities, education and spiritual life in the Nkololo village of Tanzania. With the help of volunteers and your donations, we work to provide healthcare, and educate young men and women in Nkololo.

We continue the ongoing charitable work begun in 1960 by the Reverend Paul E. Fagan (“Father Paul”), a Roman Catholic missionary priest who founded St. Peters Parish and Songambele Hospital.

Songambele Health Center

Roads to Life Tanzania health care started as a small clinic which has now transformed into a state-of-the-art hospital in Nkololo, Tanzania

Education

Providing education is key to maintaining a top rate hospital in Tanzania and in improving the lives of the people serving the Nkololo community.

Father Paul

Father Paul Fagan, one of two sons of Everett and Carolyn Hausler Fagan, was born on October 24, 1932. He grew up on a farm near Patch Grove in Grant County, Wisconsin. He attended Brunson grade school in Mt. Hope and then two years at Patch Grove High School. His brother Peter entered St. Francis Minor Seminary in 1947, and Paul followed him in 1948. Fr. Peter went on to be ordained in 1958. After five years at St. Francis, Fr. Paul entered the Maryknoll College at Glen Ellen, Illinois, where he studied Philosophy for two years, then continued on to Novitiate at Bedford, Massachusetts, and finally on to Maryknoll Major Seminary at Maryknoll, New York.

He was ordained on June 11, 1960, and then sent to Africa. Upon arrival in Tanzania, Fr. Paul was assigned to the Diocese of Shinyanga. After studying the Kisukuma language for several months he was assigned to the cathedral parish of Buhangija, where he served until June 1967. He was then assigned to the rather remote five-year-old parish of Old Maswa, 100 miles away. He has continued doing pastoral and development work at Old Maswa for the past 49 years with the Diocese of Shinyanga and hopes to continue for many years to come.

Chair of the Board - Bishop Liberatus Sangu

The Medical Board for Roads to Life Tanzania is based in Nkololo and continues to make operational decisions for the Songambele Health Center. President of the Board is Bishop Liberatus Sangu, Shinyanga Diocese. Board members (not pictured) include Dr. Patrobas Katambi, Dr. Kein Mteta, Mr. John Sabu, Mr. Sebastian Minja and Father Paul Fagen.

President of Roads to Life, Tanzania - Tom Shellander

Tom has been working with Roads to Life Tanzania, llc since its inception and has been to Nkololo and Songambele multiple times. He takes care of all legal, tax and accounting for Roads To Life Tanzania.

Since 2008 his dedication for the mission of Roads to Life Tanzania, llc and Songambele remains strong

Roads to Life Tanzania Board

A trip that started as a safari adventure and ended with inspiration. Tom Shellander (cousin of Father Paul) and Mary Ruedinger (Tom's wife) visited Father Paul in Tanzania in 2009. Their life was changed.

When they returned home, they decided Father Paul needed help. Tom, an Attorney and Mary, a retired Director of Business from UW Madison Medical School, worked with Father Paul to establish Roads to Life Tanzania, LLC, a Wisconsin based 501c3 nonprofit.

The rest is history..... and the future of service and development in Nkololo!

Treasurer, Chair of Development, Equipment and supply acquisition, Website and Newsletter distribution - Mary Ruedinger

Mary worked at the University of Wisconsin Madison for over 20 years retiring as Director of Business in the UW Medical School.

She has been working with Roads to Life Tanzania, llc since its inception and has been to Nkololo and Songambele multiple times. She works with logistics in funding, supply and equipment acquisition, communications and media development.

Her passion for the mission of Roads to Life Tanzania, llc and Songambele are shared with anyone who is willing to listen.

Website Guru - Beth Klassen

Beth graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in biochemistry and works in health care technology. While in northern Wisconsin, she saw Fr. Paul speak about his journey in Roads to Life, Tanzania, and wanted to get involved.

Beth helped redesign the site in 2017 and again in 2022, and works with Mary to update content. She enjoys using technology, art and design to tell a story, especially for those who do good. She currently lives in Austin, TX.

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