MALAWI: Teresian Sisters Striving to Live Up to Their Charism
Teresian Sisters
Sam Kalimba
Called to liberate, Sisters of the Congregation of Teresa of Child Jesus popularly known as Teresian Sisters have lived up to their charism by opening St. Therese Junior Primary School at Chapata Village (6 miles) T/A Kalumba in Lilongwe on 11 November, 2022.
According to Senior Group Village Headman Chapata Majawa, his village stands at a very long distance at a radius of 7 kilometres to nearest schools. This according to the local leader was a barrier to children between the ages of 6 to 9, which the new school has targeted to attain early education.
“Before this school was opened, parents from around my area of jurisdiction – an area of 15 villages including Chapata, Kavala, Kanyoni, Jamasi, Golomela, Chimutu, Kanyenje, Mguwata Jodi, and Buluzi – used to send their children to Kaphiri which is over 7 kilometres away. This did not only bar children from attending school but it also posed a threat to the lives of these children. St. Therese School has therefore saved them from these dangers and we appreciate this rescue,” said GVH Chapata as he was receiving the school.
He added that the new school has reduced distance for the children and that especially during rainy season with the unreliable bridges, parents would not send children to school.
Dr Joseph Louis Ver Fernandez from Solidad Candelaria foundation was the Guest of Honour representing the funders of the project. He thanked the Teresian Sisters for thinking of the less privileged in the society.
He added that children need everyone’s support at every point in time and constructing a school for them is one such brilliant support.
On her part, Mother General for the Teresian Sisters Sr Agnes Jonasi asked the community to take good care of the school so that it saves its purpose.
“Guard this school jealously with every energy possible. Sometimes when you do well in small things such these, the Lord blesses you. Give the necessary support to this gift we have received from our good friends and you will be blessed, and our children will continuously have a good future,” she said.
The school has four blocks of 4 classrooms each with carrying capacity of 40 learners in each class.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Deputy Secretary General for the Association of Women Religious in Malawi (AWRIM) Sr. Rufina Lapukeni and the Archdiocesan Teresian Sisters Chaplain Rev. Fr. Demetrio Kadelera.
The congregation of Teresian Sisters was founded by late Bishop Mathurin Guilleme, a member of the Society of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in 1929. The charism of the congregation is ‘Called to Liberate’ the people from different forms of slavery such as ignorance, sin, fear and diseases.
