By Godwin Abedican

Arua

Two Nuns, Sr. Mary Faustine from Oli Parish Arua catholic diocese who took her first vow in 2014 and Sr. Mary Gertrude from Useri parish from Tanzania Moshi catholic diocese who took their first vow on 25^th January 2019 have taken their final vows to be in the community of the Benedictine sister of perpetual adoration at the holy monastery in Ediofe. This comes as the vow that ties them to the vocation having passed through temporary vows.

Sr. Mary Jacinta Okusaru, the Local prioress at holy trinity Monastery in Ediofe while explaining the meaning of the final vows says this is lifelong decision one makes. “These ones who have taken solemn professions, they have been renewing already for six years their temporary vows. They took their first temporary vows 6 years ago and they have seen that this is where God wants them to serve, to live the rest of their lives here. This is a final vow which is taken for life.” She explained.

While presiding over the event at the holy, trinity monastery in Ediofe by Mgr. Kabeya Janvier, the episcopal vicar of the religious in Arua diocese, called upon the sisters in their community to always live in a holy way as people imagine about them. “What we put outside for people to see is the sign post of what is supposed to be inside. So the real habit of what we have chosen to be is our way of life which should include generosity, humility patience, compassion and forgiveness. That is why our Benedictine sisters are there to show us in our behavior among ourselves how we live our lives, especially concerning our relationship within us and also the people with whom we work” Mgr. Kabeya said.

He adds that there are many times the religious people do things that discourage the young from joining the vocations including careless quarrels and irresponsible drinking of alcohol “Do we know how much we scandalize some young people from joining us? That’s why we say the true habit is the way we deal with people not the external sign post. This is how we shutter sometimes the vocation. As people of God we are supposed to be models and exemplary in life” he noticed.

Both sisters had sad moments to meet towards their final vows as Sr. Mary Faustine lost her grandfather who supported her so much in the quest to join the vocation 3 weeks to the final vow meanwhile Sr. Mary Gertrude lost her father just 2 weeks to her final vow. Due to distance, the relatives of Sr. Mary Gertrude could not travel from Tanzania to Uganda to witness her final vows.

 
The main celebrant Msgr. Kabeya Janvier signs the vows

Geoffrey Niku, who represented the late father of Sr. Gertrude says it takes dedication for one to take on a vocation such as this. “At this time when everybody is thinking about himself or herself, how they can progress in life and how they can sustain life, it is very very rare to get persons that surrender their lives to the Lord. I want to thank God for his grace that we still have faith in this land that we can nature our people in to people who can give themselves to the Lord. This is the greatest offer that someone can offer to the Lord,” Niku said.

He encourages the Christian community to always put the religious in their prayers since the devil always has battles with them. “At the same time the devil is not happy that we are crushing his head by continuing to have these kinds of vocations. This vocation is very difficult. Without the spirit of God, you cannot sustain here even only for one hour. Have love for God, have faith that everything if surrendered to Him He is everything, be a friend of Jesus be a friend of mother Mary, talk to her,” he encouraged the new sisters.

This however came as a surprise to Joyce Candiru mother to Sr. Mary Faustine as she says, it was hard for her to believe that her family could produce a reverend sister and if the choice her daughter made would one day come to be a dream achieved. “This girl was a choir member and one day a priest came to us and said she had expressed  interest in joining the vocation of sisterhood and later on she opened up to me about the same which I initially doubted. But eventually it has happened and I am happy that it happened. All I say is thanks to God and I wish her well in the vocation,” she said happily.

During her thanks giving speech, Sr. Mary Faustine says, much as there were a lot of challenges she went through, a lot still lies ahead. “Sometimes it is true that we sisters are hard. I am a sister and I have witnessed this. It is a challenge for us the religious, we need to get back and look at ourselves and be flexible to others, making sure we are an example to other people outside,” she said. “We thank our mentors for accepting us the way we are and always being there for us. I know we are weak and we are not the best. But since the weaknesses of human beings are known, we have been accepted the way we are,” Sr. Faustine added.
 
Sr. Gadtrude (Left) and Sr. Faustine (right) take their seats after taking their vows

This profession of the final vow is only allowed to take place when both parents consent to it and also the one professing consents to do so, less than that, it is not allowed. The two new sisters added to the community of Benedictine sisters takes their total number from the initial 33 to 35 at the monastery.

COVER PHOTO: The two Sisters standing with their parents as their prepare to take their final vows By Godwin Abedican