The congregation of the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, Nkokonjeru in Buikwe District received eleven new lifetime members on Friday and witnessed five other sisters renew their vows. The sisters committed to living a life of chastity, poverty, and obedience before the Lugazi Diocesan Bishop Christopher Kakooza as the main celebrant and the Mother Superior General, Sr. Mary Christine Nakitende who heads the congregation of St. Francis.
The consecrated sisters have been in service for a period between seven and eight years. They include sisters Regina Kemigisha, Felistas Ntabadde, Josephine Nansubuga, Bernadette Namboowa, Maria Goretti Nakato, Monica Nankunda, Martha Naigaga, Brenda Kayenyi, Sylvia Naula, Teddy Babirye, and Susan Athieno.
All the new sisters were handed over by their parents to receive the rings from the main celebrant, Bishop Kakooza as a symbol that they are now brides to God for the rest of their lives. Bishop Kakooza advised the brides to respect the rings and vows made before bestowing on them crowns designed with thorns and roses to symbolize the journey of hardship and struggles within the life they have chosen to undertake.
The consecrated brides come from Kiyinda-Mityana, Kampala, Lugazi, Nebbi, Mbarara, and Tororo dioceses. At the same function, four sisters renewed their vows after serving for twenty-five years under the same institution.
These include sisters Monica Babirye, Rosemary Babirye Namusoke, Antoinette Nakitende, and Sarah Nakaggwa. Also, Sister Mary Savio who served for sixty years renewed her vows. She asked God for more compassion and protection to serve.
Rev. Sr. Mary Christine Nakitende, the Superior General applauded parents for accepting their children to follow their call of serving Christ. She also advised the new sisters to embrace the consecrated life with zeal, joy, and preservation.
Sr Savio applauded the congregation of St Francis for supporting them through various formations and the communities in which they serve for loving them.
The celebration of the new sisters has come at a time when the Little sisters of St. Francis of Assisi foundation are yet to celebrate 100 years of existence. The Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi is an indigenous congregation founded in May 1923 by an Irish missionary, Mother Mary Kevin, in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
Besides a big congregation that also interceded on behalf of the consecrated new members to serve diligently, the ceremony was also blessed by the Kampala Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere and the Emeritus Bishop of Lugazi Diocese, Mathias Ssekamanya.
Archbishop Ssemwogerere applauded the government for constructing a good road connecting Mukono through Nkokonjeru to Jinja. He noted that good roads save time spent on the way than roads with potholes.
