By Sister Rita K. Ishengoma

It was my last days with St. Therese SCC, Msimbazi, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. On 5 March 2012 the Theresian Sisters handed over our ministry as a Congregation to the Little Sisters of St. Francis in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam where we had served for more than 40 years. We also had to depart from the SCC that was a loving community where we shared many events. We knew every member and their children and they loved and knew us. The community gathered at one of the member’s homes and we shared the Word of God using the Bible passage on: Let us keep on united, love has no limit and we are united in Jesus Christ. Before we left members came to our convent bringing gifts to all 10 Sisters as a remembrance. We shared soft drinks and we said goodbye.

Jesus said, “let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come” (Mark 1:38). We were happy to go to other villages to serve the children of God. So we went to Bukoba. Now my favorite experience is lively SCCs at Hekima Girls Secondary School that is run by the St. Therese Sisters in Bukoba, Tanzania. The students live and share the lifestyle of a Catholic SCCs. There are nine SCCs. They meet weekly on Monday after supper in their different communities. The SCCs usually use the LUMKO steps and other times they choose different approaches of articulating the Word of God.

I was touched how the nine SCCs celebrated the school feast day. Pentecost is the School Day. “HEKIMA — WISDOM –HOLY SPIRIT.” The preparations begin with a nine day Novena.  Each community prepares a day. The sharing is the Word of God from the Bible, the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, life experiences from the student themselves, action plans, contributions to what are needed for the School Chapel like vestments, decorations, wine and hosts, etc. I was amazed how students contribute, listen, acquire the way of this unity and connect the Word of God from the Gospel to everyday life. The food and drinks were contributed by the school and the students as Jesus told the Apostles “bring the fish you have caught.” SCC members sit in their own community. They eat, dance and sing all day long.

Is it possible for all our SCCs (neighborhood SCCs and School SCCs) to celebrate our Patron/Patroness Saints? Come let us follow the good example of our Hekima Secondary School.

Sister Rita K. Ishengoma, STH
Hekima Girls Secondary School (Theresian Sisters)
PO Box 1817
Bukoba, Tanzania
Cellphone: 075-5551735
Email: rishengomak@yahoo.com