It was a solemn atmosphere in the St. Catherine of Siena, Dominican Novitiate in Lusaka on the 1st of December 2018 when six novices of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart made their first vows. The Eucharistic celebration was led by Fr. Cliff Fumbelo a lecturer and Spiritual director at St. Dominic Major Seminary, together with four co-celebrants and a Dominican Deacon.
In his homily, Fr. Fumbelo urged the newly professed sisters that “inkobekelwa te chupo” which means engagement is not marriage, meaning first profession is not graduation but the beginning of a religious journey. He encouraged all present to remain committed and faithful to God, in order to continue praising, blessing and preaching in their different apostolates.
The Regional Prioress for Zimbabwe, Sr. Rudo Matsika received the vows for the six newly professed sisters. This great celebration was coupled with beautiful singing and dancing. The newly professed sisters will live the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Through obedience they will go wherever they are assigned by their superiors. Four sisters were assigned to Germany, one sister to Zambia and the other sister to Zimbabwe.
The same day saw the reception of the eight candidates who courageously took another step in their formation by becoming Dominican Novices. Sr. Christine Mwape, the Regional Prioress of Zambia made the solemn declaration of the beginning of the novitiate formation for the 8 novices. The novices committed themselves to following the will of God in the congregation of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart novitiate is based in Lusaka, Zambia under the Directorship of Sr. Susan Mwamba from Zambia and assisted by Sr. Felistas Chiginya from Zimbabwe. Their novices come from different countries where Dominican Sisters work such as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya.
Compiled by Second year novices from Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.