RWANDA - 25 YEARS OF FMA PRESENCE
Sr. Roseline Machaki, FMA
Saturday 23rd May 2009 is a day that will remain written in the hearts of the FMA, the young, the past pupils, parents and all the members of the Salesian family in Rwanda.
“Mornese is here today” is the slogan that the Sisters in Rwanda chose in order to re-live the memories of 25 years ago when the first four Daughters of Mary Help of Christians arrived in Rwanda. In fact the four FMA who arrived in Rwanda the 13th December 1984 became the pioneers of the Charism in Rwanda.
They were: Sr. Emma Pizzaro, Sr. Maris Esther Corta Varria, Sr. Elisa Zanin and Sr. Lucia Camperos, all from Argentina. Of the four sisters only Sr. Lucia Camperos, who belongs to the Congo Province, was present for the occasion. Sr. Emma Pizzaro who is still a missionary in Rwanda is in her country at present.
The day was marked by a simple celebration full of significance and deep joy. The Mass in honour of Mary help of Christians was celebrated by Fr. Camille Swertvagher, sdb, the Vice Provincial of AGL Province and concelebrated by various religious and Diocesan clergy. The songs and animation for the mass were done by the pupils of E.P.M.A (Ecole Privee Marie Auxiliatrice) in Kigali.
Present for the occasion were Sr. Teresa Fernandes, the Provincial of AFE, Madam Jeanne D’Arc, Minister for Gender and Family who is also a parent in E.P.M.A, the Past Pupils of “ Urugo St. Joseph”, a centre for the less privileged in Kigali, members of the Salesian Family as well as teachers, pupils, parents, and collaborators of E.P.M.A.
After the mass there were different presentations and prepared by the pupils and young people from the SDB Gatenga Youth Centre. In the different speeches of the day, appreciation was expressed for the way in which the Salesian family Spirit marked and characterized the beginnings of the activities of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Rwanda. The past pupils said proudly that, “ We felt at home…it was more than just a center.”
Another past pupil commented, “Now I am going to finish my studies in medicine, because one day the Sisters welcomed me” In her speech, one of the pioneers, Sr. Lucia Camperos, narrated with great emotion their arrival in Rwanda, the welcome and hospitality of the SDB, the difficulties and challenges they faced as they strived to embrace a new culture, and the joys and sacrifices they experienced.
Four FMA sisters we dressed in “vitenges”, (symbol of being a mother) for having lived 25 years of missionary life in Africa - Sr. Lucia Camperos in Rwanda and Sr. Delfina Ceron in Kenya. Sr. Candide Asselin completes 25 years in the missions next year and Sr. Teresa Fernandes was dressed with a ‘kitenge’ for being the mother of all the sisters in the Province.
Currently, in Rwanda the Salesian Sisters are present in Rugunga-Kigali where they accompany, promote and prepare the young in education from nursery to primary school They also run a center for the less privileged girls “urugo St. Joseph” teach Catechesis as well. In Muhato-Gisenyi, the Salesian Sisters form the young girls and women in sewing and catering courses. They also have an oratory that brings a number of young people together during the weekends and holidays.
There is a reason to recapture the words that were written on the scarves the children wore “Mornese is here today”. Yes! Mornese is here in Rwanda! Here in Kigali! Here in Gisenyi! We the FMA of Rwanda joined together as we cried out: “My Soul glorifies the Lord….Mon ame exalte le Seigneur…..Roho yanjye irasingiza Nyagasani”, thanking God for the work done in the past 25 years! We commit ourselves to keeping the fire of the Charism burning in Rwanda, the land of “a thousand hills”.
