CELEBRATION OF 100 YEARS
OF MSOLA PRESENCE IN KENYA
NAIROBI
The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA) are celebrating a century of their work in Kenya. The main celebration took place on September 8 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, South B, Nairobi, at 10 a.m. Archbishop Raphael Ndingi presided the celebration.
In his message, the archbishop insisted on the role of MSOLA in the education of girls in Kenya. Even today, he could "offer" the congregation different places for a new commitment in schools. The challenge is big!
In the entrance procession, Sr Jocelyne brought a enlarged Picture of Our Lady of Africa and Judith, a MSOLA postulant carried the centenary candle, decorated with the pelican and elements of the Kenyan flag.
At the beginning of the celebration, Sr Vicky Ciharhula, the MSOLA Regional of East Africa, introduced all the sisters and greeted the guests:
our brothers Missionaries of Africa, former students of "Star of the Sea" School in Mombasa, the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi, the Bannabikiira and Bayateresa Sisters from Uganda, all three founded by MSOLA and all those who joined us in the joy of the feast.
A Banyateresa Sister addressed the assembly in the reception hall.
Sr Gacambi, Superior General of the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi, one of the witnesses during the celebration.
A Bannabikiira Sister spoke to us during the reception.
Miss Belinda Rego, former student at
"Star of the Sea" School in Mombasa gave witness.
A Little Sister of Jesus; their foundress was trained by MSOLA and made her first profession on a 8th September.
Fr Paul Hannon of the Missionaries of Africa and Sr Jocelyne Morin, MSOLA Provincial of Africa, also gave witness.
Fr Paul insisted on the joy of having "sisters" on whom he could count as we belong to the same family.
Sr Jocelyne read from the message of the General Council united with us in the celebration.
In the offertory procession the following symbols were brought:
A picure of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, our founder
A picture of Mother Marie Salome, our first General Superior and co-foundress.
The pelican, chosen by the Cardinal with the motto of "Caritas"
A list with the names of all the sisters who have lived in Kenya in the past or are still living there.
A basket with different fruit as sign of our diversity
A palm tree as sign of our beginnings in Kenya at the coast of Mombasa.
It will be planted in the garden of the Provincial House.
To conclude the eucharistic celebration, all sisters and Fathers, as well as young people in formation, came in front and sang the "Sancta Maria".
In the reception hall at the Nairobi South Primary School, it was the time for entertainments by youth of the Parish, postulants and novices of the assumption sisters, and students of Mary Hill High School.
Sr Jocelyne received gifts for the MSOLA from different congregations, Small Christian Communities and the staff of Laini Saba Primary School where Sr Christine Bahati works as a teacher.
CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENARY IN LONDON AND TORONTO
“The White Sisters became my home. I was embraced as part of a family not just as a pupil...
For this I was grateful and always will be.” (Former student of Maryhill, Thika)
So a seed was planted and lived up to
today. God truly works marvels.
Ealing Abbey was the venue on 1st September for a unique occasion organised
by Mrs Jane de Souza and past students of Maryhill School, Thika and “Star
of the Sea”, Mombasa, Kenya
to celebrate “One Hundred years of the Presence
of the
Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa in Kenya”.
Fr Don Anderson Provincial of Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania, Frs George Smith, Fr Ted Wildsmith and Fr Alyward Shorter have ministered in Kenya and, together with Fr Pascal
Durand, they celebrated the Jubilee Mass.
In his homily Fr George recognised
the work the Sisters had done and commented on how practical they were in
answering the needs of the people they served.
A high point was the offertory during which symbols were offered - pictures
Cardinal Lavigerie our founder and Mother Marie Salome our first Superior
General, a Bible, a map of Kenya, the Pelican a symbol of self giving, a
list of the Sisters who have worked in Kenya and a large basket of fruit.
The past students had been asked to add what they experienced as the fruits
they had received from their time at our schools. Sr Maureen Marchant
commented on each symbol, and finally the bread and wine were offered as a
remembrance
“… of the joys, sufferings and achievements of all those who
have known, loved and been helped by our Sisters”.
Sr Daphne's sister had prepared the celebration
cake in the shape of Kenya decorated
with African trees and huts.
Sr Maggi, Sr Catherine, Sr Zita, Sr Maureen (from left)
The Mass was followed by a lunch to which all contributed. It was a great
time to meet people old and new and exchange stories. Sr Margaret Magrath,
now 97, former Head of Maryhill School, Thika near Nairobi, Kenya in the 60
s honoured us by her presence. Others present were Sr Christopher, Sr Zita
Cardozo, Sr Thecla de Souza, Sr Catherine Booth, UK Regional Superior,
Sr
Daphne Alphonso and Sr Maggi Kennedy, who have all been in Kenya. They were
joined by other Sisters who have served in Africa in Ghana, Malawi, Zambia,
Rwanda, Tanzania and Congo.
Celebrations have been held in Nairobi, Toronto and New Jersey.
It has been a global experience.
It brings to mind Jesus' words “Go and teach all nations”.
Sunday September 9. Payal Banquet Hall, 3410 Semenyk Court, Mississauga, ON.
Mass
at 11:00 a.m. followed by snacks, lunch and social.
Live Band in Attendance:
FOCUS.
$25.00 per person. Cash Bar.
Responsible: Vicki D’Souza or
Enoe De Souza or Laura Fernandes
ROME, August 24, 2007 (from CISA) - The following message was sent from the MSOLA Generalate in Rome to members of the congregation, the local Church and MSOLA friends in Kenya:
We are happy to share with you today our deep gratitude to the Lord as we remember the great love He has shown for the Church of Kenya and for us in the past 100 years.
Our thanksgiving begins with the arrival of the first two Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, Sister Restitute and Sister Thomas de villeneuve, in Mombasa, on April 21, 1907.They continued their journey and reached Nairobi the following. Bishop Emile-Auguste Allegeyer, C.S.Sp, proposed to them to go Mang’u (Thika), a rather remote place, 50km from Nairobi.
Our two pioneers left on May 2 and arrived four days later in their new destination. The rest of the community, Sisters St Martial, St Yves, Maximilienne and St Guillaume, joined them on August 7. They started a dispensary and multicultural school known later on as Mary Hill School.
We may say that the hearts of these women were set on fire! They left their countries of origin forever, because they had heard Jesus calling them to proclaim the Good News to all the people of Africa; that they may know Him and make Him known in turn. Unable to silence God’s love burning within, this love led them uphill and down dale to commit themselves at the service of their brothers and sisters in Kenya.
We are proud of them and proud to have been God’s instrument in helping the Sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary come to birth in the Church of Kenya, during a particularly troubled time.
Remarkable events
Some events have marked us:
In 1953, our sisters of Thika in charge of 150 children are surrounded by the Mau Mau (freedom fighters) and are pressured to evacuate. On the strength of their missionary committed to be all things to all people and faithful to our founders instruction, ‘not to hesitate before any difficulty not even death, when it is a question of extending the kingdom of God,’ the sisters stay on, in solidarity with the people who did not want to deny their faith even to the shedding of their blood.
It is in this climate of insecurity, that the Archbishop of Nairobi, Mgr Joseph McCarthy C.S.Sp., comes to ask Mother Majella, the Regional Superior of that time, to open a postulate for the future congregation of the Sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Our sisters (also known as white sisters) respond with enthusiasm to the archbishop’s request and to the expectation of these young women. The postulate is opened on February 2, 1955, with 13 postulants and 6 aspirants, and the novitiate on April 8, 1957, at Karibaribi.
Seventy years later, in 1976, the sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Kenyan staff took over the direction of the school and dispensary. The dream of our founder, Cardinal Lavigerie, was thus realised: “missionaries are to be initiators, for the lasting work will be done by the Africans themselves when they become Christians and apostles.”
Prophetic vision
It is not our aim right now to retell our history, so profoundly interwoven with yours. These hundred years lived among you have fashioned us. As daughters of Cardinal Lavigerie, we have tried to be true to his prophetic vision and to be open to the needs of the people in Kenya as situations unfolded and evolved.
Today, we simply want to celebrate with you in thanksgiving the welcome that our sisters received from those first Christian communities as well as the help and support that you have given us where we have lived and worked with you. We are also happy to recognise that action of the Holy Spirit who has called numerous missionary vocations among the sons and daughters of this country.
Indeed, there are plenty of reasons for our giving thanks to God! And so we enter this centenary year with the determination to continue with you the mission of Christ in Kenya.
Let us pray together to the Lord of the harvest that more and more young people of your country hear this call to go announce the Good News to other peoples in Africa and elsewhere.
May the charism which Cardinal Lavigerie received for the Church sink deep roots in the people of Kenya.
In this Centenary year for the missionary Sisters of Our lady of Africa, as well as for the Church of Kenya, may the Lord bless us and grant us to collaborate ever more in the proclamation of His Kingdom.
