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Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing
April - June 2020 WPN 80
St. Benedict’s Priory
Windhoek, Namibia
FOUR NOVICES MAKE
FIRST PROFESSION OF VOWS
by Sr. Michael Marie Kudumo, OSB, Sr. Mary Aloysie Matias, OSB, Sr.
Mary Justin Hairwa, OSB and Sr. Mary Rose Sirongo, OSB
Our retreat began on 15 May 2020, with Sr. Patricia Crowley, OSB, a Benedictine Sister of Chicago, USA, who is a prudent Spiritual Director. She said, “When we are making Profession, we always say yes, without knowing what is ahead of us. But we only have to trust. Religious life is a journey of trust.”
The Mandatum took place on the evening of
Friday, 22 May. While all were silent early next
morning, our First Profession Day, the beautiful
voices of the Sisters singing outside our rooms
awakened us. The day was filled with joy and
gratitude although our family members could not
come due to COVID-19.
We were not so much disappointed to celebrate
without our family because we have now
embraced our new family, the Missionary
Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. We thank God
who called us and kept the Spirit of discipleship
alive in us.
Jesus is the final” yes” of God to us. We pray that what God had begun in us, He may bring it to completion. Our vote of thanks goes to Mother Simon Lee, OSB, our Formators and Teachers, Fr. Abbot Godfrey Sieber, OSB, Sr. Patricia Crowley, all the Sisters of the whole Priory and our family members who journeyed with us and made this day so special. God bless you all.
EASTER CELEBRATION IN THE PRIORY HOUSE
by Novice Martha Ndala
Life goes on in spite of COVID-19. We walked
with the suffering Christ in Lent while the
pandemic cases and deaths all over the world
were rapidly adding in number. As we are going
through this hard time, we greet each other using
our elbows or feet to avoid spreading this
pandemic.
Easter is the gift of our salvation. All, including
our elderly Sisters, took part in the preparation of
our Easter liturgy and celebration. During the
evening program, we had general questions
about Easter and games with prizes. Each group
presented a number to share their Easter joy and
happiness.
SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST
HOLY BODY AND
BLOOD OF JESUS
CHRIST
Procession of the Blessed Sacrament with Abbot Godfrey,
the Sisters and Formandees in the Priory House.
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MOTHER SIMON THANKS COMMUNITY FOR THE INTERCUTURAL FEASTDAY PROGRAM
On 29 June, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, we celebrated the first feastday of Mother Simon as our
Prioress. The evening intercultural program presented eight different cultures and languages of the
Sisters and Formandees - Oshiwambo, Okavango, Korean, Nigerian, Afrikaans, Kiswahili, Filipino and
English – which were creatively performed in a dance, song and musical dialogue. Mother Simon
expressed her sincere gratitude and appreciation for the colourful and creative numbers which she
and the community enjoyed.
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SR. SOPHIA SHAVUKA, OSB CELEBRATES 103rd
BIRTHDAY
by Sr. Emma Aindongo, OSB
On 19 April, the Second Sunday of Easter, we
celebrated the 103rd birthday of Sr. (kuku)
Sophia. It is indeed wonderful to have Kuku
Sophia among us. She is a source of our joy and
laughter. We surprised her with a well-prepared,
joyful Eucharistic Celebration where she enjoyed
clapping her hands while following the drums and
rhythm of every song. During breakfast, Kuku
Sophia was delighted by a big birthday cake,
candies, cards, flowers, songs and dances. It
was a memorable and a blessed day for all of us.
We thank God for giving us “Kuku Sophy” in our
Priory. She is our example and inspiration to
persevere in our vocation.
MAKING FACE MASKS
Since the COVID-19 cases increased rapidly in
Namibia, the government declared that wearing
the face masks is compulsory. Our Sisters
volunteered to make face masks in our sewing
room.
ARRIVAL OF OUR THREE INTENSIFIERS
On the 23rd of May 2020, Sr. Bernita
Shilikomwenyo, Sr. Mary John Paul Hosea and
Sr. Gabriella Pangeni arrived safely in Windhoek
from the Pan-African Intensification Program in
Tanzania. They were quarantined at Gross
Barmen Resort in Okahandja for fourteen days.
We are so grateful to the Peramiho Priory for
hosting and organizing the Intensification
Program from December 2019 to May 2020.
COMMUNITIES COPE
WITH COVID-19
RCH COMMUNITY
by Sr. Augusta Kunz, OSB Since March, we tried to get something good out of having more time. There was a Chrism Mass in the Cathedral in Holy Week because the holy oils had to be sent to the missions, and the Archbishop invited 4 priests from different areas and 5 Sisters from the Catholic Hill. Not more; it gives a bad example when the Church does not follow the rules. The Archbishop celebrated the Good Friday Service and on Easter Sunday, a Holy Mass by Fr. Mathias, the parish priest. In June, the restrictions are more lenient and the hospital is well-occupied. Up to now, we had no COVID-19 positive patient. One of our ongoing pastoral work began in 2015, when we came to know an 84-year-old woman from the newspaper, who had one hut and about 15 children. Sr. Oranna with some other Sisters went to see her. The late Br. Manfred Pietsch, OMI gave money to build a second hut for her. But she needed continuous help for food and wood for cooking. She cannot read or write, only pray. Sr. Eveline agreed to give them left-over clean food from the hospital and Sr. Oranna started collecting wood for her from fallen branches of trees in the town. Later on, Sr. Erwina and Sr. Augusta teamed up with Sr. Oranna. Often people ask us: what do you need the wood for? This is an opportunity to give witness that the Church also cares for poor people. The Lord gives us happiness and strength and perseverance to this very special "mission".
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BETHANIE COMMUNITY by Sr. Beate Schroeter,OSB and Community
Our monastic and missionary life was not
affected by COVID-19. Fortunately, Fr. Eugene Badtke, OSB celebrated daily holy mass with us in our chapel. We were able to follow our daily schedule. During Vespers, the
prayer on COVID-19 is said and each
Sister adds her private petition. We listen to the
radio and watch television to be updated on the coronavirus situation in the country and be informed about the rules and regulations. Following them, we were able to reach out to our parishioners who were in need.
BUNYA COMMUNITY by Sr. Thekla Haita,OSB and Community
The Community plus
Bunya Health
Centre put into
place the following
measures to
promote prevention
of transmission.
1. Acquisition of masks and hand sanitizers.
Everybody who visited the Community and the
Health Centre washed their hands and used
sanitizer. All the departments were issued with
hand soap, sanitizer, disposable gloves and
disposable napkins. A temporary hand washing
tap was installed using a 25-litre container fitted
with a tap. Later on, the Centre was able to
install a tip tap 2.5 litter containers of soap and
water.
2. Creation of awareness
The Centre embarked on giving health education
on COVID-19, on symptoms mode of
transmission and what to do in case one
exhibited related symptoms to all the staff and
patients who visited daily.
3. Implementation of social distance
Measure of triangle was indicated to enhance
social distance. The patients on chronic
medication were given enough for at least 2-3
months depending on their condition. To avoid
overcrowding in our small OPD, only 5 patients
at a time were served.
4. Creation of COVID-19 Team The Team consisted of 1 registered nurse and 2 enrolled nurses, one health assistant nurse and one cleaner. Their task was to identify a separate room with the help of a Senior Registered nurse and to update the Centre on matters related to COVID-19. One of us in the Community decided to wash the imported apples properly with dishwashing soap which made us all laugh; nevertheless, we were all afraid of this new pandemic.
About holy mass, our elderly Father Joseph
Michael, OMI well known as “Mandjomboro” was
having terrible flu and cough on the first
lockdown. So this made us to run away from
the church thinking that he was having the virus.
We decided to have only Communion Service in
our chapel for the whole week because Father
could not stop shaking hands during the sign of
peace. He said that corona will not enter in his
holy mass; he is representing Jesus Christ.
Despite the lock down, some of the parishioners
were able to come to church for Adoration and
personal prayers on the pandemic.
The Sisters had daily Adoration after Vespers
concluding with a prayer on the pandemic.
We continued caring for God’s creations by
planting 75 fruit trees and 162 seedlings which
we shared and sold.
Continued on p.5
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Bunya Community. . . from page 4
We thank God for blessing us with good rain this
year, therefore, it was easy for us to make our
new garden just for papayas.
NAMUNTUNTU COMMUNITY
by Sr. Venantia Kavindja, OSB We responded to one the recommendations of our 20th Priory Chapter, that is, to pray for urgent issues or emergency situation. We prayed the rosary for the pandemic to end with families or work places every day. We gave copies of the novena prayer on the pandemic to some villagers and other people including the Namibian Police and explained to them how they are going to use this prayer individually, by group or family. The people were very happy for the spiritual assistance and cooperation.
OKONGO COMMUNITY by Sr. Sylvia Shingwada, OSB
The voice like that of
Rachel weeping for her
innocent children is
resounding in the world.
Our faith is challenged
and tested. But there is
nothing we can do
rather than to kneel
down and pray and to
take up precautions. If
God is for us, who can be against us? It is high
time for us to set aside time for God and to go
out of our comfort zone, and this is what we are
doing as a community by reciting the prayers for
COVID-19 during Holy Mass, Adoration and
Vespers. We also recite the holy rosary to seek
the assistance of our Blessed Mother. We
responded to the National Prayer Day on April 8,
2020, with chain adoration from 12:00 noon to
6:30 p.m. that started by the ringing of the church
bell at exactly 12:00 noon.
Our daily remedy is to encourage and to help
one another to support and boost up our immune
system with suitable vegetables, fruits and drinks
and to gargle salt.
With the help of generous persons, we helped the San people with a little meal which we prepare for them every Saturday. Since alcohol is moderated by the government, we are grateful that they now have more time to be at home to build their traditional shacks
and to help one another. The Sisters teaching in the Kindergarten are also involved in a feeding programme for the children which aims to sustain them during the period of lock down donated by Roger Federer under Women’s Action for Development Foundation. May the Lord continue to heal all the nations.
ONGHA COMMUNITY by Sr. Agatha Ipinge, OSB, Sr. Anna Jakob OSB
It was new to us to celebrate Easter alone
without the parishioners. Holy Thursday Mass
started at 6:00 p.m. followed by a One Hour-
Adoration. On Good Friday we started with the
Way of the Cross where Fr Jose carried the
cross, Sr Agatha and Sr Julitta carried the
candles and Fr Danish led the prayers. On Holy
Saturday, there was no fire outside but we
lighted the Easter candle in front of the Church
and proceeded inside while singing the “Light of
Christ”. We divided all the readings among
ourselves. On Easter Sunday, we had Holy
Mass in the big church.
We continue to cultivate our field and garden.
Even though the people were told to stay home,
it did not stop them from coming to the mission
for the hammer machine which grinds their
mahangu. By God's grace, everything will go
well soon which is our daily prayer.
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Ongha Community . . . from page 5
On 02 March 2020, the Sisters, some parents
and some members of the school board visited
the family of little Rejoice who survived the attack
of her uncle.
Rejoice’s uncle killed his mother and brother with
a “panga”, an African tool like machete, but,
Rejoice was left with
injuries and her one leg
cut off. As a school, we
decided to show our
solidarity with them.
Parents and friends
donated a lot of goods
such as food, clothes,
blankets and more items
for Rejoice’s family.
When we reached there,
we were shown the
panga which was used
to kill her grandmother and uncle. We thank God
for saving this angel who is more important to us
especially to her mother who has lost her whole
family and Rejoice is just a big comfort. Let us
continue praying for them and assisting them.
ONGWEDIVA COMMUNITY
by Sr. Felicitas Mufenda, OSB and Community
President Hage Geingob declared a state of emergency in Namibia with stages of restrictions to combat the pandemic.
Stage 1 We thank God that we have holy mass every
day. The lockdown affected us very much being
new members in Ongwediva. We just started the
Kindergarten two months ago when it was the
time to know our parishioners and immediately,
we cut off from them.
Stage 2
It was worse when we were not allowed to move
to other regions divided in zones. This time, we
have enough time to pray. We have daily
Adoration in our chapel to pray for the ending of
COVID 19. We also do needle work, make
masks and work in our small garden. People
have developed great fear and are really affected
economically, financially, socially and
psychologically.
Stage 3
In stage 3, people are moving a bit free but
wearing face masks in public. Only Grades 11
and 12 learners have returned to school due to
the forthcoming national examinations. The
church was cleaned properly and sanitized
before it reopened on the 07 June 2020 and had
3 Holy Masses on Sunday. Before entering the
church, a team of Catholic nurses and our
Sisters see to it that each parishioner applies a
hand sanitizer, his/her temperature is checked,
wears face masks and writes his/her name. After
every Holy Mass the Church is sanitized before
the other group comes in. The Sisters and
parents are worried how it will work when Grade
0-3 will reopen. Let us continue to pray for the
whole world.
RUACANA COMMUNITY by Sr. Lucia Gabriel, OSB and Community
Indeed, our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and
our ways not His ways!
We started Holy Week with Palm Sunday without
Holy Mass and no blessed palms. We simply
went around our house while singing Hosanna
songs, then we went into the chapel for
Communion Service. We celebrated our Easter
Vigil without a priest to bless our Easter fire, but
luckily, on Easter Sunday Fr. Vitalis Johannes,
OMI came to say Mass. We scheduled a baptism
for 45 adults on Easter Sunday but this was
cancelled, too. We missed the noise of the
children in our Kindergarten and they missed us
because some were often asking us by phone
when the school will open. We keep on praying
for deliverance from this dread disease. That in
all things God maybe glorified.
SHAMBYU COMMUNITY
by Sr. Imelda Shimbenda, OSB and Community
The workers and learners were sent home when we heard the news about this pandemic. Continued on page 7
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Shambyu community . . . from page 6
We thank Mother Simon for sending us the
masks and prayer to combat the pandemic.
We are praying for the end of this pandemic
before the Final Blessing of the morning Mass,
during the Rosary of Divine Mercy in our Chapel
at 3:00 p.m. and before Vespers.
TONDORO COMMUNITY by Sr. Marianne Sindimba and Community
We encourage each other, our workers and the people around us to practice hygiene and avoid being infected with COVID 19. We pray a lot for the whole world every day. We have managed in our Apostolate. A container of water for handwashing is provided at the main gate of the mission. We have been planting trees, like mangoes, pawpaw, lemons, guavas, chilis and dates. From those trees, we shared some with our Sisters in Namuntuntu, Ongwediva, nearby people and some were sold. We planted more trees in our field. We have received seedlings from the Priory House and other communities.
SWAKOPMUND COMMUNITY by Sr. Angela Bock, OSB and Community
Due to lockdown, we informed our worker to stay
home and the elderly in the Nursing Homes that
we will not minister Holy Communion until the
situation allows us. We have a weekly hour of
Adoration and prayers after Vespers for the
COVID-19 intentions. When there is no Mass we
are able to integrate Holy Communion at Lauds.
We, the various Congregations of Sisters within our vicinity, bearing in mind the limiting number for gathering, had the Mass for Palm Sunday in the chapel in our house with a palm procession going around with palm branches within the confines of the chapel. The evening Mass for Easter Vigil was celebrated in the Church with a fire in the vestibule and then procession with the Easter Candle to the altar with the Sisters in attendance. The Holy Mass on Easter Sunday, Ascension, Pentecost and evening Mass for Corpus Christi were held in the Church and live-streamed for the parishioners. The Morning Mass for Corpus Christi was held in our chapel incorporated with the renewal of temporary vows of our Sister Maria Clementine Ndara, OSB.
Due to the rapid increase of cases in our neigbouring town, Walvis Bay, our Erongo Region is on strict lockdown until today. It’s not possible to plant trees anytime with the cold weather of Swakopmund. However, we have been caring for the two gardens at our Guest House in Ocean View three times a week. The garden in our backyard at our house in town is always being renewed.
Catechetical Workshop in Döbra Mission,
Windhoek, Namibia
by Sr. Marie Therese Ameya, OSB On March 6th-8th and 13th -15th 2020, I have
facilitated a catechetical workshop for two groups
of Catechists (Teachers of Catholic Faith) from
different Regions: North Western Deanery,
Rundu Vicariate, Keetmanshoop Diocese,
Omaheke Deanery, Central Deanery and
Windhoek Diocese. The first group had 77
participants and the second group had 70
participants. The youngest was 21 years of age
and the oldest was 75 years old. It was a
moment of joy, expectations and new
challenging.
The first session by Br. Sydney OFM. started at
8:30 a.m. It was on actual lesson on how to
teach Holy Communion candidates using the
new teaching Models: Book 1 and Book 2. The
second session, a PowerPoint Presentation on
Scheme of Work and Lesson plan was presented
by Sr. Marie Therese OSB.
The Namibian Catholic Bishops Conference
(NCBC) Catechetical Desk decided to write and
compiled new Catechism Manuals:
Continued on p.8
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Catechetical Workshop … from page 7
Holy Communion and Confirmation for Learners
and Teachers that are now used in Windhoek
Diocese, Keetmanshoop Diocese and Rundu
Vicariate. All the Catechists were taught and
given a sample of how to scheme and plan their
teaching lessons in their different Parishes.
Brother Sydney and I, facilitators, pray hard for
strength upon us to continue with the work of
Evangelization. We ended our catechetical
workshop with the Holy Mass. The Catechists
requested to have a WhatsApp Group for the
announcements regarding Catechism. We all left
the mission in the spirit of joy and looking forward
to meeting again after Covid19. I am very
grateful to God, NCBC Management,
Catechetical desk, our Windhoek Priory and to
the people I have met in the workshop.
CENTENARY YEAR ACTIVITY
Sr. Beate, OSB, Superior of Bethanie Community
recommended the mother of Martin Basson, who
is a faithful helper of their
Community, for surgery at
the Roman Catholic
Hospital in Windhoek.
Our Priory Centenary
Charity Fund sponsored
his mother’s medical
treatment. It is our joy to
hear from Martin that his
mother is no longer living
in severe pain and in a
few months’ time, she will
walk normally again.
Martin wrote Mother Simon, “On behalf of my
family, I would like to thank you a million times. I
really do not find words to thank you enough.
May the good Lord reward and bless you and all
the Sisters abundantly. I promise I will give my
100% to the work I am doing and do a good job
for the Sisters in Bethanie.”
COUNTING COUNTLESS BLESSINGS –
Part 3
Indeed, the Congregation has attracted many vocations. Yet, on 29 August 1999, after the canonical probation period which started on 14 June 1996, fifty-eight (58) Namibian Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku were integrated into our Congregation and incorporated into the Windhoek Priory. Considering that the seat of the Priory was at the heart of the city of Windhoek where real silence and recollection could hardly be observed, thus, an absence of monastic ambiance, the Priory Government led by Mother Pia Lansang, OSB, Prioress, thought of transferring the seat of the Priory to another place. The new Priory House was constructed in Nubuamis, a 15-minute drive from the main town. On 15 July 2000, a new Priory House in Nubuamis, Windhoek was blessed.
St. Benedict Priory has currently fourteen (14) communities engaged in different apostolates -health care, education, pastoral and social work, prayer apostolate, spirituality centre, guesthouse, farming and livestock raising.
Special Prayer during our Centenary Year
Dear Lord, thank you for sustaining us with your faithfulness and love. We ask you through the intercession of all our pioneer and deceased Sisters, to bestow your saving graces on the whole world during this pandemic crisis. Please protect all peoples especially our Congregation and all missionaries. Amen.
Some years later, our Sisters helped establish the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku.
Editorial Team:
Sr. Remedios de los Reyes, OSB Sr. Stephanie Zamoras, OSB Sr. Antonia Shilunga, OSB
Sr. Maurice Mary Kamari, OSB
Sisters and Formandees dancing during the laying of the
Foundation of the new St. Benedict’s Priory House in
Nubuamis, Windhoek