On the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we celebrated the final vows of our Sr. Elizabeth Ludovick Marandu, SAC, Sr. Suzan Amon Kimario, SAC, and Sr. Yohana Dominico Shauri, SAC and the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Sr. Adela Bonaventure Mnyambii, SAC, Sr. Adolphina Henrico Kilu, SAC and Sr. Maria Bernado Ipwaya, SAC. This occasion took place at Christ the King Parish, Siuyu, Tanzania.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by his Excellence Right Rev. Bishop Edward Mapunda, the Bishop of Singida, and co-celebrated by a number of priests from Singida and other places. It was a moment of thanksgiving to God for the gift of life, the call into religious life, and perserverance in religious life as well as in marriage life as we also celebrated the 40th anniversary of Mr. Allan and Patricia, who are our friends from Ireland and voluntered to work at Pallotti Girls School for some years.
In his homily, Bishop Mapunda congratulated the sisters for responding to God’s call and their willingness to serve in religious life through the Pallottine Sisters. In celebrating the final vows of our sisters we celebrate the gift of live and our response to divine call. The bishop stressed that, the sisters have a great contribution in the role of evangelization, through their mission and apostolate. He encoraged the sisters to take Our Lady of Sorrors as their role model, since the joy of serving the Lord in religious life, at times may be accompanied with difficulties which must be accepted with faith and trust in the Lord. It is through perserverance in prayers and trust in the Lord, that the sisters are able to celebrate their silver Jubilee.
In celebrating Our Lady of Sorrors, our Lord Jesus Christ, entrusted us to Mother Mary, so we are to rely on her prayers in our daily life. Through the prayers of Mary, we should be able to carry on our apostolate. Imitating the example of Mary in perseverance in prayers will help us to see God in every moment of our life, both in joyous and sorrowful times, he added. The bishop reminded the sisters that, the goal of religious life is to “attain holiness”. By all means, those who made their final vows, celebrating silver Jubilee and rubby anniversary of their wedding, should keep focus on Jesus, as they journey towards holiness. The journey towards holiness is an invitation to all the baptized, he insisted.
The bishop appreciated the work done by the sisters in various institutions, and acknowledged that, the Church is flourishing due to the presence of the sisters in the society, and their apostolate. The call into religious is the gift and grace from God. So, the bishop thanked the attendees of the occasion, for valuing the gift of live and the call into religious life.
In this celebration, Sr. Genoveva John Salanga, the Provincial Superior of Mary Queen of Peace Province, congratulated the sisters who made their final vows and the jubilarians. She encouraged them to be the source of hope in the society as we celebrate the Jubilee of Hope, 2025. Sr. Genoveva also presented to the final professed sisters, the Pope’s blessings and approval for their commitment into religious life, as well as a note of congratulations to the jubilarians and blessings from the Holy Father.
Text: Sr. Glory Mwakitele, SAC, and Sr. Ernestina Patrick Lasway, SAC
Photos: Sr. Erenstina Patrick Lasway, SAC