Novice – 4th December 2010
December 4th, 2010 was a warm beautiful day for the sun seemed to smile at us as we gathered outside the Provincial House in Villa Maria (Nairobi). Many Sisters from all over the Province arrived to witness this occasion.
The ceremony was the reception of Carolyne Opon’g into the Novitiate. Among the many prayerful rituals done was the signing of the senses. This ritual was done by her formator Sr. Agnes. She prayerfully made the sign of the cross on her as different members of the PLT said a special blessing for each of the senses.
Srs. Carolyne, Agnes and Jackline
During the occasion, the Provincial Leader presented a copy of the Constitutions to Carolyne. As part of her novitiate training, she will prayerfully study what it means to be a Sister of Mercy. The newly received will proceed to Nakuru for Novitiate formation. Srs. Joyce and Rosemary will accompany her on her next phase of formation. We wish her God’s blessings in abundance as she journeys into Mercy.
Fr. Brendan Payne SPS began by congratulating the initiate for her generous “Yes” to religious life. Then came the challenge accompanying her positive response: To be a compassionate woman of Mercy in a society that hungers for compassion.
Fr. Brendan delivered an inspiring homily. “As Sisters of Mercy, we need three things in our service of God’s people……
a) The Grace of God.
Jesus on calling the twelve, He said to them, “I will make you fishers of men.” The “I” is very important in this sentence because it is not our own doing – rather the work of the Caller. We need the grace of God always.
b) Secondly he said, we are invited to have a sense of humour. We need to be joy radiators. Mirrors in which others can find their true selves. To be able to laugh at our little imperfections without much ado.
c) Third to be youthful at heart: We are invited to be open to change.
From the gospel reading chosen (Mark 1: 14-20) the disciples were beckoned from the normalities of life by Jesus to follow him. So are we. Our continual Yes is needed in the here and now. We are earthen vessels carrying treasures and the good news is that the caller already knows it too well that we are fragile.
Mother Catherine, being a woman of tremendous faith, taught her sisters how to trust in God’s divine providence. Therefore, following in her footsteps, we have no doubt that God is truly leading us on.
The final part of the celebration was a comfortable cup of tea. And the “tea” was served in all forms and varieties. We enjoyed each other’s company as we went along clearing the dishes!
We as the Kenyan Province have a reason to thank God for the gift of these new lives in our province. We wish her well and God’s blessings as she journeys with us into the spirit of Mercy. “………..My soul glorifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my saviour…..”
Catherine Wamboi rsm
Kenyan Province
2011
My name is Carolyne Akoth Opon’g. I am a first year Novice in the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy.
I was born in an Anglican Family, being a second born of five children to Mr and Mrs. Florence Opon’g. I have two sisters and one brother. My other brother is deceased.
I was born, raised, educated and brought up in Nairobi. My home is in Siaya County, Ugenya District. I come from a happy God fearing family. I attended Catechism classes as an adult and received my First Holy Communion in September 2004 and was confirmed in December of the same year. I was baptised as an infant in the Anglican Church so I was only welcomed in the Catholic Church.
I had never thought of being a religious and I had no idea who they were until I attended a Vocation’s Sunday youth mass and met sisters and priests who were promoting religious vocations. I was specifically drawn to Rose Macharia rsm by the way she presented herself. Since then I began communicating and attending Come and See seminars until I joined the Sisters of Mercy as an aspirant in 2006. I was received as a Postulant in 2008.
After postulancy I went to Chemichemi for a Catechetical Course for one year that ended in May 2010. I was received into the Novitiate in December 2010.
My hobbies include dancing, singing, cooking, reading and listening to music. Since I joined the Sisters of Mercy my interests have increased, I enjoy visiting the sick and the elderly, listening to them, getting to know more sisters in the Congregation, especially those who are with me in the initial formation and those whom I interact with.
I am grateful to God for that Sunday afternoon in Kisumu when I attended the vocations talk. It is evident he had plans for me because I have grown to knowledge of myself, God, others and nature.
First Profession – 1st December 2012
As the Nandi Flames, the Jacarandas and a variety of other brightly colored flowers adorned the Villa Maria compound in Nairobi, so did the Sisters of Mercy, Kenyan Province.
It was Saturday, December 1st 2012, and all came in their element to grace the occasion, the First Profession of Carolyne Akoth Opon’g.
Villa Maria, Nairobi
The short procession began at 10.30 am and our hearts were filled with joy and hope as we witnessed the love and generosity of this young woman desiring to commit herself to God in the Mercy Congregation holding her Profession candle and reading her vows. Our joy was palpable as the witnessing Sisters broke in to song, dance, claps and ululations! Nothing could hinder the strong willed Sisters from attending the celebration as they braved their way through striking matatus (public transport) and as the old saying goes “where there is will, there is a way” they surely found some means to get to Villa Maria and they trickled in at different times!
The opening hymn was sung in Kiswahili and the words were true to the day, translated as “it is pleasing…it is joyful…it is beautiful to be in the house of God and indeed it was beautiful to be in the house of Mercy that morning!
Sr. Liz Fletcher, Provincial of the Sisters of Mercy, Kenya Province at that time, welcomed all present to the Celebration which was presided over by Fr. Frankie McAuliffe (St. Patrick’s Society Priest ministering in Nakuru). Special welcome was extended to Carolyne who was making First Profession. She acknowledged the presence of Marilyn Lacey rsm from the West Coast of the United States who was visiting Kenya and Sr. Debra Campbell – a Providence sister also from the States and working with Catholic Relief Services. Present too was Miss Jacinta Nafula Sikali, a young lady interested in joining Religious life and on a ‘come and see’ visit from Busia-Kenya Uganda border.
Kenyan Sunset
In his homily, Fr. Frankie recounted his own association with the Sisters of Mercy in his home town in Kilrush, Ireland which goes way back since the 1940’s. In that community, he witnessed the heroic deeds of works of mercy and praised their remarkable spirit of hospitality.
Fr. Frankie also referred to the call and commissioning of Peter in the Gospel. He reminded us that, in that account, Jesus did not have a well laid out theological examination set for Peter. Jesus asked Peter boldly, “do you love me?” He asked that question three times to emphasize the importance of love in His ministry. It was only when Peter answered, “Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you… that Jesus commissioned him.
“Love therefore” he said, “is the fundamental quality that we need if we are to be followers of Christ and to witness him to the world. It is mercy and compassion embodied”. He also quoted an article by Henri Nouwen where compassion is named as key in spiritual leadership and the first quality he mentions in the passion of compassion is solidarity – that profound faith experience of human sameness. We are one human family…the family of God and he noted the challenges of today where society urges us to be distinct rather that same, more wealthy, more specialized than others, more this, that and the other and the world will recognize and respect us by those standards. The Good news of the Gospel is, that that kind of superiority is an illusion and that our true identity is in solidarity and in service to God’s people especially the marginalized and it is clearly outlined not only in the Mercy Constitution but more importantly in the lifestyle and works of the Sisters of Mercy since its foundation.
Fr. Frankie remembered the Irish life in the 1950’s when many people where poor and many would never have gone to school were it not for the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers who not only offered free primary education but also a high standard of secondary education at very low cost and indeed free for those who couldn’t afford it and they were many. And even today he said, the same spirit of service to the most needy lives on in Kilrush where Sisters of Mercy live an inspiring witness of love and compassion in action.
In conclusion, he congratulated Carolyne saying that it was a glorious heritage that she is heiress to and we all pledged our prayers and support to her in her commitment.
Sr. Joyce Oluoch
In her brief testimony, Sr. Joyce Oluoch, who has been accompanying the Professed Sister said that she had shown great faith and dedication as witnessed in her mercy apostolate and affirmed that she was ready to make First Profession. She read her vows and Sr. Liz Fletcher received her into vowed membership and presented her with the Mercy Cross as the Congregation applauded her.
A day like this couldn’t possibly end without cutting the cake after a lovely meal. Sr. Redempta rose to the occasion. She sang and danced her comic ’kata cake’ song and was joined by a group of jubilant Sisters.
A series of photo shots took place and Sisters grouped in twos, threes or more as they hugged and kissed goodbye until we meet again at the Chapter event due in ten days. Everyone seemed to exclaim quietly in their grateful hearts – thanks be to God!
Selina Mbuli rsm
Kenyan Province
