Silver Jubilee of FMA in Kenya
1984 - 2009 THE PROVINCIAL CELEBRATION
Sr. Eleanor Gibson, fma
Sr. Virginia Bickford, fma
The theme Light your World – Be Converted to Love permeated both the preparation and celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the FMA in Kenya and Mazzarello Day held in Embu on Saturday, 9th May 2009. It was a celebration like no other and trying to capture its beauty and intensity is almost impossible! The Pastoral Commission sent materials to the communities monthly focusing on 4 areas in line with the theme: Jesus, St. Mary Mazzarello, the first Missionaries’ arrival, and the Youth. Students who returned to school on 5th May for Term II soon found themselves in a whirlwind of activity from cleaning to decorating to liturgy practice. Sr. Teresa Fernandes with some Sisters from the Pastoral Commission and 4 postulants arrived two days earlier to give a helping hand.
On the morning of the 9th more than 500 young people from the FMA and SDB centres and schools in Kenya along with representatives of other groups of the Salesian family joined the 200 residents of Embu. A Praise and Worship session opened the day followed by a prayer moment in which a huge candle was paraded back and forth reminding all that Jesus is the Light we must reflect in our lives. Sr. Rosetta Guarnier and Sr. Virginia Bickford, two of the original pioneers present, received a lovely corsage of recognition from Sr. Teresa Fernandes. All the missionary sisters were then invited to come forward and receive a colouful badge with their names and the words “thanks” and “Congrats” written on it. However, our thoughts couldn’t help but wander to the other pioneers who were not present for the occasion, but are working in other countries of the Province: Sr. Rosa Farina in Tonj, Sudan, Sr. Delfina Ceron in Rwanda, Sr. Antonieta Scomparin in Zway, Ethiopia, and Sr. Mary Riva in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. The participants then broke into five groups according to the scarf colours they received at registration. The groups rotated every 20 minutes to different stations “to relive or be refreshed” by a presentation on the theme through drama, creative power points, and a special game. At the pioneer station the participants gasped in amazement at the slides of the pioneers 25 years ago wondering if they could have ever been that young! Everyone was served a delicious lunch afterwards and then gathered at the school for the climax of the day - the Eucharistic Celebration.
Sr. Laurencia Ndwiga read a letter from “St. Mary Mazzarello” congratulating them for the fruits of these 25 years. In a creative presentation the novices and sisters of Mutuini traced our roots from Mornese to the development of all our communities in Kenya. The Provincial Fr. P.L. Joseph, SDB concelebrated the Mass with Fr. Simon Asira, SDB and other priests. The liturgy was animated by the young people from the different houses clothed in an array of brilliant- colored scarves, khangas, and head and wrist bands swaying to lively liturgical hymns and dances.
The finale of the liturgy was the Candle Dance at the end of the Mass. Assembled along the veranda in small groups were representatives from each house dancing their interpretation of the song “Light Your Candle” as everyone held his/her candle and sang. Slowly each group processed out of the area ready to bring Jesus’ light to the world!
