2018/01

January-March/Issue

Missionary Benedictine Sisters, P.O. Box 1 Ndanda via Mtwara, Tanzania, East Africa E-mail: [email protected]:+255785240091Web:www.ndanda-priory.org

chapter members

St. Primary School

Among the blessings that God showered on us this year is the opening of St. Michael Arch Angel Primary School in Mtwara on 25th January 2018. A number of sisters from priory house and formation members attended the occasion. Some sisters from St. Agnes Nyangao community and St. Tekla were present. Fr. Patrick Mwaya the Vicar General of Mtwara diocese and Fr. Hubert the chaplain of Stella Maris University of Mtwara did the blessing of the school.

01.

We sang with joy, praised and thanked God for what He has done for us. We thanked Sr. Raphaela for planning everything and made sure that the school is accomplished in time so that the children may start schooling this year. The children also thanked the sisters for the good service given to them. May God bless this apostolate so that we may offer quality education to the children of Mtwara and nearby.

By Sr. Agnes Mrosso

Religious Day

On 2nd February 2018, Brothers and sisters, celebrated religious day at Ndanda Abbey. Benedictine Brothers, sisters of St. Francis, Benedictine sisters of Imiliwaha, diocesan Benedictine Sisters of Ndanda and Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, gathered at Ndanda Abbey church at 17: 00pm. Fr. Christian Temu gave reflection which lasted for 45 minutes. He put emphasis on consecrated life and mission. We had integrated Holy Mass with Vespers. Abbot Placidus was the main celebrant. The mass started with lighting the candles outside the church and in procession we entered the church singing joyfully. After Holy Mass we had supper in the Abbey hall then we thanked the Lord for the good day He has given us.

By Postulant Selina

02. Seminar for the Juniors

Junior brothers and sisters had seminar on “Challenges of religious life”, from February 5 to 9, 2018. 7 Brothers from Ndanda Abbey, 6 brothers from Peramiho Abbey, 3 sisters from Benedictine diocesan congregation Ndanda, 3 Salvatorian Sisters, 4 Mary Immaculate Sisters and 6 Missionary Benedictine Sisters were participants.

In the evening of 5th, we had introduction given by Fr. Christian Temu OSB. The following days we reflected on the Gospel of St. Luke 12:51. “Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division”. The coming of Jesus Christ in this world brings division among the people and being in religious life, we cannot escape this. Challenges are there for our purification, we have to embrace them. We also reflected our relationship with Christ through Evangelical Counsels. As religious people, we strive to build up our relationship with Christ and with each other in our communities. In our communities we strive to be humble, prudent, modest and unifying people. Conflict are unavoidable, we have to find ways to bring unity. We have to pray to God for humility and readiness to forgive. Living our vows in community we experience “How good and how pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live in unity”. Ps: 133:1

By Sr. Mary Agnes

03. Good bye and God Bless, Sr. Marissa!

Saturday of 27th January 2018, sisters and formandies bade farewell to Sr. Marissa Piramide OSB. Sr. Marissa stayed in Ndanda priory for 4 years. We all performed our numbers with grateful heart for the service she offered to us.

We Novitiate members will miss her so much as she was teaching us English songs for Holy Mass and entertainments. We will miss her as she taught as care for creation, Congregation history, Rule of St. Benedict, Consecrated Life, Music, and how to handle with care goods of the .

We thank Sr. Marissa for her service she offered here in Ndanda priory and May God bless you. Welcome again our dear Sr. Marissa at Ndanda priory.

By Novice Grace

04. Pilgrimage to Pugu

Every year Arch diocese of Dar-es- Salaam organize pilgrimage to Pugu in January to remember our sisters and brothers who were murdered by Bushiri regime.

This year the pilgrimage was on 11th January. Sr. Adili and Sr. Neema presented our priory. Before Holy Mass at 8:30 AM, had Stations of the Cross led by a group of Legio Maria. At 10:00Am Holy Mass started and the main celebrant was Cardinal Pengo the Arch of Dar-es-Salaam. Homily was given by Abbot Pambo Mkorwe of Mvimwa Monastery. The readings were of the Baptism of our Lord. The abbot said whenever we celebrate baptism of our Lord we have to remember the promises we make at Easter vigil. We are to live to what we promise but sometimes we find ourselves living what we don’t promise and promise what we don’t live. Each one of us has to ask himself/herself, which category do I belong?

By Sr. Adili

Seminar For the Postulants

Benedictine brothers organized a seminar for the postulants of the missionary Benedictine sisters and postulants of the abbey.

05.

Seminar took place at Zakeo spiritual centre and Fr. Philbert OSB was the facilitator. The seminar was for 5 days, starting from February 19 to 23, 2018. The theme of our seminar was sharing the Word of God in our communities, with the people we work with and with Small Christian Communities. Fr. Philbert gave the theory and Fr. Christian did meditation with us every day in the morning. On 23rd, we had pilgrimage to the mountain where the cross of the early missionaries is erected. We came back from the mountain full of spirit. We thank God for the gift of life and religious vocation. We thank our mother prioress and the whole community for giving us this opportunity. May God bless you all.

By postulants, Selina and Chrispiana

Mahiwa Students Mahiwa students visit sisters at St. Agnes Nyangao community regularly after Sunday Mass. Mahiwa is about 5kms from Nyangao but students come earlier before Holy Mass. They feel comfortable to share with sisters and seek for spiritual guidance.

I take time to explain to them about our Founder and our Congregation, our pioneer brothers and sisters at Pugu and Nyangao. How our pioneers offered their lives for God and for us.

06. Some boys asked about our brothers of Ndanda Abbey. I shared a bit of their life and luckily I had some photos of the brothers pronouncing the vows, to show them.

They were moved to hear our touching history. Students are eager to hear and share their views. They need our guidance and our prayers so that they may be good Christians.

By Sr Febronia

Reception into Formal Aspirancy

The Feast of St. Benedict was a special day for us seven Aspirants. It was the day when we were accepted as Formal Aspirants. Before that we had 2 days recollection guided by our Directress Sr.Fides. She explained to us the Gospel of St. Luke 9:57-62, “The hardships of the apostolic calling”. Mark 1: 18-20. “The call of the First Four disciples”. 1Samuel 3: 1-20 “God calls ”. We had enough time to reflect and pray over it.

07. On Wednesday, March 21, at 5:30pm, we gathered in the chapter room. Mama Terese led the prayer and she explained to us the Gospel of St. Luke 9: 57-62, the hardships of the apostolic calling. Jesus is calling us to follow Him and to belong to Him. His voice causes excitement and attraction. We have to quiet our mind and heart in prayer in order to listen and hear with the ears of our hearts.

We are very happy and thank our Ndanda priory for what they have done for us. We pray that God may reward you and increase vocation in our priory. Please pray for us so that we may follow Jesus Christ faithfully and happily.

By Aspirant, Juliana, Easter, Pieta, Christina, Happiness, Fortunata and Florentina

Blessings upon blessings

God has blessed us with different kinds of fruits and He arranged it that always there is one kind or two kinds of fruits to be found at our table. We are obliged to thank Him for unending blessings.

Custard fruits

08.

Oranges Rosella

Sour sop fruit Blooming rosella

Two months ago we enjoyed mangoes. Then followed by passion fruits, custard fruits, sour sop fruits and oranges, which we are still enjoying them. Bananas have no season, they are there in the garden throughout the year. Tangerines and pawpaw will come after.

09.

All these kinds of fruits do rotate year after year. In such situation people can take it for granted and forget to thank the Lord who has arranged it. This year God also has blessed us with rosella in our garden and Liundu farm. We thank You Lord for all the blessings in our garden and Liundu farm. May Your Name be glorified.

By Sr. Dafrosa

Coordinator,Sr.Dafrosa OSB

10.