During the three weeks I was in Africa, I became acquainted with our Sisters in Kenya and Tanzania. They are grateful to the Sisters from other countries who established their delegation. A poster of those missionaries seen above is displayed in their convents and schools. Among them is Sister Annete Adams from Chardon, who served there for 23 years. The African Sisters also produced this song in celebration of our 175th anniversary:

Associates

Associates are mainly laypeople who make a covenant to share in our charism and ministry. Like us, they proclaim God’s goodness and provident care. Sister Mary Annete Adams began this program in Africa, and it is still flourishing under the leadership of Sister Mary Teopista. I spoke to the group about St. Julie Billiart, who founded the original Sisters of Notre Dame. They presented me with a cashmere shawl with images of the Sacred Heart. When I wear it, I’m reminded that Jesus has my back!

Candidates

Women who are interested in becoming Sisters first live together and experience community life. We have two groups of candidates, one in Kenya and another in Uganda. I met the candidates and Sister Mary Emma, their director in Kenya. Presently there are 31 candidates.

Postulants

Candidates who persevere become postulants and live in Uganda. There are thirty-one of them. Since I chose not to fly to that country (which I later learned was a site for Ebola), I wasn’t able to meet the postulants.

Novices

I met our 30 novices in Kenya and spoke to them for about an hour. Sister Mary Pascalia is their director and has a lovely rapport with them. The novices do not wear a veil, whereas when I was novice, we wore starched white veils.

A Sister from Indonesia is staying in Africa to be formed as a novice director under Sister Pascalia’s direction.

Our novices are a joyful, energetic group. In the evening they had a celebration for me and for three novices who are going to spend time in local houses. They all sang and danced with enthusiasm, accompanied by drums. Entertainment included some stand-up comedians.

The novitiate house is on the delegation house property. The novices keep busy running the farm there, providing food for the Sisters and the students. They even work in the slaughterhouse!

Junior Professed

There are 60 junior professed Sisters of Notre Dame, that is, women under temporary vows. This includes eight “tertians,” who will profess final vows in December. The young Sisters are studying or already involved in ministry. Some are teachers and nurses. Many of them made the eight-day retreat I gave.

Afterward, thirty of them were gathered at the Karen House for three weeks of formation. Sister Margaret Mbuba is the capable junior directress as well as the superior of Karen House. I spoke to the juniors about the life of St. Julie Billiart and then the joy of being a consecrated woman. I mentioned that laughing massages the liver. That night at supper the young Sisters at the table next to me were loud and boisterous. When I asked what was going on, they said, “We’re massaging our liver!”

Papua New Guinea

Several of our Sisters from Papua New Guinea now live in Africa. One evening two of them prepared a meal for us, as I explained in a previous post.

While I was in Karen House, Sister Rose from Papua New Guinea renewed her vows. A special holy hour was in her honor. The day before, I was asked to meet with her to prepare her for the day. After she renewed her vows, the community celebrated by encircling her and singing. She was given a basket of lollipops, which she passed around. Then she cut the traditional heart cakes with the junior director and me assisting.

Guardian Angels

In each convent where I stayed, a “guardian angel” saw to it that I was on time for events, helped me with meals, and explained things: Sisters Mary Mercy, Wompi, and Lucia (kneeling). On days when Sister Mercy was assisting with a surgery as part of her training as a surgical nurse, Sister Rose substituted. Sister Rose was so small that the Sisters told me I could fold her up and take her home in my carry-on!

More information about our African Sisters can be found at https://sndusa.org/east-africa-ministries/Here is another video of a 175th celebration: