KENYA: Cameroonian Sister Dies at Chemchemi, Eulogized as Nun who Walked the Talk
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
A Cameroonian-born nun and former Provincial Superior of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis (TSSF) Sr. Bibiana Feh Gweningum commonly known as Mother Roberta who has been in Kenya since January 2020, died on Thursday, February 18, at Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi and has been eulogized as a nun who matched her behavior with her words.
Mother Roberta who came to Kenya after handing over the administration of Cameroon Province for the TSSF where she served as the Provincial Superior for six years until 2019, joined the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK) Chemchemi ya Uzima Institute (ACCUI) to further her studies in Psycho-spiritual Counselling.
Reading eulogy for the late Mother Roberta on behalf of the Provincial Superior of the TSSF Sr. Gloria Wirba Kenyuyfoon, during the funeral Mass at St. Austin’s Mission Cemetery, Nairobi on Wednesday, February 24, the AOSK Executive Secretary Sr. Pasilisa Namikoye disclosed that the late Franciscan nun joined ACCUI because of the “great need to assist traumatized Sisters and people affected by the current political crisis” in her country.
“You were a solace to people in distress and you sought wholesome remedy for all at all cost: spiritual, physical, material, herbs to rub, to drink or to leak, food to eat and prayers to say. You would follow up the people till they were liberated,” reads part of the TSSF Provincial Superior’s eulogy and continues, “None of our problems was too complex for you to attempt a solution. You were self-reliant and creative, you found opportunities everywhere and led the “poor” to fetch the fish.”
The Provincial Superior who was following the funeral Mass virtually added in her eulogy to Mother Roberta, “Your servant leadership was prophetic… your insight, tact, sensitivity, sincerity and humility spoke for themselves that you were a “mother.” Generous, hospitable, nurturing, forgiving, teaching, counselling, interceding, listening and caring to all and at all times.”
The funeral arrangements for Mother Roberta who fell sick at the beginning of February was organized by the leadership of AOSK who described her as a “special” nun who “actively participated in transforming the ever-green compound (of Chemchemi) to a compound of different flowers.”
Speaking on behalf of AOSK at the funeral Mass that was attended by hundreds of Religious women from different congregations, the clergy, the Cameroon fraternity of Religious in Kenya, the Head of Cameroonian Diplomatic Mission in Kenya Dr. Vivian Nain Kuma and her Deputy, representatives from the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa, (ACWECA), representative from Mother Roberta’s family and other friends, AOSK chairperson Sr. Josephine Keino, appreciated the short life lived by Mother Roberta in Kenya highlighting that she was “a great gift to Sisters in Kenya.”
“Within that short span of time, she touched the lives of many people…you leave a legacy of hard work and integrity,” Sr. Keino underscored adding that Mother Roberta was a diligent nun “a leader, a sister to all, a woman of prayer, very responsible, strong in character and unassuming.”
She appreciated the unity shown by members of AOSK saying, “I want to recognize the strength and unity of AOSK that we have shown through these trying moments since sister left us and for being true to our motto, “United we stand as a sign of God’s presence.”
On his part the main celebrant for the Eucharistic celebration Fr. John Baptist Zamcho encouraged the congregation to always be prepared for death anytime and anywhere.
“In God’s eye there is no country, no tribe, no congregation, no religion, but wherever we are, we are in God’s hands,” Fr. Zamcho told mourners who were physically present at the funeral and those who were following online in various parts of the world.
The cleric urged the congregants to be attentive to the signs of time especially during this period when “humanity is vulnerable and there are so many casualties in the world” due to the current pandemic that has ravaged the world “more than any world war.”
In conclusion, the Director of ACCUI Sr. Luciana Njeri Wanyahoro appreciated the collaboration of all those who offered support towards the death of Mother Roberta and challenged the TSSF congregation to think of having a community in Kenya.
