Profession of six sisters – Kenya Group

20/05/2024

20th April 2024

“You have fascinated me Jesus and I have let myself fall in love. 
I have struggled with everything that I feel 
but you have conquered me with your love”

The Kenyan Group was happy to celebrate the religious professions of six young Ursulines. Indeed, this is God’s doing and we are happy and grateful. The birth of these six daughters of Angela into the Group is an assurance of the continuity of the Ursulines of the Roman Union.

Vocations are signs of a river with a source. St Angela, as she said five hundred years ago (1535), is with us: “I will be in your midst lending aid to your prayers”. She continues to intercede for Ursulines and the entire church.  And if it is God who planted this company, for sure He will not abandon it.

So what happened on 20th April 2024?

Love is at the heart of all creation. It continues to unfold, drawing us ever more profoundly into the embrace of a lavish GOD. This is what we witnessed.

All roads from Wote, Kitui, Bungoma, Kakamega and Kisumu and Nairobi dioceses led to the newly constructed and magnificent Regina Cael Catholic Church in Karen. We witnessed the momentous celebration of our six sisters Alice, Beryl {first profession} and sisters Oliver, Veronica, Joan and Francisca {perpetual profession} making their commitment to the Lord.

Just as He called Samuel several times, the first reading was carefully and purposefully chosen by the six as we were reminded in the first reading of the day. The main celebrant of the day, Bishop Joseph Mwongela of the catholic diocese of Kitui emphasized the importance of listening. The six sisters proved to the whole congregation that Jesus had not only called them to come and see like the disciples but also to stay after listening to his call keenly and then to go and bear fruit. He also emphasized on living religious life joyfully. There is no need of having bitter sisters, priests and brothers in the church. We are all called to be joyful religious.

The families of the sisters professing started trickling in the previous evening to the venue in style. Some singing and dancing jubilantly, others quiet, seemingly contemplating the mystery which was to evolve during the day, others walking gently and cautiously, conversing in whispers not to disturb the aura of prayer which engulfed the Sisters’ compound in Karen. The “Isukuti” a traditional dance from Western Kenya carried the day. Everybody danced to their tune. Wauh! It was an auspicious occasion.

The event was also internationally graced by Ursulines Jana from Slovakia and Maria Anna from Poland together with many priests from different dioceses, religious men and women and a mammoth of lay people faithful flooded the church in colour and pomp. The long awaited day was pinnacled by the cutting of a mighty, well decorated cake courtesy of NCBA Bank, followed by a sumptuous meal African style (variety of dishes) which each ate to their fill.  The guests left when they were ready to. 

It was a memorable and Historical moment for the Kenyan Group of the Ursuline sisters of the Roman Union. So now the Kenya Group has two more temporary professed sisters and four more perpetually professed sisters.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Written by Sr. Dorothy, Kenya Group