FALL 2002 Special “Partners in Ministry” Double Issue
Journey to Botswana: One SCN’s Odyssey Note: Kitty Wilson, SCN recently traveled to Botswana to visit with the SCNs in ministry there. She shares her personal story. After customs in Botswana, it was great to see the smiling faces of Sisters Annie and Nalini! (SCNs Ann Muthukattil and Nalini Mecharil) The landscape on the drive to Kanye is beautiful – filled with hills, cacti, bushes, and thatched roof homes. When driving you have to be watchful of people, especially school children who walk miles to school, in addition to donkeys, cattle, goats, and dogs. The first thing I noticed when we arrived at the SCN home was the beautiful flower garden. Sisters Nalini and Annie warmly welcomed me with KFC (Kanye fried chicken). Our
What’s Inside: 2 One professes vows, seven enter candidacy/prenovitiate 4 SCN to represent Charity Federation at United Nations 5 SCN Jubilarians 6 On the Move 8 Alumni Journeys 9 Journeying On 10 Honorary and Memorial Gifts 14 Special “Partner in Ministry” Section
SCN home is on the compound of the Thapelong Church Mission, which also houses the rectory, a parish house, youth building, elementary school, and outdoor kitchen.
where Sister Nalini stayed six weeks with a local family in order learn Setswana and the culture. Mma Modisa, the head
Desert, where I visited with Father Julian, a Passionist priest in Hukuntsi Village. We drove 80 kilometers to visit the
Sister Annie teaches World Religions to students in Forms I and II (grades 9 and 10) and has two Communion classes on Saturday and a religion class on Sunday. Every fourth Sunday, she conducts a WITH THE PEOPLE OF BOTSWANA: Kitty Wilson, SCN, visits with the people Communion of the Lobatse village during her recent visit to Botswana. In accordance with service in local customs, Sister Kitty was asked to sit in the only chair her hosts owned as a Setswanain sign of hospitality. Tswaneng, a remote village woman, gave me a live Bush people who live in where the people sit on chicken, which is Ngwatle Settlement. When blankets under a tree. traditional when one visits we arrived, one woman Afterward many in the for the first time. said, “Father, we have no village walk to the home of water.” Father Julian gave an elderly, blind woman I also had the opportunity each one in the settlement with whom Sister Annie to teach novices and a cup of water from the shares Eucharist. The postulants from three tank he had on his truck. people usually give the religious communities — Government officials had ministers a meal, but on both a challenge and a joy. failed to bring them water this particular Sunday one They long for education because they want the of the women humbly said, and spirituality, and were people to move from the “We have no food in the filled with questions land. The Busarwa people, village.” Fortunately, Sister concerning sexuality and also known as Bushmen, Annie had brought some the vow of chastity. survive in the driest parts food with her to share. One of my most of the Kalahari Desert, Sister Nalini and I visited meaningful experiences Metsi Mothlhaba Village happened in the Kalahari …Continued On Page 2
“...For I do hope to see you on my journey, and be sent on by you once I have enjoyed your company for a little while...” Romans 15:24
17830 SCN Journey News 10/02
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