By Ranjitha
Mwanga, Tanzania: Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, an Indian catholic religious congregation, on January 23 added four Tanzanians to its fold.
Novices Clara Mariamu, Anitha Fadhila, Bernadeta Nonkondo and Veronica Mamue pronounced the first vows at a function in Divine Mercy Church in Mwanga, a town in northern Tanzania at the foot of the north Pare Mountains.
Sister Rose Celine, superior general of the Mangalore-based congregation, also known as the Bethany Sisters, received the vows from their first Tanzanian members during a Mass officiated by Bishop Rogath Kimaryo of Same.
Local priests joined those from India’s Mangalore diocese who have been working in the diocese of Same for decades concelebrated the Mass.
The ceremony coincided with the 146th birth Anniversary of the congregation’s founder, Servant of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas.
The gathering of about 300 people danced to the rhythm of Bethany Anthem during the entrance procession according to the custom of the Tanzanian culture.
Also present were Sister Lillita, a general councilor of the congregation, and many other religious sisters.
After the profession, the congregation sang the Magnificat, the song Mary from the Bible, thanking God for their gift to Bethany and to the Church.
Sister Celine said the new members are the fruit of the labor of their sisters in Tanzania Mission, which was started in 2013.
Bishop Kimaryo, in his homily, highlighted the ceremony as an epoch-making event in his diocese. The Bethany sisters by their commitment to the mission within a short period had inspired the young girls to embrace religious life, the Tanzanian prelate said and lauded the Indian congregation for its daring spirit in the missionary venture.
During the felicitation program, Sister Celine recalled that the congregation was pioneered by four sisters 100 years ago. It has now become a strong apostolic arm in the Church, she claimed and expressed the hope that their first four new Tanzanian members will make Bethany grow, flower and bear fruit in the post centenary era, especially in Africa.
They are engaged in pastoral, educational and socio-medical works. They also reach out to the poor especially women and children.
In Tanzania, 12 sisters led by Delegation Superior Sister Antonette serve in educational and medical ministry in rural areas.
It all started with Bishop Kimaryo’s personal visit to the Bethany Generalate in 2014. The Tanzanian prelate invited the congregation to begin a mission in his diocese.
Sister Wilberta, who was then the superior general and Sister Lillis, realized the need for her sisters’ presence in the diocese of Same. The Bethany leaders decided to open their first convent in the parish Of Mwanga in 2013.
Sisters Antonette and Ruth Ann joined to the mission on April 8, 2013. On July 4 that year, Sisters Zeena and Jasmani joined the mission.
(Sister Ranjitha is a Bethany sister living in Mwanga, Tanzania.)