Golden Jubilee of DMJs in Uganda
Pat Manson visiting the associates in Burundi in August 2009
Africa Province Assembly Aug 23 - Sept 1 2009
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8The Council Meeting: Africa Province
Congratulations to Sr. Caritas upon the BA in Liberal Arts with a Focus on Leadership and Management.
Sister Caritas defending her Advanced Project as well as demonstrating the leadership and management skills acquired throughout the academic journey and how she will use them in her ministry. The Advanced Project was on "The Influence of Personality Types of Leaders on their Leadership Styles" and she used the Enneagram Typology.
Administration members, those who supervised Caritas' project
Congratulations by the Professor Alicea, dean of studies in Chicago
Graduation Mass celebrated by Fr Patrick Roe, the Principal of Tangaza.
Procession of the Word of God in a boat.
Entertainment by Burundians
Congratulations by Sr Christine Ntibarutaye
Sr Caritas Ntibarutaye is a graduate of the DePaul University of Chicago operating in Tangaza Campus in Nairobi. The Program empowers religious men and women to integrate Spirituality and Religious Formation in Leadership and Management.
Golden Jubilee of DMJs in Uganda
On September 4th and 5th the Africa Province celebrated the Golden Jubilee of service in Uganda. The celebration began on September 4th with the Jubilee landmark of the blessing of Coloma Primary School by the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda - His Excellency Archbishop Paul Tschang in-Nun - together with Archbishop Paul Bakyenga of Mbarara Archdiocese.
Blessing of Coloma P/S Coloma School Building
Unveiling of plaqueOn Sept 5th the Jubilee was celebrated with Mass at Nyamitanga Cathederal led by the Apostolic Nuncio. Novices Anne Marie Adama from Cameroon and Henriette Nshimiye from Burundi made their first vows during the Mass.
Anne Marie & Henriette Nyamitanga CathederalAfterwards lunch was served at Emmaus community, Nyamitanga. It was a great joy to have a number of sisters from Ireland, England and California present for the occasion and especially to have Sr Brigid Stokes the sole remaining member of the original five sisters who began the mission on 1959. A large number of friends joined the Daughters of Mary and Joseph on both days
Pioneers Jubilee entertainment
Cutting Jubilee Cake
Pat Manson visiting the associates in Burundi in August 2009.
It was a big joy for the DMJs associates to welcome Pat to Burundi.
Pat started to meet the group of the associates in the North of the Country.
The meeting took place in Ngozi Community.
After Ngozi, she went to Bujumbura, where she was welcomed by the group of the associates in Bujumbura carrying gifts in the baskets symbol of hospitality. The meeting took place in Bujumbura Community.
We thank you Pat for sharing with us your time and knowldge.
Come again.
Greetings from Mbarara where we are having our Assembly.(Sorry for the delay in our communication: we had a power cut.)
We started with a day of prayer.
The theme of our Assembly is: "Father may we be ONE." On the floor of the library of Mary Hill S.S. where we meet is a map of Africa with four candles representing our four Africa countries.
Who is the Jesus we follow, as
DAUGHTERS of MARY an JOSEPH? asked Fr. Roger La Bonté. To be instruments of compassion means to follow JESUS COMPASSIONATE as Mary did.
The Eucharist Celebration was led by the Archbishop of Mbarara, His grace Paul Bakyenga. He said it was a joy to celebrate with us the 50 years of the presence of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph in Uganda. The formation of hearts and minds is something that Uganda desperately needs.
Sr Adeodata introduces the presentation of the symbols of the four countries in Africa, meaning hospitality and sharing:In Uganda, women sitting on a mat in
the compound, sign of welcome.
In Burundi, a basket, sign of hospitality.
in Cameroon, sorgham, sign of life.
In Ghana, the Gye Nyame: "Nothing greater than God."
We strive to remain united in our diversity.
The superior general presents her symbol: a pot in which Sr Linda plants the seed of vocation and continuing life. This seed has to be nurtered: the eldest member passes on to the youngest the water to water it.
At the end of the Mass the Assembly is opened by the whole General Team and the Provincial Council.
Day 1, Monday 24th August 2009.AIM of the AFRICA PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY:"To discuss, discern and bring to reality in faith new life-giving structures of leadership and membership, formation, stewardship, mission and ministry in the context of the Province of Africa whilst preparing for the Provincial Chapter and the General Chapter 2010."
WAY OF WORKING:"To provide space and time for all the sisters in the Province to come together to pray, to share life and to affirm our unity in diversity as we grow together in trust, openness and rootedness in who we are as Daughters of Mary and Joseph in Africa and in the world today."
Anna Mary welcomed all in the Assembly. John Rafferty and Mary Kearney, our facilitators, invited all present to introduce themselves.
We discussed in groups of three the aim of the Assembly and the way of working. Then we had a large group sharing.
Each sister expresses how she feels as she comes into this Assembly; her expectations and her fears.
We have each day a faith sharing on the Gospel of the day: what is the Word of God saying to us regarding what we have shared?
We end each day with the Eucharist Celebration.
Day 2: Tuesday 25th August 2009.After our sharing on the Gospel of the day, the Provincial Council presented to us a very rich report.
Then we looked at the political, socio-economic, apostolic, spiritual... environmental context in which we are living out our mission, first of all in our countries, then in Africa. A diagram of our country context and what is going out of the DMJ's context to the country and to Africa was drawn. We realized that Africa Province is supported by our congregation living in the heart of the world.
Day 3, Wednesday 26th August 2009.
Each country in the Africa Province looked at its purpose, which identifies us as DMJ's, unifies us, energises us and makes a difference in the society in which we work.
It was a real giving birth. We felt a DMJness.
PURPOSE OF EACH COUNTRY IN THE AFRICA PROVINCE
Where are these purposes pointing to for the Province of Africa?Burundi's Purpose
In the light of our charism and context, the purpose of the DMJs in Burundi is:o to be women of prayer, a visible presence of Christ's love in our unity in diversity;
o to build reconciliation in a developing, but wounded society;
o to participate actively in the formation of the whole person;
o to empower those who have no place in the society.
Cameroon's Purpose
In the light of our charism and context, the purpose of the DMJs in Cameroon is:
o to be a Gospel based community,
o a collaborative presence that engages us in formation of ourselves and others,
o with a compassionate healing and empowerment,
o in an environment particularly influenced by Islamic culture and traditional religions.
Ghana's Purpose
As women of faith and members of the DMJs, we endeavour to be the compassionate presence of Christ in Ghana by:o building bridges between the marginalized
and the wider society;
o being in a ministry that no one else will do;
o building dignity through empowerment;
o being catalysts by challenging the status quo in health care, education housing and the Church;
o working with those affected by leprosy and mentally and/or physically challenged.
o We are affirmed and sustained in being the presence through a wide network of support.Uganda's Purpose
In the light of our charism and context, the purpose of the DMJs in Uganda is:
o to be women of prayer in faith, hope, love and joy based on the Gospel
o in the simplicity of lifestyle through dedication in our services we seek to transcend Ugandan socio-economic, cultural and political environment through holistic development of the person.
o We empower ourselves and others and we encourage young women to join us in the mission of Christ.
After the morning faith sharing on the Gospel of the day: "Stay awake! ...for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.", in groups, we looked at where the purposes of the countries in the Africa Province pointed to, whilst in the centre of the room, gathered around the map of Africa on which the four candles were lit, the General Team was a supporting prayer, interceding for us. It was a second prayerful giving birth, from which the purpose of DMJ Africa Province emerged. In the afternoon, while this time everybody continued to pray and to intercede, a group of five sisters was chosen for the writing. Among that deep, powerful and amazing experience of the presence of the Spirit at work among us arose with gratitude the statement of a deeply spiritual purpose of DMJ Africa Province, a living breathing:
In the light of our charism and the context of Africa the
Purpose of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph Africa Province is:· To be women of faith
· Through prayer, discernment and formation to live our internationality appreciating and respecting the uniqueness of each member of the Province
· To strengthen our unity in diversity through collaboration, networking and communication
· To strive to be a visible sign of hope, healing, reconciliation and empowerment for ourselves, the disadvantaged, the marginalized and the youth, enabling us to be catalysts for change in our Africa reality today
Friday 28th August 2009: we have a free day!
Day 5, Saturday 29th August 2009.News: Linda shared about the situation in Palos Verdes, where our sisters had to be evacuated because of the fire. We want to let them know that we are praying for them. We are happy to hear that they are back at home safely.
The aim of the session was to generate recommendations for the organisation (instead of speaking in term of "structures", we reflected about organising ourselves) of leadership and membership in the DMJ Province of Africa, in the light of the purpose and context of the Province. We were aware that to live our Africa purpose is a responsibility for everybody. To take care of that purpose we have to keep it alive. The leadership is linked to it, a responsible and flexible leadership.
In groups of 6, we tried to answer the question: "In the light of the purpose of the Africa Province and your experience of leadership and membership, what organisation of leadership do you now think best fits the current reality of the Province?"
We appreciated our "thinking Africa" as we discussed this question.
Then we sow the difference between management organisation and leadership. Leadership is not management.
At the end of the day, we reflected on: "What recommendation is now emerging for the organisation of leadership and membership in the DMJ Province of Africa, working to its purpose?"
We will continue our reflection tomorrow.
Day 6, Sunday 30th August 2009.Mary gave us an interactive input on the Role of Leader and Member. We bring three realities together in our role: our person, our community and the context of our community.
After that, as usual we shared on the Gospel of the day.
Then we went back to our groups of six, continuing to reflect on our recommendation for leadership and membership.
Five sisters, one from each group, formed a writers' group with John to compose the draft recommendation, while the other members of the Assembly listened to Linda explaining the difference between a region and a province. Sheila, Kate and Linda shared their experience of England, Ireland and California regions.
Day 7, Monday 31st August 2009.
After the Gospel sharing, we had a very alive "Temporary Professed Conversation" on their course in Ibanda. Th
e theme was: Passion for Christ and Passion for Humanity. Our young sisters shared their joy and the richness of being together for the first time, while reflecting deeply on community life and on prayer with the help of the inputs of Anna Mary, Fr. John Peter and Dona. They shared their strong desire to build bridges among themselves and to bring life and unity in our communities.
Then in groups of six we tried to make a recommendation for the location of the Africa Province Novitiate, a place taking our purpose forward. We came to the conclusion that we need further good realistic information. A project feasibility group will do the research.
Linda presented us with the aim of the 4th Congregational Conversation in view of our Congregation Purpose which has to be received during General Chapter 2010.
It was clear that the Africa Province purpose offers to the congregation the youthfulness, energy and a passion to live our charism.
Then Béatrice presented us with the Financial Report. There was a request to have a clear picture of our finance in Africa Province.
We concluded the day with faith integration, where each tried to answer the question: at what moments of this day was the Spirit of the Lord upon me?
(Luke 4:18, Gospel of Monday 22d week.)
After the faith sharing, we did other Assembly business:
1. Coloma primary School Project, which was explained by Pascazia, the School Project coordinator, and Adeodata.
In faith, the school will open in February 2010, with Theresa Bateta as a Headmistress, Eileen Maher as a Secretary and Mona maher as a Bursar.2. Novitiate follow up:
The Provincial Council will overtake to obtain the necessary information so that a clear picture can be given with the help of the expertise of a professional survey.
A group was asked to present a questionnaire for research on Novitiate location, based on the PESTL - Political, Economic, Social (with health), Technology, Legal - analysis.
We had a living conversation with our Founder (represented by Linda), responding to our questions on how to live our Province purpose. It was a pure dialogue.
Going forward from the Assembly, we reflected personally on what we are taking with us as we prepare to return to our communities. It was a sacred sharing.
Closing Ritual:
The Provincial Council gave to each one of us seeds of sorghum, very healthy and very symbolic of this Assembly.
Anna Mary thanked our Founder, the General Team, Mary and John, our elderly sisters from Belgium, England, Ireland and California present with us, our secretaries Mary Ann (Holy Cross Sister) and Grace (DMJ).
We prayed and laid hands on the General Team and John and Mary, who will continue their meeting at the Poor Clare's.We ended with a lively Eucharist Celebration coloured with the African dances.
The Council Meeting: Africa Province.
The Provincial Council Meeting took place from 18-31 Jan in Bujumbura Community.
The first two days were dedicated to prayer with the theme: "Let God's Compassion flow".
The days of recollection were led and animated by his Excellence Monsignor Paul Gallagher, the Nuncio of Burundi. It was a very enriching experience.
During our meetings, we also had the privilege of having Mass in English three times a week; the Mass was celebrated by Father Elias Mubembezi, a Missionary of Africa (White Father).
Apart from the two days of prayer, the rest of the days were reserved for the Council Meeting.
Finally, the outcome of meeting was sent to each Sister of Africa Province.The Community of Bujumbura continues to warmly welcome you.
Monica Nankunda received as Postulant.
On Feb 11th feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Monica Nankunda was accepted as a postulant in Uganda.
In the presence of Sr Adeodata Ahimbisibwe, the country coordinator, and the Ibanda community Monica renewed her baptismal promises and received a lighted candle as a sign of Christ, the light of the world, the one whom she has chosen to follow. We welcome with joy and congratulate Monica on this first step which she has taken.
Recently Ancille postulant from Burundi has joined
the community in Ibanda to continue her language
learning.
