TANZANIA: Sisters of Saint Gemma Congregation have celebrated 75 years jubilee
Sarah Pelaji
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Gemma of Galgani of Dodoma Archdiocese has celebrated 75 anniversary since its establishment in 1947 by Monsignor Stanslaus Ambrozin of the Passionists in Kondoa Irangi the Central of Tanzania.
The Jubilee marked on Sept. 14th 2022 at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Kondoa Diocese by the Holy Mass was presided over by the Archbishop Emmeritus of the Dar es Salaam Archdiocese His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo.
Cardinal Pengo congratulated the congregation for the jubilee saying that the 75 years jubilee is not the end of the congregation rather the first year towards another 75 years to come.
The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dodoma Most Rev.Beatus Kinyaiya as the General Patron of the St. Gemma Congregation of his Diocese Dodoma encouraged the Religious women to continue preaching the Crucified Christ on the cross which is the identity of Christians.
He said, “As a nation we have our Identity as Tanzanian name ‘NIDA Cards”, so Christians also have their identity which is the Cross.”
The General Patron of St. Gemma Congregation further expressed his dismay at the emerging churches in today’s society led by some pastors who use wrong theology in preaching the Word of God to the people.
“There are some who sell oil and convince their believers that if they face life’s challenges, they should anoint themselves,” he said adding that he witnessed someone using a broom that if his believers use it they will be able to sweep and throw away the devil.
“What saddens me is that Catholics attend those services and you support them. Did Christ redeem us with oil and a broom or the Cross? He posed a questioned to the Christians.
Thus, “through these celebrations, every Christian need to recognize his identity as the Cross, that Christ died for us on the Cross and then rose again,” The Archbishop expressed.
On his part, the President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Most Rev Gervas Nyaisonga said that the jubilee is one of the events that assures the Church that the work of evangelization continues to develop and will last.
“TEC congratulates you as a congregation for various achievements especially today that you are allowed to wear Passionists badge to continue witnessing the Crucified Jesus our salvation,” he said.
Explaining the history of the Institute, the Superior General of the Congregation Sr. Euphrasia Mwingira narrated that; The Congregation of St. Gemma of Galgani of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dodoma was founded in 1947 by Monsignor Stanslaus Ambrozin of the Organization of Passionists (Passionists) in Kondoa Irangi.
Monsignor Ambrozin arrived in Kondoa with the Misericordia sisters of Verona who collaborated in the mission. He then started with five girls whom he later entrusted to the Sisters of Misericordia of Verona saying; ‘Form them with a heart of compassion and suffering.’
However, he left them with a mission which is the official work of the organization “to preach the Gospel to all people, especially to preach Christ Crucified.”
The congregation thus provides community education and religious education in the community from kindergarten to university level as they serve children with cerebral palsy, the orphans and the children whose parents are imprisoned. Additionally, the Sisters provide health care services in hospitals and various health centers.
“Our mission is to enable us to announce the Suffering and Crucified Christ in various circumstances, including caring for human dignity in its state of poverty,” explained Sr. Auphrasia.
She further added that, when the congregation celebrates the jubilee of 75 years of mission, it has shown maturity because it started with only five sisters, now they are 308 sisters.
According to the Superior General, for many years the congregation has been eager to be included in the union of the Passionists the congregation of their founder.
So this year the Provincial of the Passionists after discussing with his colleagues has allowed the Congregation of St. Gemma of Galgani to be in the Union of Passionists and allow them to wear their badge.
“They have allowed us to wear the badge of the Passionists which we have started wearing on the jubilee day.
“We thank God for having a founder Passionists who loved us even though God took him early because we only stayed with him for four years,” the Superior narrated and continued, “We have seen the foundations he laid for us are strong and good, that’s why we have continued to grow spiritually, physically, morally and economically.”
She explained that, this year the congregation has marked the Jubilee by building the Garden of Gethsemane Center in which they have placed stations of the Cross and the Tomb of Jesus Christ as a reminder of the monastic life but in the spirit of compassion and suffering that the organization that lives it.
“We thank our founders of the Passionists and our Misericordia Mothers of Verona for making us present in the Church,” she explained.
