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Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing

May to August 2016 WPN 68

St. Benedict’s Priory Windhoek, Namibia

By

Sr. Matilde Shikongo OSB, Sr. Sabina Zolonimu OSB, Sr. Mary Placid Joseph and Sr.Maurice Mary Kamari OSB

Love is, above all else, the gift of oneself. This is a quote one finds in the internet and yet this is the heart of the matter of a religious consecration. The primary principle found in our Priory’s newly-revised Formation Manual states: Vocation is a gift from God and a personal, free and radical response from the person called.

Novice Marianna Joseph and Novice Reginalda Kamari have been waiting for the day of their consecration to come. Likewise, Sr. Matilde Shikongo OSB and Sr. Sabina Zolonimu OSB have been looking forward to the day when their formative journey will be sealed in the total gift of themselves to God. The First Profession of Vows took place on June 11, 2016 and a week after, on June 18, 2016, the community witnessed the Final Profession of Vows. Both Eucharistic Celebrations were held at the Priory House Chapel in Nubuamis.

In preparation for their day of consecration, the Novices and Junior Sisters had their retreats with Sr. Oranna Franke OSB and Fr. Franziskus Swartbooi OSFS respectively. Sr. Oranna focused on the theme of how to become “People of God” who are ready to serve, be broken, taken and given. The conferences of Fr. Swartbooi centered on religious life and the vows. As he led them to see the past with gratitude, he challenged them to look to the future with courage especially in times of inconsistencies and human weakness.

FINAL PROFESSION: Sr. Sabina Zolonimu OSB

(top) and Sr. Matilde Shikongo OSB (left)

FIRST PROFESSION: Novice Marianna Joseph now Sr. Mary Placid OSB (top) and Novice Reginalda Kamari now

Sr. Maurice Mary OSB (left)

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The Rite of Mandatum, rooted in the ancient rite performed by Jesus himself when he washed the feet of his disciples, was held on the eve before the First Profession. Novice Marianna and Novice Reginalda were taken into the heart of the community, where the gesture of the Prioress washing and kissing their feet followed by all the Final Professed Sisters became a symbolic and prophetic act of acceptance to the Congregation and an example of service and love. In her exhortation, Mother Mary Thomas Prado OSB said: “If we look at everything as GIFT, our attitude will change into GRATITUDE. We shall see everything with the eyes of humility and behold every event, every experience, everything we receive as something to be cherished, honored and be grateful for. If we do not see that vocation, like life itself, is one big gift from God, we will go through our religious life as demanding, discontented, bitter, disappointed sisters and centered only on ourselves.”

During the Rite of Profession, Nov. Marianna was given the religious name Sr. Mary Placid OSB, and Nov. Reginalda the name Sr. Maurice Mary. Both will celebrate the same feastday – January 15, the feast of Sts. Maur and Placid, their patron saints. The Eucharistic Celebration with the Rite of Final Profession of Vows was presided by the Most Reverend Archbishop Liborius Nashenda OMI, Archbishop of Windhoek. Concelebrating with him were: Fr. Franziskus Swartboooi OSFS, Fr. Lukose Perumannikala MSFS, and Fr. Jose Thomas MSFS. Archbishop Nashenda exhorted Sr. Matilde and Sr. Sabina to continue to be faithful, loving and ready to be sent wherever they are called to participate in God’s mission. Both the liturgical celebrations and the reception that followed at Mary’s Hall were simple and orderly. Sisters from our communities, family, friends and members of religious congregations came to pray and rejoice with the newly-professed Sisters. A short program was held during the reception. The food was lovingly prepared by the Priory House community and Sisters from the out-stations who came to help. As we thank God for the gift of vocations to our Priory and Congregation, we keep in mind the words of Fr. Edward Foley OFMCap, speaker in our workshop on the Eucharist and Liturgy: “The act of religious profession must be recognized as an action of Christ. At its root it is neither a celebration of personal achievement nor a pseudo-graduation ceremony from the rigors of initial formation. Rather, religious profession – as a sacrament and therefore Christological event – finds its first meaning in the action of Christ, and only then in the act of those to be professed.”

The Eucharistic Celebration with the Rite of Temporary Profession was presided by Fr. Werner Afunde, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Windhoek. Concelebrating with him were Fr. Joseph Hatutale OMI, Fr. Franziskus Swartbooi OSFS, Fr. Evaristus Hinanane, Fr. Johannes Kanana. In his homily, Fr. Afunde explained the meaning of the traditional names of Nov. Marianna, “Sapalo”, meaning “Saturday”, and Reginalda, “Tuuva-Omwene”, meaning “God hear us”. He challenged them to totally surrender themselves to God who called and chose them to serve in his kingdom.

Novices giving their response after the Mandatum

Before & After: Novices Marianna & Reginalda during Novitiate (left) & during the Kiss of Peace at First Profession

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WORKSHOP ON THE EUCHARIST AND LITURGY IN NUBUAMIS AND NAMUNTUNTU

By Seminarian Jeronimo Kateya,

Sr. Maria Sikindo OSB and Novice Ndapewa Ngesheya

Our Priory’s on-going formation workshop for this year 2016 was on the Eucharist and Liturgy. In an effort to update the Sisters on the liturgy and deepen their Eucharistic spirituality, Mother Mary Thomas Prado OSB invited her former professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, USA, Fr. Edward Foley OFMCap to be the guest speaker. Because of the lack of a qualified liturgist in the country and in view of sharing the Priory’s resources with the local Church, the workshop was opened to priests, religious from other Congregations, seminarians, deacons, lay leaders and our oblates. The workshops were held in two groups, in two venues due to the overflow of participants. The first one was held on May 19 to 21, 2016 at Mary’s Hall in our Priory House in Nubuamis. The second cluster was held in our mission station in Namuntuntu, Kavango Region on May 26 to 28, 2016.

Fr. Ed is a theologian, professor of Liturgy, Music, Spirituality and Theology, an award winning author, and an international speaker. Around 110 participants attended the workshop at the Priory House in Nubuamis, and 36 participants (34 Sisters, a Deacon and a lay leader) in Namuntuntu. On the 23rd, Fr. Ed gave conferences on Music and Liturgy, Preaching and Presiding to the seminarians at St. Charles Lwanga Seminary. Likewise, the Poor Clare Sisters of the neighboring monastery also requested an afternoon of conferences on Franciscan spirituality. Our formators and formandees in the Priory House had their own sessions on Eucharistic Mystagogy, Theology of the Eucharist, Sacraments, parts of the Holy Mass and Liturgy. Our two novices and two Junior Sisters preparing for their profession of vows had their special time to learn about sacramental experience and reflection with a special emphasis on the religious profession as rooted in Baptism. Fr. Ed is a true authority on Liturgy; hence, his expertise benefited the participants a lot. In his view, Liturgy and Eucharist could be approached from different angles, for example, from human experience, Systematic Theology, Eucharistic Theology, Sunday Mass, Sacred Scripture, etc. Any angle can be the starting point to understand the meaning and relevance of Liturgy and Eucharist. His starting point of presentation was, however, the Eucharistic Theology which is the Table Ministry.

At the very centre of the Table Ministry is reconciliation that takes place within the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. For Fr. Ed, Table Ministry is all about reconciliation with mission and it is a lifestyle within the context of the Last Supper. Last Supper is neither about “receiving” nor “taking the Body of Christ,” but is an invitation to become Jesus. Eucharist Ministry gives us a sense of personal ministry, holiness and recon-ciliation. All nations are invited to the Table Ministry which is a reconciliation story. This invitation in-cludes strangers and prostitutes. According to him, even the story of Jesus’ walking on water points to the sacrament of Baptism and this is reconciliation and not a miracle story.

Group picture of Namuntuntu participants

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Fr. Ed also made a distinction between Easter and Resurrection to help us understand the theme better. For him, Christ’s resurrection happened only once while Easter is a repeatable reality where one could encounter the Lord. The Resurrection was the sole epistemological concern of St. Paul after his conversion, as he only wanted to know and proclaim the risen Christ after his Damascus-route experience. For Paul, to receive Christ is to become Christ, the true historical, transubstantiated and ecclesial body of Christ. And to become Christ is to live Christ.

Based on the understanding of Vatican Council II, Christ is truly present in the Eucharist in five ways that is, in the Priest/Minister, Assembly, Word, Elements (Bread and Wine) and Sacraments. The being of the latter came from the Church founded by Christ.

Fr. Ed affirmed that Liturgy is not about “things.” Liturgy is about “relationship.” This relationship is between the “perceiver” and “Perceived”. The Perceived is the “Real Presence” and this Real Pres-ence is not a “Natural Reality” but a “Religious Reality”. This implies that the “bread” remains but not the “Bread Reality”. The Real Presence can be explained better in relation to experience, relationship, and anthropology than metaphysics, phenomenology than idea, and encounter than abstract dogmas.

In conclusion, Eucharist is not about asking things but it is a relationship made tangible in the Table Ministry. Liturgy is in the people and not in the book. Liturgy is formative, relational, communal and life sharing experience. It is a participation expressed in and through verbs (breaking of the bread) which are action words and not nouns (bread). Finally, liturgy is contextual; it is about the experience of people, culture, and social location. Thus, the whole explanation by Fr. Ed gave the participants a new and clearer understanding of the Eucharist and Liturgy.

After the workshop in Namuntuntu, the parishioners had a rich experience of Corpus Christi Sunday when Fr. Ed celebrated the Holy Mass and joined them in the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altars they have prepared. They thank God for Fr. Ed and his enriching workshops, a gift to the Church of Namibia. The participants in both workshops held at the Priory House and Namuntuntu were extremely thankful to Fr. Ed, Mother Mary Thomas, the Priory House Community, Sr. Venantia Kavindja OSB and the Sisters of Namuntuntu Community, and all those who helped to make the workshops successful. It was a specially enriching experience for the Sisters in Namuntuntu as it was the first time that the Center for Spirituality (made up of traditional huts) was used.

KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS’ WORKSHOP

By Sr. Gabriella Pangeni OSB

On August 20 to 29, 2016, fourteen (14) Sisters administering

and teaching in Kindergarten Schools of our Priory, and 3 lay

teachers teaching in our kindergarten in Namuntuntu, in our

outreach station in Omega, and one teaching in a “kindergarten

under the tree” in Namuntuntu gathered in the Priory House to

participate in the workshop for the updating of kindergarten

teachers. The main faciltator was Miss Johanna Tessa Malana,

Pre-School Head Teacher of St. Scholastica College,

Manila, Philippines.

Participants of the First Workshop on Liturgy & the Eucharist held at the Priory House, Nubuamis

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Miss Hanna guided the participants through the following topics: Principles of Development with sub-topics on Learning and Development Theories and Milestones, Exploring own Education Philosophy and Objectives, Curriculum Models, Current Practices, Rethinking Practices in the light of the Namibian Basic Education Curriculum, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, and Teaching Benedictine Values. In addition, the participants had workshops on Mission-Vision-Objectives Making and Demo Teaching.

Dr. Gertrud “Trudie” Frindt, a professor at the University of Namibia discussed the topic on the Government Require-ments for Pre-Primary Education in Namibia. Sr. Dagmar Romanov OSB facilitated the session on Instructional Materials.

The participants from our kindergarten in Nubuamis, Ruacana, Ongha, Namuntuntu, St. Michael and in the Archdiocesan kindergarten in Windhoek presented their kindergarten program or curriculum on the first and second days of the workshop.

Hearing from each other was informational and beneficial. Each one was given a kit of materi-als they need for classroom teaching, visual aids for their classroom, and hand-outs to enrich their teaching strategies. The evenings were spent learning games, songs and other activities facilitated by the different groups in-charge of the recreational learning. So absorbed were the participants that even their free time was spent making instructional materials or doing art work. No time was wasted.

In her words of welcome, Mother Mary Thomas explained the purpose of the workshop: to update the skills of the teachers, to set a common direction for our kindergarten schools, to revisit, re-evaluate and revise our kindergarten programs and to identify the values to adopt in our kinder-garten schools. The participants were truly grateful to her for initiating and planning this workshop, to Miss Hanna, Dr. Trudie and Sr. Dagmar for the enlightenment and learning, to Sr. Angeline Arceo OSB for the preparation of the materials and the venue, and to the Priory House community for the hospitable accommodation.

Each participant went back to her mission field eager to do better from now on for the good of every Namibian child under her care. They are so refreshed, well equipped and ready to do their best. It was indeed a fruitful time of learning.

INTENSIVE HOSTEL MANAGEMENT

TRAINING

By Sr. Grace Kakweno OSB

This year’s second Intensive Hostel Management

Training was held in the same venue, St. Michael’s

Roman Catholic Mission in Outjo, from June 13, 2016

to September 1, 2016. The team responsible for run-

ning the program were Dr. Rosi Mihaylova, Program

Director, Sr. Beate Schroeter OSB and Sr. Felicitas

Mufenda OSB. Several speakers were invited to give

lectures.

The group was quite big – 16 learners in all. Some

of the participants have already worked in hostels,

while others are new to this work.

Dr. Trudie Frindt Sr. Dagmar OSB

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Other than the classes, there were also varied activities. On the feast of St. Benedict, the group had braai and recreation in the family farm of the Stommels. There was a concert that the participants attended in Otjikondo performed by the students and teachers of Otjikondo Primary School, promising future musicians indeed! Another theatre presentation in Otjikondo was the story of Hansel and Gretel performed by schoolchildren. A day was spent in an outing at the nearby Etosha National Park where 3 lions, a rhino, many elephants and other animals showed up. On September 1, our three months training culminated in a graduation ceremony. Prior to the program, a Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Werner Afunde, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Windhoek, and concelebrated by Fr. James, parish priest of St. Michael’s Mission. The graduation day was attended by Mother Mary Thomas, by friends and relatives of the graduates and by the students in the mission.

THE NEW APOSTOLIC NUNCIO VISITS WINDHOEK PRIORY HOUSE

By Novice Kathalina Nzaro

Most Reverend Archbishop Ndumbukuti Nashenda OMI of the Arch-diocese of Windhoek came to the Priory House with His Excellency Arch-bishop Peter Bryan Wells, the new Papal Nuncio and Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia, on July 19, 2016. The Papal Nuncio came with his secretary, Brother Robert, an Irish brother and active member of the Focolare Movement.

In the chapel, the Papal Nuncio said a thanksgiving prayer and gave the Sisters and fomandees his apostolic blessing. Since Mother Mary Thomas Prado OSB was on canonical visitation in the Kavango communities, Sr. Margareta Mary Shintango OSB, Subprioress, together with the Sisters, welcomed the Papal Nuncio to the Priory House. Tea followed in the refectory. Archbishop Wells shared his story in Oklahoma, USA, when he wanted to become a Benedictine priest, but God called him to another Congregation. He likewise shared the current happenings in the Catholic Church. He asked the Sisters and formandees to pray for Pope Francis and all the people who are suffering because of their faith. He gave the members of the Priory House Community a chance to ask questions on what is happening in our Catholic Church all over the whole world.

It was truly a joy to welcome the Papal Nuncio in our midst!

PRIORY HOUSE COMMUNITY WELCOMES THE CLG OF NUUYOMA SECONDARY SCHOOL

By Postulant Sylvia Korbinian

On May 24, 2016, the Priory House Community welcomed the Christian Life Group (CLG) of Nuuyoma Secondary School. It has been a year without them visiting us. They arrived in the Priory House at around 3:30 P.M. and proceeded to Mary’s Hall. Listening to them while singing, introducing themselves and asking questions about religious life reminded us of the time when we, too, were members of the CLG during our secondary school days.

Four Junior Sisters attended this three-

month program: Sr. Emma Aindongo

OSB, Sr. Ester Andowa OSB, Sr. Grace

Kakweno OSB & Sr. Mercy Gabriel OSB

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This year, there were about 50 boys and girls who came with two teachers. Sr. Margareta Mary Shintango OSB, Sub-prioress, welcomed them on behalf of Mother Mary Thomas who was on canonical visitation in Kavango. The Junior Sisters, Novices and Postulants joined them in singing and dancing. Sr. Remedios de los Reyes OSB and Sr. Marie Therese Ameya OSB introduced our way of life to them. The group asked questions. It was a good time for interaction.

TWO SISTERS JOIN THE IWE IN ROME AND GERMANY

(APRIL 4 to May 17, 2016)

By Sr. Marianne Sindimba OSB & Sr. Felicitas Mufenda OSB

We had prepared for this International Weeks of Encounter (IWE) for months. But we can never foresee what will happen no matter what the preparations have gone before. Due to flight changes, we were the last ones to arrive just on the day the IWE started - the 4th of April, the day when Mother Angela was giving an opening conference.

Mother Angela welcomed the participants with the words: “The International Weeks of Encounter is a time of renewal here in Rome, I invite you to allow the different places you will see to be a good experience.” After the opening talk, we were divided in language groups. We belonged to the English Group 2 led by Sr. Regina Tesch OSB who toured us in the Casa Generalizia. Sr. Aquinata Boeckman OSB gave us conferences on the Rule of St. Benedict to make us understand better the RB and experience the places where our patron saint lived and studied. After a week’s study of the RB, we started visiting holy places. The program was arranged in such a way that we could have lessons followed by visits. Apart from the RB, we had conferences on Inter-priory sharing by Mother Angela Strobel OSB, Misericordia in the Rule of St. Benedict by Sr. Hilda Buhay OSB, Conversatio Morum by Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca OSB, Congregation History by Sr. Monika Groth OSB, and Care for God’s Creation by Sr. Caridad Choi OSB. On April 18 - 23, we had our retreat facilitated by Sr. Eva Maria Zierl OSB with the theme: Faith, Hope and Love. We also participated in various assignments in the Generalate House such as reading at holy mass and refectory, table serving and assisting the priest with Holy Communion. These were very good learning experiences of the Ora et Labora in the Casa. Upon arrival in the Motherhouse in Tutzing, Germany, the Sisters warmly welcomed us. On the 10th of May, Sister Ruth Schoenenberger OSB toured us around the house to familiarize us with the places. In the evening we went to the chapter room to introduce ourselves. On the 11th of May, we visited St. Ottilien where we were showed around the convent of our pioneer Sisters, the grave of Fr. Andreas Amhrein and other places in the monastery. We also visited Munich, the Alps, Haus St. Benedict, and Benried and had Mass at the Parish on Pentecost Sunday. The Pentecost Vigil was very prayerful and memorable for all of us. We want to thank Mother Angela and her Council, the Casa Community, and Mother Mary Thomas and her Council for giving us this opportunity to attend the IWE. It was indeed a time of grace and renewal and starting anew in our journey.

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A SIMPLE FEASTDAY CELEBRATION By Novice Kathalina Nzaro

SR. EVELINE UNDERGOES TRAINING ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT By Sr. Eveline Nekongo OSB

The International Course on Women and Society started on June 7 and concluded on July 25, 2016. From June 7 to July 3, 2016, the participants were accommodated in the Institute of Women’s Studies in Manila because the rooms in Mendez Farm were still under renovation. There were 16 participants from six countries: 8 religious Sisters and 8 lay people. Among these were 3 Chinese Sisters, 4 Vietnamese Sisters from different Congregations and 1 Sister from Namibia. The lay people were 5 Filipinas, 1 from Myanmar, 1 German, and 1 Vietnamese. One Filipina participant is an Orthodox pastor and the lay Vietnamese is a Buddhist.

On the 7th of June, there was an orientation and preparation for the course followed by the session on Discovering, Well-being and River of life. These sessions made the participants review their life history from childhood to the present. They were also asked to focus on violence against women and children, and gender development. The sessions helped us to know themselves better, to learn to let go of the past and embrace new situations.

Ms. Arche Ligo was one of the facilitators and took care of the participants like a “godmother.” A city tour was organized on the 3rd day which included visits to the museums and some of the environmental places. This was followed by a presentation of our country’s history, population, and people. Participants also shared their country’s history of colonization and independence, the system of government, and oth-er information such as religions, ethnicity, languages and culture, climate, economy, natural resources, politics, status and role of women, current issues of women in the country and women’s movements.

There were 29 topics and the facilitators used various methods: PowerPoint, group discussion, slides and videos. All the topics were based on women development and movement, gender develop-ment and gender fair education, feminist research on leadership, counselling and theology. The partici-pants also learned module making, writing, critiquing and making organic soap (bath soap). The last topic was the beautiful Art of Living with Ms. Kim who is from the Netherlands and who has been staying in the Philippines for 4 years now. She introduced us to many techniques in meditation and relaxation. Her sessions were given for three hours after supper for 6 days. During these days, we were on a vegetarian diet.

Besides having a good time and enjoying the course, I admired the Philippines which is green all around - beautiful green plants, fruit trees of different kinds and flowers blooming everywhere. I am thankful to Mother Mary Thomas and Priory Council, to my RCH Community, to Mother Adelaida Ygrubay OSB and the Manila Priory. Most of all my gratitude goes to Mother Mary John Mananzan OSB for giving me the scholarship and to the facilitators and resource speakers of the course and staff of the Institute of Women’s Studies in Nursia, Manila, and Women and Ecology Wellness Farm in Mendes, Cavite. As I return to my home Priory and country, I look forward to start initiatives and projects for the empowerment of our Namibian women.

On July 3, 2016, Feast of the Apostle Thomas, the Priory House Community celebrated the feastday of Mother Mary Thomas Prado OSB in a quiet and simple way. The Holy Mass was offered for her intentions. The day before, some kindergarten children with their teachers, Sr. Marianne Shilengifa OSB, Sr. Joyce Iipakwa OSB and Sr. Mary Placid Joseph OSB, came to sing and dance at the reception area and gifted her with two live native chickens. At lunch, they were joined by some members of the Roman Catholic Hospital Community. Per her request, there was no program in the evening as she left to resume her canonical visitation at early morning of the following day. Only a song was offered by the community. Mother Mary Thomas gave thanks and reminded us of the importance of our missionary vocation and our love for our international Congregation. May St. Thomas the Apostle, a great missionary, pray for all of us that we may be zealous missionaries for God’s Kingdom.

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FOURTEEN OBLATES RENEW OBLATION

By Sr. Remedios de los Reyes OSB

Our oblates renew their oblation every year in July, the month of St. Bene-dict’s feastday. This year, 13 oblates renewed their oblation promises in a Rite of Renewal of Oblation integrated at Midday Prayer on July 24, 2016 and one oblate on August 21, 2016. They joined the Priory House Community for lunch and enjoyed the family spirit with the Sisters and formandees. Many thanks to the team members in-charge of the oblates’ formation: Sr. Josephine Ebuluaja OSB and Sr. Lydia Risto OSB, to Sr. Cecilia Ashipala OSB and the kitchen staff for the lunch, and Sr. Marianne Shilengifa OSB and the chapel staff and all the Sisters who have helped to prepare for this occasion.

MOTHER MARY THOMAS JOINS SEMINARY ACADEMIC FACULTY

By

Sr. Remedios de los Reyes OSB

St. Charles Lwanga Seminary that offers formative training and studies to the diocesan and religious seminarians and degrees in Philosophy and Theology invited Mother Mary Thomas Prado OSB to join its academic faculty. The seminary is situated in Klein Windhoek beside the NCBC Offices.

Holding a Doctorate in Ministry major in Cross-Cultural Ministries degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, USA and bachelor and licentiate degrees in Psychology, and philosophy and theology studies from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Mother Mary Thomas taught a class in Psychology and Human Development to the seminarians who are in their Philosophy year. The course was interdisciplinary – it integrated the disciplines of psychology, anthropology and philosophy. This is one of the ways our Priory shares its resources to the local Church in Namibia.

SR. PEREGRINA CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE OF PROFESSION IN OMEGA

By Sr. Margareta Mary Shintango OSB

Sr. Peregrina Kandere OSB celebrated her golden Jubilee of Profession in St. Ann’s Mission, Omega - Eastern Kavango Region on June 25, 2016. Mother Mary Thomas delegated Sr. Margareta Mary Shintango OSB to receive her renewal of vows.

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SENIOR NOVICES RETURN FROM FORMATIVE ACTIVITY By

Novices Kathalina Nzaro

Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Shikongo OMI, Bishop of the Vicariate of Rundu, was the main celebrant with six concelebrating priests. Many people came, among them were the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Bernhard Haufiku and Dr. Augustine Goagoseb. In his talk, Dr. Haufiku revealed that he is most grateful to Sr. Peregrina who encouraged him (when he thought it was impossible) to study first in A. Shipena High School in Windhoek, then at St. Joseph’s High School, Dőbra and to medical studies in South Africa. The St. Philomena Group, Catholic Women’s Movement and the Traditional Cultural Group of the Rundu Primary School performed the entertainment numbers.

Congratulations, dear Sr. Peregrina!

Novice Kathalina Nzaro considers her formative activity assignment in Ongha Community as God’s call for building up his kingdom. The Sisters in Ongha welcomed her with joy on the 27th of February. Her assignments were in the laundry, chapel and several other duties in the convent. She experienced the Sisters’ commitment to their tasks and pastoral work. She was impressed by the faithful in the area who are prayerful and understand the importance of the holy rosary which they pray every Sunday.

On February 26, the Tsumeb Community welcomed Novice Clementine Ndara to live with them during her formative activity. Novice Clementine experienced

handling many tasks such as leading the Divine Office, starting the Mass songs on Sundays, teaching Catechism, serving the poor children at Sr. Leoni Care

Centre and many others. There were memorable events and learning experiences such as “Walking with Christ” and Corpus Christi Sunday.

Novice Hendelina Musungu left the Priory House to stay with the Bunya Community on February 27. She worked in the kitchen, sewing room, in the Church, and took care of the upkeep of the convent. For her it was a good experience to learn how to be responsible and to do her work without anyone supervising her. During her formative activity she met people of different cultures and backgrounds. She was also able to attend the heal-ing sessions by Brother Pio, the birthday and farewell party of Fr. Kapp OMI, the youth gathering from all out-stations of Bunya parish and many other activities.

With courage and trust in God, Novice Rosemi Maria Nakshathram left India on January 14, 2016 and arrived in Namibia the following day. The

Sisters and formandees welcomed her warmly. As a senior novice, her stay in the Priory House in Nubuamis is considered as her formative activity. Other

than attending classes with the Junior Novices, Novice Rosemi is assigned at the sacristy and does other housework. She goes to nearby Okahandja Park

for her pastoral work.

All the novices thank Mother Mary Thomas and her Council, their Novice Mistress, Sr. Raphaela Mwilo OSB, their superiors: Sr. Agatha Iipinge OSB, Sr. Bonifacis Titus OSB and Sr. Thekla Haita OSB, and the Sisters in their com-munities. Novice Rosemi, in particular, thanks Sr. Maria Gratia Balagot OSB for giving her this chance of doing her formation in Windhoek Priory.

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CANONICAL NOVICES’ DESERT DAY

By Novices Ndapewa Ngesheya, Sofia Panzo,

Inês Tchikaleta and Imaculada Chiuco

Two days before the schedule of the Desert Day, Sr. Raphaela Mlwilo OSB, Novice Directress, prepared the four canonical novices. The Angolan novices had the privilege to be with Sr. Cecilia Tchimuma OSB from Angola who attended this preparation session. In the orientation, Sr. Raphaela explained the nature and purpose of the Desert Day. In a prayerful way, she projected a photo of the desert and explained very well the desert experience.

On July 22, 2016, before going up to the mountain situated inside the property in the Priory

House, Sr. Raphaela prayed with the four canonical novices, gave them the Scripture passage from Luke 4:1-3 (Temptations of Jesus in the desert), and offered them food provision to bring along. With their Holy Bible, a spiritual reading book, notebook and pen, Novices Ndapewa, Sofia, Ines and Imaculada climbed up the mountain and looked for their individual places where to spend the day in prayer.

It was a good experience with the Lord as there was ample time for prayer and to find the Lord in

silence. It was wonderful to contemplate nature - the rocks, birds, insects and so on. The novices were left free to structure their own day: to pray the rosary and ask Mother Mary to intercede for them, to sing, cry, thank God, read the Scriptures and reflect on the Word of God, ask God for His forgiveness and help that they may become good religious in the future.

The novices came down from the mountain top at 4:40 in the afternoon and closed their Desert

Day with a sharing of each other’s deep experiences with the Lord. Sr. Raphaela and Sr. Remedios met them at the grotto of St. Benedict at the back of the novitiate building. Hearts full of praise, they thanked God as well as the community for this opportunity to experience a Desert Day for once in their canonical novitiate year.

SR. SOPHIA CELEBRATES 75TH JUBILEE OF PROFESSION By

Sr. Remedios de los Reyes OSB

In the calendar of the Church of Namibia, the solemnity of Our Lady’s Assumption was celebrated on Sunday, August 14, 2016. Therefore, Sr. Sophia’s 75th Jubilee of profession was moved a day before the original date.

It was decided that the Jubilee celebration be simple and that Sr. Sophia, lovingly called “Kuku” (grandmother) in the community, will simply offer her profession card. Although still strong and active, at 99 years old Sr. Sophia has difficulty reading and hearing. Fr. Frans Van Wyk OMI, presider of this Sunday Mass, expounded on the virtues of openness and generosity of Mary. Likewise, he congratulated Sr. Sophia for her fidelity to her vocation. The Sisters and formandees prepared the liturgy beautifully with songs and dances. Assisted by Sr. Margareta Maria Kakololo OSB, Sr. Sophia offered her profession card happily dancing her way to the altar.

TOP: Sr. Sophia’s profession card; RIGHT: “Kuku” happily dancing her way to the altar to everyone’s delight

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In the simple and spontaneous evening recreation, the community serenaded Sr. Sophia with two songs. The game that followed tested the

community on how much they know Sr. Sophia. The other game was called “Bring Me” whereby the community members were asked to bring to Sr. Sophia items that were in her favorite color - red. Asked to say some-

thing to close the evening, Sr. Sophia stood up and said in English, “Thank you, Mother!”

YOUNG CATHOLIC ADULTS REACHES

OUT IN OKAHANDJA PARK

Five members of the Young Catholic Adults (YCA) at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Windhoek attended the Sunday Mass on

the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Lady in the Priory House Chapel. After the Eucharistic Celebration, they joined the out-

reach activity of our Oblates in the informal settlement at Okahandja Park.

Among those who came were Mr. Calistus Mahindi, the

YCA leader and Ms. Bernadette N. Shalumbu-Shivute, the con-tact person. The Sisters who joined the group were: Sr. Remedi-os de los Reyes OSB, Sr. Lydia Risto OSB, Sr. Antonia Shilunga OSB and Sr. Dagmar Romanov OSB. Oblates Kristof and Laina Ndunga had contacted the families earlier. Families then came for the distribution of food parcels and clothes for babies, young

boys, girls, and adults. These were provided by the St. Mary’s Outreach Group in Windhoek. Happy and grateful, the families

and their children sang a Thank You song to the group.

SR. MONICA NABIRYE OSB RETURNS TO NAIROBI PRIORY

We bade goodbye to Sr. Monica Nabirye OSB on July 24, 2016 during the farewell lunch for her at the Priory House. Sr. Monica worked as a nurse in Tondoro Mission Health Centre and Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. She left Namibia for her new assignment in Nairobi Priory on the 26th of July. We thank Sr. Monica for generous service to our Priory and continue to keep her in our prayers.

SISTERS BID FAREWELL TO SR. BENEDIKTA SCHMITT OSB

On August 26, 2016, our dear Sr. Benedikta Schmitt OSB passed away in our convent in Swakopmund. Upon request of the community members, it was agreed that she will be buried in the plot reserved for the Catholic missionaries in the public cemetery in Swakopmund.

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The preparation of the documents took quite a while because of public holidays and the funeral could only take place on the 30th of August. Buses full of Sisters from the Priory House and Roman Catholic Hospital and Sisters from the Kavango communities came for the funeral Mass and service. Also present were religious Sisters working in Swakopmund and some parishioners.

PRIORY RECEIVES DONATION OF HYMNALS AND BOOKS

The Priory was blessed to have received donation of 130 pieces of hard-bound hymnals, “People’s Mass Book” with full organ accompaniment

manuals and other publications from World Library Publications (WLP) / J.S. Paluch Company Inc. with main offices at Chicago, Illinois, USA. The

generous donation was facilitated by our workshop speaker on the Eucharist and Liturgy, Fr. Edward Foley OFMCap, and Jerry Galipau,

Vice-President of WLP. The connection is that Fr. Ed, Jerry and Mother Mary Thomas all come from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

We look forward to learning the songs in our new hymnals for the greater praise and glory of God!

BUNYA COMMUNITY: Projects for the Poor, for Women and for Care for Creation

By Sr. Thekla Haita OSB

Project for women

Bunya community is actively involved in the lives of our people not only within the Roman Catholic mission area but in the nearby villages and bush as well. Coming together as a community, we discussed how we could respond to the call of Mother Mary Thomas to set up jubilee projects for our poor people, our women and for caring for God’s creation.

Way back in 1996, the community had started to help a group of women to set up a baking business. This eventually came to be known as the Sihetekera Bakery. The first group was composed of 16 women, all unemployed at that time. Sr. Thekla wrote a project proposal and submitted this to the Ministry of Gender that favorably approved the project and donated the baking machine and all the needed materials and equipment. The women were then trained in Rundu to run the business by them-selves. Today, the group has been reduced to 9 members but all of them function effectively. From among them there is a manager, a bookkeeper, someone in-charge of the sales and purchases.

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The bakery is well-known in the surrounding areas and the women, most of them mothers, continue the baking operations even during the night.

At present, Bunya community’s role in this project has been one of active support. When the group encountered problems in its operations, the community intervened and provided both financial support and technical and spiritual guidance to the remaining members. Care for Creation Visiting the villages opens our eyes to the lack of cleanliness and proper disposal of rubbish or garbage. Plastic bags and bottles are now littered all over the areas. This is harmful not only to the people’s health but also to the animals grazing around that are tempted to eat the plastic bags. We plan to make an education campaign and teach school children and people in the village to clean up, minimize the use of plastic and to reduce waste.

TONDORO COMMUNITY: Projects for Women and the San People By

Sr. Faustina Nauyoma OSB

Five women make up the group who are sewing for the needs of the Tondoro Mission. Together with Sr. Faustina, the women start the day with a prayer

before working. They look for children who do not have school uniform and sew for them. Their income

supports their families and for most of them this is the only source they have.

Another project is teaching catechism to two San (Bushmen) who were recently baptized. Every week the Sisters interact with the San people in the bush,

give them food, clothes and blankets, teach them prayers and care for their spiritual and material

needs.

Projects for the poor There are many poor people who are in need in the surrounding areas, especially in the bush. We wish we could do more but since we are only 5 Sisters in the community, we decided to focus on those whose needs are urgent and have little or no means to help themselves.

Through its own resources, the community helped build a hut made of mud, sticks and stones for an elderly couple whose small mud house was falling apart and whose little belongings were always sto-len because they had no door lock. At present the couple does not have a bed and sleeps on the ground covered by layers of available clothing. A widow who lives alone, abandoned by her 3 sons, is another recipient of a mud hut from the community. Both the elderly couple and this widow were also recipients of blankets from the project “Share-the-Warmth” of the Priory House community, a well-appreciated dona-tion in the cold winter season.

For the poor, having a hut they can call their own means a lot. The community is still looking for means for a disabled mother to get a wheelchair and to build a hut for a widow whose entire family (children and grandchildren) depends on her small pension from the government.

The other project started by the community is raising of pigs. A family was given a pregnant pig and was instructed to give another family or neighbor a pair of piglets when the mother pig gives birth. This teaches the families not only to be self-reliant but to be caring and giving as well. Pigs raising or fat-tening is possible only in areas where there is some vegetation for pig’s food. Since most part of the bush is dry and arid, an alternative will be the raising of goats.

Shihetekera Bakery

Sr. Thekla & Sr.Rosalia with the widow for

whom they built a hut

A visit to the San people during the canonical visitation

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ONGHA COMMUNITY: Projects for Women and the Poor

By Sr. Agatha Iipinge OSB

Ongha Community teaches the Legio Maria members how to make the rosary which will help propagate the devotion to Mary. During their pastoral visits, the Sisters listen to the families and their problems, pray with them, teach them Catechism and prayers, and care for their needs according to the community’s means.

TSUMEB COMMUNITY: Projects for the Poor, Women and Care for the Earth

By Sr. Bonifacis Titus OSB

The mission of Sr. Leoni Care Centre in Tsumeb is to take care of the most vulnerable members of the society: the very poor, the sick, the elderly, the orphans, the learners and the vulnerable children. There are 620 people being served at the centre, which is located near St. Francis Parish Church in the location. Everybody is treated with dignity and respect and the people know that all are welcomed and listened to no matter what their race, color and nationality are. As for the three projects for the poor, women, and care for the earth, it is the Center’s challenge to deal with the members who are coming every day. Sr. Leoni Care Centre will form groups involving the Sisters, the children, the youth, the elderly, the workers and some youth from St. Francis Parish. With drought hitting our country this year, it is important for the Centre to come up with strategies to save our already depleting water resources and to educate our young people on the preservation of our natural forests or bush areas for the future of this country. Examples of water-saving hints and tips are: in the kitchen - not to defrost meat or other frozen food with running water; in the bathrooms - to take short showers and turn off water while soap-ing; to wash cars using buckets and not the garden hose; fixing leaks even the minor ones; not flushing the toilet unnecessarily and avoid using the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket; to plant indigenous and drought tolerant plants instead of exotic plants that use a lot of water and so on. The groups are becoming more aware of our use of non-renewable resources such as water, electricity and our refuse. We look for ways to sort our waste so that so we can recycle and thus reduce the waste in our mission and at Sr. Leoni’s Care Centre. We make our people in the Centre more aware of not throwing rubbish just anywhere but to keep our areas clean and tidy at all times. It is a challenge especially for the children who have not learned to pick up papers on their own. We also aim to help young people progress in their studies by teaching them good study habits. We also deepen our bond as a community and encourage the youth to establish group discussion, sharing ideas, reading the bible, debates, playing games and talks on youth life such as faith, teenage pregnancy, love relationship, use of technology (cell phone, face book) and so on. All the groups are to help raise funds for Sr. Leoni’s Care Centre at least once a month through selling of fat cakes, ice, popcorn and other food items. For the adults, we shall hold talks on passion kill-ing, alcohol abuse, abortion, family life, being responsible for the family, the challenges being faced by the elderly, forms of recreation, prayer, etc. The Sisters are knitting small blankets for the poor and will buy manure so that we can have a small garden for vegetables. Sr. Leoni Care Centre thanks our Sisters, benefactors and all those who continue to support us. The Tsumeb Community will continue to assist our Priory to realize our 95th Jubilee of Foundation’s goals and projects for the poor, for women and for care for creation. We thank Mother Mary Thomas for providing us with the direction and we pray for the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to give us more insights and ideas.

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NAMUNTUNTU COMMUNITY: Jubilee Projects By

Sr. Beate Schroeter OSB

Jesus the Advocate of the Poor

In planning our activities for the poor we first had to think how we can reach out to the people as Jesus reached out and realized His mission. As a community we agreed that it is our duty first to go out, visit the families and people in their homes, pray with them and bring the Word of God to them. When time allows it, two or three Sisters are on their way for meeting with the people. We would not like to miss the enriching experience to listen to their concerns and struggles, to exchange ideas with each other and to pray the rosary together. At the end of the visits, we always feel consoled and leave strengthened and filled with new hope.

In our house visits, we usually meet many elderly people who cannot come anymore to Church but have the great desire of receiving Christ. On high feasts of Christmas and Easter we organize a transport for them so that they can go for confession and can join the Church community for liturgy.

The house visits help to create mutual understanding among the people and the Sisters. Often it happens that the people approach the Sisters with their manifold difficulties, most of the time they find a Sister who can listen to them and their problems. Many times a good word is enough to bring peace in their hearts. Often it is hunger or other material needs bringing them to us. For us, it is important to treat them with great respect and dignity. Together with them, we plan how they can come out of their misery instead of depending on dole-outs, such as for example, they can collect different nuts in the bush and exchange this with maize meal. The nuts cannot satisfy their hunger but the Sisters can find a market in Rundu and buy maize meal with the money earned. Many times we give them a chance to help in the fields and pay with maize meal or clothes, depending on what is needed. It happens that after some months, we meet the person again who shows us proudly the shirt or jersey he received for his work. The old and sick people in the village who cannot work anymore and whose family is not able to care for them receive maize meal, oil and sugar when necessary.

In the Bible, when the four or five thousand people were hungry after they had listened to Jesus, He fed them with two fishes and five loaves of bread. It can be clearly seen that Jesus performed a miracle to feed this huge crowd of hungry people. Feed the hungry, be compassionate and reach out and Jesus will still perform miracles today.

Completion of Studies

Sr. Mary John Sakeus OSB Diploma in Philosophy

Tangaza University College, Kenya

Date of graduation: May 20, 2016

Sr. Martha Matheus OSB Advance Certificate for Assistant Pharmacist

National Health Training Centre, Windhoek-Namibia

Date of Graduation: 01 June 2016

Sr. Anna Jakob OSB Certificate in Early Childhood Development

(NQF Level 5) NAMCOL, Namibia Date of graduation: August 16, 2016

Sr. Sylvia Shingwanda OSB Certificate in Early Childhood Development

(NQF Level 5) NAMCOL, Namibia Date of graduation: August 16, 2016

Sincere thanks and appreciation to our previous Newsletter Editorial Staff from August 2012 - April 2016: Sr. Joyce Iipakwa OSB, Sr. Maurice Mary Kamari OSB and Novice Hendelina Musungu

We welcome our new Editorial Staff effective May 2016: Sr. Remedios de los Reyes OSB, Sr. Antonia

Shilunga OSB, Sr. Mary Placid Joseph OSB and Novice Kathalina Nzaro.