The Opening of a New Work in Africa...In 1999 the Community of St. Mary opened a special novitiate for the formation of a new Anglican religious Order in Malawi in south central Africa. When the first sisters returned in 2002, they asked to continue as Sisters of St. Mary, under the Rule and as a branch house of CSM. Their desire for continued guidance in the ways of total dedication to God and service to his people was met by the American sisters' equal desire to fulfill this opportunity for mission.
The founding sisters matured splendidly, learning to live fully the evangelical counsels of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience according to the Rule of the Community of St. Mary. They were life-professed in 2005. Novitiate training for other women continued until 2007, when the Malawian sisters took over their own formation process at the convent in Luwinga. The Community's vision for "mission" in Africa was less to evangelize and provide "an American way" of doing ministry so much as to build up an African community within Africa, Continue reading.... |
Mother Miriam, CSM, presents founding Sisters Monica and Martha to the Rt. Rev'd Christopher Boyle, Bishop of Northern Malawi, for Life Profession as Sisters in the Community of St. Mary in Malawi, Africa in 2005.
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St. Terezas' Orphan CareThe orphan care was founded on the 8th of May, 2008. They are 150 children who are registered in the register from 6 months old to 18 years old. They come from different denominations and family background. Some of these orphans have lost single parent while others both parents. The catchment area of this ministry to the orphan and needy children in the neighbourhood of Luwinga. The children are taken care of from their homes living with their extended families. We have feeding programs once a month, we supply them with food stuffs, clothings, sponsor them from primary school to college and other basic needs. It is runned by the committee of the sisters and other lay members from our church. They are different activities that are taking place at St. Tereza Care such as, visiting other centers. They have two special meals in a year which is on Christmas Day and on Easter Day
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Holy Innocents KindergartenHoly Innocent Kindergarten was built and completed in the year 2014-15. It was dedicated on 12th September 2015 by Bishop Bill Love, the Bishop of Diocese of Albany in USA, also the Bishop Visitor at the Mother House. The name also given by the same Bishop. The school is located at Luwinga within the convent grounds. The official opening of classes was not until January 2016, started out with 5 children and two caregiver but now it has grown to 40 children. Sister Jane Phiri is the in-charge of the school. up to date we have two caregivers and two support staff. The school is opened to the public and those who learn there are expected to pay tuition for its continuity and sustainability. Selected orphans learn for free. The classes commences at 8 o'clock in the morning and they knock off around 3 o'clock. Holy Innocent is one of the leading Kindergarten in Mzuzu.
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Tailoring ShopThe Sisters of St, Mary, Luwinga are also well known by the ecclesiastical tailoring shop. The shop is located within the bounds of the convent grounds with 7 tailors who work there plus Sister Esther. We are specialised in making clergy vestments, like clerical shirts (in all designs), chasubles and stoles (in all designs), gowns,( in all designs), cassocks, Albs(in all designs), girdles, copes, miters, Bishop's cassocks and many more including mothers union, school and choir uniforms. They also sell clerical collars of different kinds. Their products are sold within the country and outside the country, to the Anglican and to other clergy from different denominations. Sisters Martha and Esther are the in-charges of the tailoring shop.
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St. Terezas' Orphans Choir St. Tereza Choir one of the greatest achievements from St. Tereza Orphan Care. The Choir was formed by the Sisters with the reason to teach the kids how to sing and praise God in african culture. Therefore they use local instruments like drums and other traditional dances and fit them into spiritual song (inculturation). The choir started out as a part time thing, so that the children should be doing this on their free time not specifically to sing at church because the children from this orphan care come from different faith background. We thought on sundays they all should be going to attend church services at their own churches. After few months of sing and learning, the kids decided that they will start coming to our church to sing and pray there. After a while they made up their minds to remain in the church and became permanent members of the Anglican church, now and then they will bring their friends with them to join St. Tereza choir. The choir is not strictly for the orphans and the Sisters but everyone who is interested to join the choir is welcomed, we have other children who are not orphans in the choir. The three sisters sings in the choir too and it is being led Sister Jane Phiri as their choir mistress. It has become one of the competent choir in the whole Diocese. It won number one on the the Diocesan Choir competition, which was organized by Lord Bishop in 2015. In October the same year it was selected to represent the diocese at Magomero Celebrations in Chiradzulu and in April 2016 it was chosen also to represent the church in Malawi at Anglican causaltive council world wide in Lusaka Zambia. The choir has help the kids to stay and love to worship the Lord, and also it has evangelized so many souls to come to know Jesus Christ. At the moment they are in the midst of recording their first audio cd and dvd, which they will be launching later in the year.
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Work as Sub-DeaconsThe Sisters also work as sub-deacon in the diocese. The Bishop of the Diocese has given permission to all the professed sisters in the community to work as lay eucharistic ministers. So to assist the clergy in administrating
Holy Communion and preaching the words of God. The Sisters have been more active at Holy Trinity Parish which is closer to the convent. |
St. Agnes GuildIn additional to their work as Sub-Deacons, the Sisters works at the fore mentioned Parish, teaching various groups in the Church such as St. Agnes guild. This is the gild of the girls from age 9 to the time when a girl is ready to get married or chosen to consecrate her life as a religious sister. It is a preparatory group for girls whom the church try to prepare them to be the responsible adults of the future. They follow the life and pattern of St. Agnes who was martyred in Rome because of her faith in Christ while she was 13 years. The Sisters also teach different groups in parish like the youth and so forth.
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Educational ScholarshipsSeveral of the kids at St. Teresa Orphan care has benefited from our sponsorship program. Samson Nyirongo in the picture has just finished his nursing course at St. Luke Nursing College. Now he is a registered nurse, seeking employment. Jonathan is another young man who has also benefited on the program, he is finishing his last Semester at Luanar University of Agriculture this year. Beatrice Mwagomba, also completed his teachers training course at Loundan TTC CCAP mission two years ago now waiting to be posted to a school to teach. We have two more kids who are still at University, four who has just graduated from High school are waiting to go to the college and many more in High School.
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Vocation to the SistersThe Sisters are also engaged in promoting religious vocation, therefore they make trips to visit parishes and schools within and outside the Diocese to talk about Sisterhood vocation. So far this year we have five aspirants, who are aspiring to the religious life. God willing some of these young people will be due to be received as postulants in the coming months. We pray that God should send more to his vineyard because the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few.
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How to Support the SistersOur Community in Malawi has six Sisters who resides there. There are three fully professed Sisters, two Juniour Sisters and one Novice. To support themselves, they have farm where they grow their crops to feed themselves and the orphans, vegetable gardens, and they are keeping dairly cows and goats.
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The Community of St. Mary Eastern Province 242 Cloister Way Greenwich, NY, 12834 Phone: 518-692-3028 Contact: The Rev'd Mother Superior |