Diocese: Machakos
Pioneers: Sisters Cynthia Wilma Rego, Cecilia D’Souza and Reshma D’Souza
Sisters Cynthia Wilma Rego, Cecilia D’Souza and Reshma D’Souza landed at Katoloni at Machakos in Kenya on February 6, 2012. At their arrival, they resided in a house of the Diocese, which is in the Bishops’ Campus. The Campus consists of eight religious institutes belonging to various religious Congregations. A diocesan seminary, a parish church, a pastoral centre, and teachers’ quarters also form part of the Campus. Their house, named Assisi Convent was blessed and inaugurated on the day of their arrival by Bishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Machakos Diocese.
Pastoral apostolate is the primary concern of the Sisters at Machakos, which they render in two secondary schools, a parish, Our Lady of Fatima and chapel of the seminary Pope Paul VI. In the secondary schools, which are residential in nature, the Sisters are involved in preparation and conducting of Sunday liturgy, catechizing on Sundays and preparing students for adult Baptism, reception of Holy Communion, and Confirmation. The parish church and the seminary chapel are taken care by way of their upkeep for liturgical celebrations and prayer. Their cleanliness is a routine task of the Sisters.
As a varied ministry, the Sisters instruct in the diocesan Minor Seminary, consisting of classes IX to XII with a number of 250 students. The pupils belong to diverse backgrounds such as single mother/father, step mother/father, pupils under custody of a guardian. Given this reality, the Sisters have a demanding schedule which resumes at 4.45 am. In other words, they are required to strive towards holistic growth of students and not mere academic progress. Sr Reshma was involved totally in health apostolate at Bishop Kioko Hospital. Her cheerfulness, self-confidence and committed service made her the most fitting person for the job. Her work was rightly recognized and appreciated by the Director as well as the Management of the hospital. When a new community was started in Kenya at Kithimani in June 2013, she was transferred there to pioneer the health apostolate and Sr Vivian Lona Pinto replaced her. The latter has begun her mission with youthful zeal. Sundays are days of communion: all religious and priests residing in the Campus meet together for BCC prayer. The occasion is utilized to discuss issues related to their mission.
In their own words, their mission is demanding. However, they are bracing through it. Good and supportive neighbours are a pillar of support to them. This positive note of fruitfulness in mission is affirmed by the bishop at their completion of one year in the mission. He said, “Thank you for your dedication to the ministry! You have brought us new life, joy and revived our missionary zeal. Be blessed with the peace of Christ and joy of the Holy Spirit”.
