JINJA - GENERALATE DISTRICT

JINJA - Uganda

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JINJA / Uganda

Since 1993 our sisters have worked in Jinja, a station in Uganda, at the northern shore of Lake Victoria. They erected a clinic and kindergarten, and recently built an elementary school. The fertile land and moderate climatic conditions allow the sisters to mantain fruits- and vegetable gardens, as well as some cattle.

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History of JINJA

Foundation

The beginnings actually started when two Ugandan candidates entered the formation program in our Nairobi Priory in 1981. In time, the question of a future mission in Uganda was raised. A request for sisters came from the Bishop of Tororo, where the Missionary Benedictine Monks have a Priory. Mother Edeltrud Weist, (at that time Vicaress General) made the initial visit to Uganda, "The Pearl of Africa," in 1982. In June of that same year, M. Gertrud Link made a follow up visit. However, since there was already a contemplative community of Benedictines in Tororo, and because an urgent request came from Bishop Joseph Willigers, MHM, of Jinja, consideration of a new foundation shifted from the Tororo Diocese to the Jinja Diocese.

By 1992 a 20.5-hectare plot was purchased and in 1993 Sr. Elisabeth Tilly was assigned to supervise the construction of a dispensary (which included an annexed convent wing) and kindergarten. The Evangelizing Sisters of Mary on Rubaga Hill welcomed the community of three during the construction phase: Sr. Elisabeth Tilly, Sr. Benedicta Yeo and Sr. Judette Pulle, (a Ugandan Junior sister professed in 1991). The sisters were in constant dialogue with the Generalate. Sr. Chantal Gerster, then prioress in Nairobi, and our Benedictine Fathers and Brothers in Tororo were our special supporters in meeting the challenges of construction and when purchasing all the big and small needs of a new community. March 21, 1996, Bishop Willigers blessed the new dispensary, monastery (one wing of the dispensary) and kindergarten.

In the following 20-plus years the community and ministries continued to develop.

" A sugar cane plantation (first harvest in 2002) and farm were developed for community self-sustainability.

" St. Benedict Grade School (an expansion from the kindergarten established earlier) opened its doors in 2001, buildings were added in 2002-2003, 2007.

" Plans and construction of the new monastery were long and hard, as the rocky subsoil proved a major challenge. Initial plans had to be largely abbreviated, leaving the upper floor unconstructed. The one-story monastery was completed in 2009.

" St. Benedict Dispensary stretched out and up as they added a reception area, a maternity wing and a dentistry department.

In our short history we have had six superiors:

" Sr. Elisabeth Tilly (1993-1999)

" Sr. Sophia Lee (1999-2005)

" Sr. Athanasia Simon (2005-2008)

" Sr. Mary Vincent Feliciano (2008-2014)

" Sr. Ruth Bartonico (2014-2015) until her election in Peramiho

" Sr. Rosann Ocken 2015 - present

December 1993 Departing Nairobi loaded with loving support

Blessing of the Ground 1994

1995 New Kindergarten, Sr. Judette and Sr. Edissa

1995 Entire Community before the temporal Convent (left) and Dispensary (right)

1998 First official Visitation

Two Superiors: Sr. Sophia (left) and Sr. Athanasia (right)

2008 Community in front of the Construction of the new Monastery

Huge Rocks that created a Problem in the Construction Phase

Formation

Since our first Ugandan formandees entered with our sisters in Karen, we have looked to our community there for our formation needs. Currently, we have three novices and one postulant in formation in Karen. We are so grateful for their support over the past 25+ years. Currently the Jinja community is preparing to have the initial stages of a formation program in our monastery.

Membership

Over the years, many sisters from many of our priories from throughout the Congregation have given a part of their lives to foster the up building of the Jinja community. Today we are sixteen professed members: seven final professed and nine junior professed. All but two are from East Africa.

2015 October – Community at the time of the Visitation

Ministry - St. Benedict Health Center

Patients line up waiting to receive medical treatment at our St. Benedict Health Center. Since the beginning, Sr. Benedicta Yeo has directed the growth of our health center while giving personal attention to the thousands of patients that come to our door. According to the Jinja Diocesan Director of Health, St. Benedict's Health Center is the best health facility in our area, even better than the local hospitals. The poor have a special place in Sr. Benedicta's heart and she is always planning how to give our best to all those in need. She says, "Life is sacred; we are family." A new Dental Department a new HIV-AIDS treatment program and advanced care for the mothers in maternity are three of the recent developments.

Dispensary Waiting Area

Sr. Anna Mary in the Dispensary Lab

Ministry - St. Benedict Grade School

Over six hundred students from Kindergarten to Primary-Seven have the unique opportunity to blend excellent education with a lively experience of faith formation. Without a doubt, our head teacher,

Sr. Judette Pulle, all the sisters, faculty and staff are shaping the future of Uganda!! Our school focuses on:

" The development of the whole person, moral development

" A Benedictine sense of "being community" -caring for one another

" Making Christ present to the children of all faiths (Muslims come to our school.)

" Respect for each person and the enhancement of the tribal cultures.

" Intellectual development and co-responsibility.

" Care for creation

St. Benedict’s Grade School

Sr. Augustina Joseph with Kindergarten graduates

Student Dancers at feast

Challenges

Because our community membership is still so young, probably our first challenge is to strengthen and develop the community in every aspect of our Missionary Benedictine lives. Professional training of our young members is a constant challenge.

Our primary ministries of the dispensary and school are respected for their very high quality. However, both ministries are very challenging for a small, developing community.

Vocation and Formation development will be essential for the future of the community and our ministries.

The face of poverty is before us daily. Outreach to the poor (beyond our institutions) remains a challenge because of lack of finances and trained personnel.

That in all things God may be glorified!

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Gallery of JINJA