St. B e n e d i c t P r i o r y Windhoek, Namibia WPN 64 January- May 2015 A BLESSED PENTECOST TO ALL!

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1 St. B e n e d i c t P r i o r y Windhoek, Namibia WPN 64 January- May 2015 A BLESSED PENTECOST TO ALL! In his homily on Easter Vigil 2015, Pope Francis said, The women had kept watch, they went forth and they entered into the Mystery. May we learn from them to keep watch with God and with Mary our Mother, so that we too may enter into the Mystery which leads from death to life. Yes, may we not remain prisoners of fear and sadness, but at the first light of dawn, we go out carrying our ointments, our hearts anointed with Love. May the Holy Spirit bind us together in our Missionary Benedictine way of life in all corners of the world. And like St. Benedict, may we all come to know God s Spirit through the desire for prayer and meditation. As we are united in the Coming of the Holy Spirit, may we share with you our Ora et Labora and activities during the Seasons of Lent and Easter. Wishing you all A Happy and Blessed Pentecost! Looking Back at the Juniors Program in Casa Santo Spirito/ Rome By Sr. Anselma Samuel, OSB I thank Mother Maria Ignatius and her Council for allowing me to participate in the Juniors Program from September 2013 to August I cannot forget my fellow Junior participants: Sr. Agnes from Ndanda Priory, Sr. John Paul from Jinja Community, Uganda, Sr. Laura from Sorocaba Priory, Sr. Mary Benedict from Daegu Priory. We had a fruitful course and I was inspired a lot. We had our classes throughout the year: Our Constitutions was taught by Mother Angela, the Rule of St Benedict by Sr Aquinata, the History of our Congregation and the History of the Church by Sr Matilda, Vows and Financial Management by Sr Caridad, Music by Sr Marie Bruno, Evangelii Gaudium by Sr Lumen Gloria, our Vicaress General, Projects Cross stages with Sr. Carmel and Pilgrimage and Apostolate with Sr Salete. Since our Benedictine motto is Ora et Labora, I was assigned to help in the laundry, refectory and in the chapel. I tried by all means to associate with every Sister by looking at their individual needs. The Generalate had given us an opportunity to visit the Basilica of St Peter with its beauty and the tombs of many Popes inside it. It was good for me to refresh my eyes by looking at the beauty of the church and to reflect during our visit to the Basilica of St Maria Maggiore, the Benedictine Monastery of St Anselmo and many more. During the IWE, we, the Juniors had an opportunity to join them to Monte Cassino, Nursia, the place where St Benedict was born, Subiaco and Assisi. I was inspired a lot to see the birthplace of our patron and his 1

2 family s way of life. The Sisters of Casa community tried their best to nurture good seeds in us for the good of our future as well as for our respective priories and the whole Congregation. My hearty thanks and God s blessings to Mother Angela Strobel and her Council, Sr Daniela and all the Sisters in the Casa who have formed and molded us during our one year stay with them. To all of you my dear Sisters and fellow formation members, thank you for your prayers. May the Lord continue to bless us as we work to build and strengthen his kingdom. Feast of Sts. Maur and Placid by Sr. Anselma Samuel,OSB How did we celebrate the Feast of Sts. Maur and Placid on January 15, 2015? Since the beginning of January, all of us in Initial Formation at the Priory House were looking forward to this special day which is celebrated only once a year. We began the morning with Lauds which was led by the Formandees. Everything went smoothly; one can imagine the angelic voices of the Aspirants, Postulants, Novices and Junior Sisters singing at the top of our voices during the Divine Office. The holy mass began with the Formandees leading the entrance procession followed by the dancers. Presided by Fr Linus Ngenomesho OMI, the mass was well prepared even the birds outside the chapel were singing and rejoicing with us. After holy mass, we had our breakfast which was blessed by Fr Linus, who joined us. Mother Mary Thomas and the Sisters sang to us and congratulated us. Our places in the refectory were very well decorated with different placemats, special and beautiful flowers I have never seen before. We had delicious food and drinks and everything was well prepared. After an enjoyable lunch, we prepared our snacks and climbed the mountain in the compound of the Priory House. We really enjoyed admiring God s creation, singing and dancing on top of the mountain. At evening recreation, we had a short program to share our talents with the community. We presented different numbers and laughed a lot. We thank Mother Prioress Mary Thomas for allowing us to start the Divine Office and ring the bell in the refectory at least once a year. We also thank the Sisters for their prayers and community spirit. Through Sts. Maur and Placid, may we follow their good example and may they intercede for young Benedictines all over the world that we may grow in grace and in number. That in all things God may be glorified! Namibian OSB-Tutzing Sisters Sent to Overseas Mission By Novice Marianna Joseph It was on a Sunday when both Sr. Maria Paula Mwendjilile,OSB (03 February 2015) and Sr. Mary Clemens Hamukoto, OSB ( 22 February 2015) joyfully received their mission cross from Mother Mary Thomas Prado, OSB during the simple but meaningful mission sending rite within the holy mass in our chapel. Fr. Rick Bauer, MM, presider, blessed them, the mission cross and the bible symbolic of the Word of God they will proclaim. Both missionaries asked for God s strength and faithfulness to love Him wherever they go. 2

3 Sr. Maria Paula left for her mission assignment in Argentina on 03 February 2015, while Sr. Mary Clemens left for Bulgaria on 02 March We thanked them for their willingness and courage to go to foreign mission. In turn, both thanked the whole community for their prayers and love. This sending of Namibian Sisters to overseas mission is a radical shift in our Priory. As an international congregation, Windhoek Priory has been a recipient of foreign missionaries for many years. Now we have become a sending priory. Namibian Sisters are participating in God s mission in Rome, Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Bulgaria. We thank God for this call and we wish our overseas missionaries God s blessings in their mission that it may bear fruit for the kingdom. National Ontwaak Youth Choir Visits Nubuamis by Sr. Maria Goretti Nekaro, OSB On February 7, 2015, about 70 members of the National Ontwaak Youth Choir from the South and the East of Namibia visited our Priory House. They heard mass and ate breakfast at Poor Clares Monastery before coming to us that morning. Though they seem to be in their 40s or 50s, they call themselves Ontwaak Youth Choir (In Afrikaans, ontwaak means awake ) because they are always awake and young to sing for the Lord. We welcomed them in our chapel where we prayed and sang together the songs which they led. They also asked questions about our charism, qualifications and requirements for entrance to our Congregation which Sr Remedios and Sr Marie Therese answered. The choir leader shared how they started their group with only few members until they spread out nationwide. They gathered at Holy Redeemer Parish in Katutura, Namibia for their opening national level meeting this year, Interacting with the Ontwaak Choir members is important to vocation promotion because nowadays some parents are not permitting their children to join religious life due to lack of knowledge regarding the religious vocation. This group was happy and they said that they were going to share with their children what they heard about religious life. Carnival, Carnival, Carnival!!! by Sr. Gabriella Pangeni, OSB What comes to mind first when we talk about Carnival? Surely, it s a joyful day filled with different fun things, games, costumes and saying goodbye to joyful moments for Lent is about to begin. The Priory House Community celebrated Carnival 2015 in a wonderful and enjoyable way on Tuesday, February 17, We participated in the games and dances which Sr. Dagmar Romanov, OSB organized well. She provided colorful hats, wigs and masks. A hundred or more balloons were hung up in the Community Room. After supper, everyone hurried to her room to wear what she prepared for the Carnival. Wow! you can t imagine unless you were there present. The colourful evening began with music and some photo-taking. Sr Remedios de los Reyes, OSB was the disc jockey of the event. Everybody was to participate in the different games in order to get a prize after 3

4 winning despite the challenges of the game. Even those who didn t take part got something too. Some of those prizes were big bite biscuits, face towels, candies and many more. The night ended with grand silence leading us into Ash Wednesday the next day. With quiet mind and reflective hearts we began to journey with our dear Saviour for 40 days in the wilderness of pains and sufferings. Our Initiation into the Novitiate by Novice Katalina Nzaro, Novice Clementine Ndara and Novice Hendelina Musungu We started our retreat on the February 14, 2015, with Sr. Agrippina Ashipala, OSB as our facilitator. She said that a retreat is a turning over of our own selves and past life to God. Prayer and silence work together. If a person is not silent, she cannot pray. Our good works will never replace prayer. Sr. Agrippina gave us texts from the bible for our reflection. We concluded our retreat by asking Mother Mary to be our role model and resolving to be faithful to our vocation. On February 21, 2015, all the Sisters and formation members gathered in the Chapter Room to witness our admission into the Novitiate. Mother Mary Thomas Prado, OSB said that the responsibility is in the hand of the community to form us as new novices in the Benedictine way of life. She continued by saying that the community must not fail us. The good example they give us today will be the example we will give to those who will come after us. Their good example will also be the seeds for the future of our priory and the congregation. To us new novices, Mother Mary Thomas said that our responsibility is to live according to the Benedictine values, to live under a superior and to persevere in this way of life. Again she said that the veil is a visible sign of our calling, but not a sign that our life will become easier or that we will do whatever we want or what we like. Furthermore, the veil, Our Constitutions and Holy Rule will bring us not to a rosy garden but will bring us to the cross, to a life of total self-giving to let God be God in our lives. They will bring us to the fullness of who we are and to that deep and lasting joy that the world will never be able to give nor an amount of success, pleasure, or comfort we can provide. We are blessed to be in this stage of religious formation on this Year of the Consecrated Life. May God complete what He has begun in us. Thank you and kindly accompany us with your prayers. Acceptance of Three Observers to Aspirancy 2015 Insert: Mother Mary Thomas assisted by Sr. Marie Therese Ameya (Aspirant Directress) officially accepted our three Observers: Helvi Matias of the Archdiocese of Windhoek and Justina Hairwa and Mariane Sirongo of Rundu Vicariate during a simple Rite of 4

5 Acceptance in the Chapter Room on February 22, Okatunda St. Benedict Church Youth Retreat by Sr. Sr. Remedios de los Reyes, OSB The Okatunda St. Benedict Church is located in the slum area around 5 kms. from the Priory House. Most people of the area are poor and they live in the shacks built of corrugated iron sheets and cardboard boxes which do not have electricity and water. As our neighboring Church, one or two Sisters from the Priory House used to visit and help the Church group activities like leading the Legion of Mary and teaching Catechism. since last December, 2014, Sr. Simon Lee, OSB and other Sisters from the Roman Catholic Hospital have volunteered every Sunday to help the Church especially the students. When Sr. Simon heard about the rampant teenage pregnancy of the girls during their schooling, she planned to have a retreat for year old girls. On March 1, 2015, 78 students registered for the retreat. As preparation for the retreat, Sr. Simon gave each of them a rosary and a bookmark where Psalm 139 was written. She encouraged them to memorize Psalm 139 and to pray the rosary for a week. She not only encouraged them to do so but also promised the students a solar lamp as an individual prize of those who can memorize Psalm 139 on the day of the retreat. On March 7, the retreat program schedule should have started at 7:30 A.M. and according to the plan 78 students would have to march in procession to the Priory House while praying the rosary. They have even arranged with the traffic police to escort them for an hour march. But God changed the plan because it rained. Sr. Simon was worried that the students would not come for the retreat. But surprisingly, the rain was not an obstacle to the 78 students who came on time at the assembly place a 100% attendance. Sr. Simon asked Mother Mary Thomas for transportation for the students. With her openness and support, Mother Mary Thomas asked Sr. Angela Bock to pick up the 78 students in three trips. The retreat opened with a prayer led by Sr. Eveline Nekongo and Sr. Simon gave them a talk prepared with the power point slide and a group discussion about "what are your goals in life?. Before lunch the students prayed the rosary in the chapel. The students made their own intentions before each decade of the rosary and they prayed with their whole heart. It was a very touching moment for everyone. After lunch Sr. Raphaela (Novice Mistress), some Sisters and the Formandees had a surprise appearance in the retreat. They introduced themselves and answered the latter s questions on religious vocation and our Congregation s charism. A number of hands from the retreatants were raised up when asked who would like to become priests and sisters. In the afternoon, Mrs. Felicia, a police woman from the Church gave a talk about Risks and Responsibility of the Youth". She also shared her life and career as a grown up in the same environment of 5

6 the students. The students cooperation in the retreat was excellent. During the last part of the retreat, Sr. Simon asked who among the students memorized the Psalm 139. Thirteen students recited the psalm perfectly from beginning to the end! For fostering self reliance, Sr. Simon would sell in a lower price the Mass Hymn books and solar lamps to the parishioners and support school fees of poor students in Okatunda. She is grateful to Mother Mary Thomas, the Sisters of the Priory House who welcomed and prepared the Hall for the students and the support of the Roman Catholic Hospital Community who provided tea break ( brotchen and juice) and lastly, to Sr. Augusta and Sr. Eveline who together prepared and attended the retreat. Community Outing to Lake Oanob By Novice Hendelina Musungu The Priory House Community had an outing in Oanob Lake Resort in Rehoboth on 07 April We started preparing for the outing the day before with a longing to see and enjoy the outing to the fullest. The journey was long due to the queue of our hired bus at the weighbridge before and after leaving the town of Rehoboth, 80 km. south of Windhoek. Upon arrival at Lake Oanob, we immediately went to the ferry boat and in a little while, found ourselves enjoying the ride, marveling over God s creation, his wisdom and knowledge. After the boat ride, we went to our rented cottage and played games which we enjoyed very much while waiting for the braai. Before the delicious lunch prepared by Sr. Cecilia and some Sisters and Formandees, we prayed a special Easter Tuesday Midday Prayer while seated on the floor of the cottage. After lunch, 20 Sisters and Fomandees went on a nature walk, collected semi precious stones on the way and saw wild animals such as ostriches and giraffes. We prayed Vespers in the bus enjoying the twilight and the presence of each other in community. It was a very nice outing! A Happy 98 th Birthday, Kuku Sophia! We love you! by Sr. Remedios de los Reyes, OSB and Sr. Maria Goretti Nekaro, OSB I will praise Yahweh all my life, I will make music to my God as long as I live. -Psalm 146:2 Sr. Sophia Tshavuka, OSB is our OAO (one and only) Kuku Sofie. Blessed with a clear mind, good health and a terrific sense of humour, we celebrated her 98 th birthday on 19 April 2015, her 98 years of graced life. Kuku Sofie has been the source of joy for both old and young members of the Priory House/Formation House Community, the whole St. Benedict Priory, her dear family, friends and mass goers who frequent our chapel on Sundays. Our Sisters assigned or studying abroad and even Formandees on formative activity in the outstations would often greet her in their letters to the community. 6

7 Living with her in community, one learns from her resolute living of religious life. Her honest reactions (spoken in Oshiwambo or in body language) to both right and wrong words and deeds are good examples of good manners in relating with people. Her respect, obedience and faithful love for the Prioresses (at present, Mother Mary Thomas) makes her a true Benedictine who seeks God under a rule and a superior. She calls them MOTHER! When Mother Mary Thomas was taking her photos, she asked for a candy for every pose or else she would not stop moving. How much she loves sweets and marshmallows! After Sunday Mass in our chapel, Kuku Sophia walks around the parking area carrying a chain of empty milk containers which she offers to those who need them or she brings these to our kindergarten babies (as she calls them) during weekdays. Only Sr. Sophia may have these milk containers from the refectory and kitchen and no other! She greets all people (even strangers) and visitors at the Reception area with a genuine smile although she has no more teeth to show. She indeed practices the admonition of Chapter 53 of the Rule of St. Benedict stating that the monastic sees Christ among the guests and strangers. When she sees somebody wearing new clothes or shoes she would ask, Owadimbesitera pe ni, kobotswana? (Did you order it from Botswana?) Unless she is really very sick, Kuku Sofie attends all the Divine Office of the day without fail. Before going to her room at night in the Infirmary at St. Hildegard Building, she would ask any Sister or formandee whom she would meet in the passage if the time to wake up the next morning is 5 o clock - Pontano? She would raise her open right hand with five fingers firmly telling us that she will really wake up at 5 o clock for prayers. This might be a source of fun, but come to think of it, Kuku Sofie exemplifies a religious whose first activity of the day is joining the community in thanking and praising God. Although she is excused from manual labour in the convent, during the week she still irons the refectory dishtowels and folds them nicely. Her hobby is counting cars in our parking area or the potted plants outside the office of the Prioress. She loves watching television. One day after lunch, she asked Sr. Margareta Maria Kakololo to switch on the television. When Sr. Margareta told her to wait as she was still returning the newspapers on the table, Kuku Sofie offered to be the one to return the newspapers if Sr. Margareta Maria will switch on the TV. When there are clouds in the sky even during the day, she tells everybody to be in their room and not to walk around the Priory House because it is dark. She would say, Man okwatwima! She goes to the grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary everyday to pray. She proudly claims that she does not need a cane for walking. When she is angry or not in the mood, she speaks a different language which no one would understand. We think it is Aramaic! There are many more fond memories and lovely moments of Kuku Sofie from each one of us. We salute her for her love for God, life and people. On her birthday, we sang the lines of the song Fill the World with Love as our tribute to her, a special elderly who is still walking upright, dancing, singing and living life with us. In the 7

8 evening of my life, I shall look to the sunset. At a moment in my life, when the night is dark. And the question I shall ask; only God can answer. Was I brave and strong and true? Did I fill the world with love, my whole life through? Annual Second Cluster Retreat from April 26- May 1, 2015 by Sr. Mercy Gabriel, OSB The theme of the retreat was Christ, the Centre of my Religious Life facilitated by Fr. Phina (John) Mmakola, OSB, Sub-Prior of Subiaco Monastery in Polokwane, South Africa. During the BECOSA Meeting in Johannesburg on February 23-28, Fr. Phina was invited by our Sisters to facilitate this year s retreats in Nubuamis. The retreat was really helpful and meaningful to us, Benedictines. Firstly, Fr. Phina shared his vocation to the priesthood which was not easy for him because his father was against it. His story made me remember that first day I told my parents that I wanted to become a Sister. I have not forgotten the words of my mother which are always in my heart: Go and persevere. You are precious to us and a blessing to the family. Remember us. Fr. Phina said that we must share our experiences with one another in the community. We are not to wait for angels from heaven to come because there are angels among ourselves in community. As we are in the Year of the Consecrated Life, Fr. Phina explained what Consecrated life is. He encouraged us to be faithful to Canon Law and to keep on rereading the Rule of St. Benedict especially RB 58 and 73. The Holy Rule is only a beginning of perfection. If we keep on reading it, we will become a joy of others and live a happy life embracing difficulties. As for me, I ask myself: How far am I in my religious life? Where do I need to change and improve to become a better servant of God and a follower of Christ Jesus? I cannot forget Fr. Phina s words: Let us try to live always like babies in front of God humbling and allowing ourselves to be touched by God who have called and chosen us. Thank you very much, Fr. Phina for the gift of yourself and your inputs, which we affirm, acknowledge and appreciate. God bless us all. Our heartfelt Gratitude, Appreciation, Farewell and God s abundant blessings to you, our dear Sr. Simon Lee for your: - gift of person to the Windhoek Priory - your deep prayer life and talents that you readily shared - your generosity toward the poor - your immediate response to the needs of the Sisters and Formandees. -above all, your valuable contributions as Finance Officer of the Archdiocese of Windhoek and as Procurator of our Priory Many thanks to all Contributors and Photographers! - The Editorial Team: Sr. Remedios de los Reyes, OSB, Sr. Joyce Iipakwa, OSB, Novice Reginalda Kamari and Novice Hendelina Musungu 8