Sr Mary Moraa Nyang’au, Fsp

With great joy and excitement, I arrived in the community of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania for my apostolic and community experience immediately after my first profession,  towards the end of July 2000. This was to be my community for the next three and half years of the first part of my juniorate. Truly I experienced the faithfulness of the Lord in my life and I came to believe more strongly in the words that Jesus confided in the founder, “do not be afraid I am with you.” These same words became my comfort in moments of darkness and trials.

In Dar Es Salaam, I worked in the bookshop, prepared weekly radio programs for Radio Tumaini, carried out vocation promotion and book displays in parishes and institutions. It was an enriching moment being the first time of living fully my consecrated life after the novitiate. It was very encouraging to see how much people appreciated our mission.

After my mission in Tanzania, I was transferred to Uganda where I went to study Philosophy and theology. Apart from being a student, I participated in book displays, prepared radio programs for Radio Maria and worked in the bookshop. It was nice to have another experience in another country where people equally appreciated our mission.

After my final profession in 2007, I was sent to open a new community in Juba, South Sudan together with three other sisters from Malta, Philippines and India. This was the first time I felt the challenge of language. After a few months of learning Arabic, it was easy to communicate and give hope to the people of South Sudan who had suffered in war. We together established the mission and the people were happy that they were now able to find books and bibles within their country.

I lived in Juba for two years and then I got transferred to Lusaka, Zambia. In Zambia, I worked in the bookshop, carried out book displays and vocation promotion within Zambia and in Malawi for five years. It was a great experience moving from one diocese to another with books, Bibles, CDs and DVDs. Any diocese we visited, people were happy to buy whatever they needed from us and they wanted us to stay in their diocese forever which was not practical for us.

Having enjoyed my mission in Lusaka, it was time again to go and start a new mission in Lilongwe Malawi with another sister. Since we had been visiting Malawi for some years from Lusaka, the people were so happy that we had finally come to stay. We started by setting up a bookshop in the sitting room and learning the local language in order to communicate with the people. Later on the bookshop was transferred from the sitting room to the container and people started visiting our bookshop to buy what they needed for their human and spiritual growth.

After my short stay in Lilongwe, I was transferred to Nairobi in Kenya where I worked at the Catholic Bookshop for seven years. At the Catholic Bookshop, I met people from all parts of Kenya and beyond. Most of those who visited the bookshop showed a lot of appreciation at the diversity of the stock, while other people needed some guidelines on how to live their Catholic Faith. It was fulfilling to be of help to the people while at the Catholic Bookshop.

At the moment, am back to Juba, South Sudan. I pray and hope that our presence in this nation may bring hope for a better future to the South Sudanese who have suffered a lot due to constant civil wars.

Sr Elizabeth Mukami, Fsp

 “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mk 16:15)

The joy of a missionary derives from the understanding and commitment to this invitation of Jesus. Ours is a missionary institute – Pious Society of the Daughters of St Paul. Our founder Bl. James Alberione noted, “the world is our parish”. He opened communities all over the globe. We his daughters and sons live in these communities and continue to open new ones following in his footsteps. I have been privileged to live and work in six of these nations; Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and currently South Sudan. Often I have worked in diffusion and youth ministry for vocations, sectors in which by their nature allowed me to travel the world. Other times I worked in the book centre and served the people who visited us daily for spiritual nourishment. in either of these sectors there is joy in seeing the people’s yearning for the Word of God.

After my first profession I was sent to Zambia where I lived for three years. This was a fulfilling experience especially as I began my life as a religious missionary fresh from Novitiate. I travelled extensively across Zambia; from Copperbelt to Livingstone to Kasama, with Sr Mary Moraa who was responsible for diffusion at that time. We displayed books in many parishes and schools, from kindergartens to universities. We pitched our tent at town square in Copperbelt where people from all walks of life would pass and purchase books. Other times we met our sisters from Congo at Kasumbalesa, the border of Congo and Zambia and exchanged books, they would give us French bibles and we would give them various books in English.

In 2014, during the 18^th AMECEA Plenary in Malawi, we crossed the border with our vehicle and stayed at the Poor Clares Monastery displaying our materials to the AMECEA delegates till the meeting was over.  After that we visited a few parishes and then returned to Zambia. When our community was eventually opened in Malawi I was sent from Lusaka to give a helping hand in arranging the books in the new bookstore which was a container. I was happy to see a dream come true, people often asked us when would go to stay fully in Malawi.

As a student at Tangaza University College in 2016, I got another opportunity to work in Malawi for two months and a half during the long holidays. Malawi seems to have had a soft spot for me, after final profession I was commissioned there and indeed I was delighted. I stayed for a short time though. I was transferred to Tanzania and continued my missionary experience for about two years. Now I am in South Sudan. Missionary experience for me has been an interesting adventure with the Lord. I often asked him, “Where to this time Lord.” The secret of my joyful experience I believe is detachment and openness to the will of God. This helps in adjusting and letting  go of current plans in order to settle with ease in the new ones that the Lord presents.

Missionary life is an enriching experience that cannot leave one the same. Interacting with people of different cultures, language, beliefs and practices I have come to see how ‘Big’ our God is. The Zambians will present you with their ‘Binkubala’(a type of catepillar) delicacy, the Malawians the blackjack (wild plant) as vegetables and by the time you sit around one tray scooping ‘nsima’ (Ugali) with the rest of the clan, you will have shed all your prejudices and become part of  ‘US’. It is not as easy as it sounds though. It requires courage and an unwavering faith in Jesus.

Appreciating the differences in our cultures breaks down walls and we begin to share life freely. This leads to transformation. Learning the language of the people and eating their food are key elements in making an impact in their lives. I did not manage to eat the ‘Binkubalas’ but as for dishing from the same plate and blackjack and several others I managed, plus speaking the language of the people; they always appreciated the effort. A renown author wrote, “evangelization is like one beggar telling the other where he got food.” I would say as one preacher said that if you love me say it often because I forget. Missionary life is about reminding people that God loves them and He is among them no matter what they are going through or how far they have gone way from Him. This we do not necessarily with a myriad of words and promises but with a life of joyful witness among them.

Sr Hellen Joseph Ndiang’ui, Fsp

The word missionary commonly refers to a religious person sent to a foreign nation to evangelize the gospel to the peoples as per the mission of his or her congregation. However, it would also apply to a religious person evangelizing in his or her own country. As a Daughter of St Paul, one can either be sent to bring the good news to the people in another nation or to evangelize in her home country. My missionary experience is characterized by evangelizing both within and out of my home country Kenya.

In 2006, I went to Tanzania for apostolic and community experience as a novice for three months. I was inserted in the Catholic bookshop where I carried out the apostolate. It was exciting attending to people of all walks of life including bishops, clergy, religious men and women as well as lay faithful. Time to time, I would also air radio programs on faith. Kiswahili being the official language of the country, I had to polish my Kenyan Swahili and adapt to the one of Tanzania in my communication. In 2007, after my first profession, I was sent to evangelize in Lagos, Nigeria. My main apostolate was in the bookshop and diffusion. We visited seminaries, parishes, attended conferences and any other event that would need our presence. It was always interesting to go and meet people who really appreciated our mission. I could understand well the zeal of Jesus and St Paul moving from place to place in order to draw more people closer to God.

I returned to Kenya in 2010 for studies and mission. For the past twelve years, I have been involved in vocation work and animation to the young people, forming our young sisters, video production, and, carrying out diffusion in seminaries, parishes, schools and conferences. It is always my joy to see many people thirsting for the Word of God and being enriched by our materials. I am now based in the Archdiocese of Kisumu. My main apostolate is to promote and market our publications and productions. There are many opportunities here and the neighbouring dioceses for our mission. At times I am overwhelmed where to start or end. But the Lord who has given us this mission always guides us on how to go about it. I am a happy Daughter of St Paul and I am contented in carrying out the mission in my home country.

Sr Catherine Ocharo, Fsp

It takes the grace of God and a continuous response to His call

My vocation is a gift from God.  It’s so unique and different from another person’s vocation. Why so?  Simply because my response to God’s call is unique from Sr. A’s response to her call. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how long it takes one to say a yes to following of Christ’s call in the consecrated life, but rather the daily response to this call or Yes.

My experience so far is a continuous collaboration with the Lord through prayers. I ask Him questions on how he wants to lead me and this calls for my readiness to listen to Him. My family too has always supported me with prayers and by allowing me to respond to the call of Christ.

As I continue to grow I realize that it takes an individual effort to remain focused in one’s call. It’s a moment of self- evaluation, time to be in touch with my creator through pondering of His Word of Life.

Therefore, I encourage everyone who feels called to allow the Lord do His work and our part is to collaborate with the graces that He has put before us.

Sr. Noel Lucy Nangira, Fsp.

One of the many blessings and opportunities as a missionary is to share the joy of the Gospel with the people all over the world. As a missionary in Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Nairobi and South Sudan, I experienced different cultures, religious beliefs, languages, weather and even food. The objective of embracing the missionary life is to preach and live the Word of God, so that it reaches everyone, especially those on the existential and thought peripheries.

I had a touching experience when I was in South Sudan, an Arabic speaking community. Being the Pauline Year of the Bible, I was introduced into giving seminars and inputs on the Word of God. Most of the Christians were interested and yearning to listen to the Word of God explained to them. Language was no longer a barrier, since there was always a person who would translate my message. This gave me the strength to be with the people and to live among them.

Another unforgettable experience I had was going for book displays in different parishes, whereby I met various people, young and old. These people were all yearning for the Word of God. I felt that they understood that they are part of the universal Church and that they are missionaries too, in their own countries.

This experience brought me back to when I was aspiring to become a Daughter of St. Paul.  I would buy books from the Sisters to read, and radio cassettes listen to Christian music. Little did I know that those were the early days of my preparation for this ministry. I realize today that that was the joy of the Gospel, not a job to accomplish that gave me fulfilment as I represent each of the Sisters, the Congregation and the people whom they are serving, near or far.

It is the virtue of generosity that allows us to become fully human.  By nature, we are made to love, loving our neighbours whose culture and language and way of life may be different from ours. Not only are we to be generous with our financial resources, but we are also invited to be generous in everything that we do.

It’s a delight to hear from the people who are grateful that they are part of the mission of Christ, even if they don’t go to the mission territories. Through their financial support and prayers, his mission continues to spread to the ends of the earth. I thank the Lord each day for all these hidden missionaries as together we help to build the Kingdom of God.

Sr. Pushpa, fsp

My mission experience is very vast. I had been longing and desiring to be a Missionary from my childhood. At first, it was only  a desire to become a sister. As we were growing up, in Sunday School we used to get Priests who came from Mission places and they used to speak to us about their life and work in the Mission areas. I was eager to listen to them and it instilled in me a desire to be a missionary. I prayed earnestly to the Lord for this grace and the good Lord answered me beyond my expectation. 

I am 33 years in Africa as a missionary. In 1989 the General Government was looking for  sisters who would like to go to Africa as Missionaries and the Province asked for volunteers. I volunteered and was accepted. I came to Tanzania in 1990. I was very ignorant about everything. Sr. Clare was in Tanzania then and I felt a bit consoled, as there was a person I knew. I remember asking her if I need an umbrella. Is there rain in Africa etc? The first shock was, how I was going to differentiate one person from another because to me all looked alike. After few days in the community I went to learn Kiswahili language. While I was there, pope John Paul 11 visited the country. I was privileged to meet him close by to kiss his hand and receive a holy rosary from him. I remained in Dar Es Salaam until 1995 when I was transferred to Nairobi. I was helping Sr. Marriuccia while I was there. I used to go for Book displays and  some time to help in the Bookshop.

In October 1996 I was transferred to Kampala where I did more of diffusion, taking books to the dioceses of Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale more than once. Fr. Peter Bakka a priest from the diocese of Masaka was a great help in our Mission. He used to accompany us and animate the students about the importance of reading. He was a good animator and there are times we stayed in schools past midnight. God’s grace and protection was always accompanied us. I am grateful to God for using me as an instrument to bring His message to many people. In the year 2005, I was sent to Nigeria to open the community in Abuja. We were three chosen ones. Sr. Thomasina Madavath, Sr. Rosalinda and Me. At first it was Sr. Rosalinda and I in Abuja. We Stayed in the place of Sir Osunde, one of our benefactor. We had two rooms, kitchen and a sitting room cum refectory. the St. Patrick fathers gave part of a container to stock our Books. We had also some stock in our sitting room on the shelves.

While we were there, we had displays every Sunday. We organized two Sundays in one Parish so as to give people better chance to have our books and audiovisuals. We visited all the seminaries in Nigeria twice a year. We also visited schools in Abuja and surrounding  area. Once Sr. Theresa came for a meeting to Abuja and we were invited for supper by Fr. Patrick Alumuk to holy rosary Parish. We spoke with him about having a bookshop and he immediately took us to a building, that was under construction. It was being built for radio station and to print the diocesan newspaper and for offices. It was far from finishing. There was a basement, which we could use. We shifted our stock of books there as it was close to our residence. We began to operate from there as bookshop. When we were not out on displays or visiting seminaries we were available for the people. Eventually we were given a place for the bookshop in the same building. So the basement was our store.

In June 2006, we opened the bookshop in Abuja and then I got transferred to Lagos. While there I worked in the bookshop and did diffusion in schools. From there I went for Charism course. While I was in Rome I was asked to go to Juba which was opened in January 2008. In Juba we visited schools and parishes for diffusion. But in December 2013 war broke out and things were no longer the same. In 2014, I went to India for a renewal course. In 2015, from India I went to  Dar Es Salaam. In 2019, I was sent to Juba again. And last year with the opening of a new community in Kisumu, I was requested to be part of the pioneers to which I accepted willingly. That is where I am currently continuing  my missionary experience.