JINJA

ST JOSEPH’S CONVENT – JINJA

Uganda

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BRIEF HISTORY

Community Sisters - 2025

The Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes acquired the property at Jinja on July 2013, from the Ugandan government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development’s Privatization Sector Unit. It was made possible through Fr Richard Kayaga Gonza when he learnt from late Fr Richard Lubaale a Camillian priest that the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes (SJT) were looking to purchase a property around Jinja for their formation house. So they contacted Sr Lincy Augustine SJT in Kakira, who accompanied by Sr Rosy Sequeira the then sector coordinator, visited the property. They recognized its potential value to the congregation and initiated serious negotiations with the existing tenants from the advertisement of the sale of properties belonging to the former Uganda Railway in Jinja, The initial offer was extended to the sitting tenants, with re-advertisement to the outsiders only if these tenants declined. These properties housed former Uganda Railway and Rift Valley Railway staff and their families.

ESTABLISHING THE TARBES FORMATION HOUSE –JINJA

On September 9th 2013, the parties involved in the property transaction signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the agreed terms and conditions and the signing was witnessed by Counsel Edward Ssemamboof Kiiza, Tumwesigye advocates, as the principal witness and Father Richard Kayaga.

Concurrently, the sector council saw the advantages of the numerous religious houses around Jinja, which could provide spiritual assistance to the novices. A report was sent to the Superior General to request permission to relocate the novitiate from Nattyole to Jinja. Upon receiving permission, renovations to the property were carried out throughout 2014.

The relocation of novitiate marked a significant milestone for Uganda Sector. On April 20, 2015, the two novices, Akello Eunice Lucy and Ainembabazi Flavia, along with their novice mistress Sr. Christina Gomez, moved from Nattyole to Tarbes formation House-Jinja. 

The first two novices and their novice mistress Sr. Christina Gomez- Jinja 2015

Two days later, the Rt. Rev. Charles Wamika, Bishop of Jinja Diocese blessed the Novitiate and Sr. Jeyarani Arulanandu the Assistant Provincial formally inaugurated the formation house amidst celebrations.

From the year 2015 to 2023, five batches of novices passed through this formation house.

In the year 2023, August when the new formation house was ready at Masaka the Novitiate was shifted there. Consequently, “Tarbes Formation House-Jinja” was renamed as St Joseph’s convent Jinja. 

St Joseph’s Convent Jinja vision, mission and objectives:

Vision: Embodying the Trinitarian love of God and become a vibrant prayerful community of the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes, upholding dignity and building in the milieu a transformative power of communion, leading to a more just and fraternal society in Jinja.

Mission: “TO BE THE PROPHETS OF COMMUNION”

 Objectives: By living the SJT Charism, we ensure the continued spiritual growth, professional development, and community engagement of community sisters and together we witness to the SJT way of life and mission among the people we serve giving priority to the most vulnerable.

Active engagement of community sisters/ community life

  • Time of community worship and praise
  • United we live and work together to build his kingdom
Evolution of ministries/ apostolates of St Joseph’s Convent Jinja

The transformation of Jinja house from a novitiate to a multi-faced center highlights a dynamic and responsive approach to the community needs around and the formation and development of sisters (student sisters and community sisters). As sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes, our life and mission are deeply rooted in community life, prayer life and service. At St Joseph’s convent- Jinja, we are actively involved in various ministries that promote Spiritual, developmental, social and economic empowerment especially for the vulnerable school dropout teenage mothers and girls.

As a community we live a simple and joyful community life, centered on daily Eucharist, prayer, shared meals and mutual support. Our unity (community life) is a witness of Christ’ love from which all our ministries flow. 

Student sisters in the community

Our community is blessed with two student sisters who live in community while studying. Sr Joyce Angee is a perpetually professed sister pursuing her Diploma in Counselling and Psychology. Sr Fausita Kyohangirwe is a junior sister studying Diploma in records and information management. Alongside studying, the sisters actively participate in community prayer, community duties, vocation promotion work and family visits during weekends and holidays. This balance of study and service strengthens the formation and prepares for the future mission.

PASTORAL MINISTRY: – Family visits, Family Prayer

Jinja being an industrial heartland of Uganda has attracted many people from different regions, religions and cultures. Therefore, the families that the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes – Jinja community visit are from various cultures, spirituality, background and facing different struggles. As a community we carryout family visits as a sacred ministry that nurtures unity, fosters healing relationship, and bring the compassionate presence of Christ into our neighborhood homes. Family visit has embodied our call to build communion with God, others and the creation. We the Sisters take turn to be with the Basic Christian community of our neighborhood, to pray and to break the word of God for them.

Vocation animation

In view of calling forth disciples to continue Christ’ mission the community participates in carrying out vocation animation. The sisters visit different parishes and schools encouraging young catholic girls, to awaken their call to follow Jesus through our charism to religious life.

SOCIAL WORK APOSTOLATE

Empowerment Program:

  • Women savings group: This ministry is just begun with the teenage mothers and girls who are working at our tailoring unit. This is in view of helping them adopt saving culture by limiting their unnecessary expenditures and to utilize their income creatively and to improve their livelihood.
  • Tailoring Program for school dropout teenage mothers and girls : Following the shifting of the Novitiate from Jinja to Masaka, the leadership of the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes – Uganda Sector discerned the need around and planned to utilize the former Novitiate premises for a sustainable mission driven project. After a prayerful reflection, studying the need of the locality, a tailoring program was initiated with the dual purpose of supporting school dropout teenage mothers and girls.

The tailoring project officially commenced operation on 4th February 2024, focusing primarily on stitching of uniforms for the educational Institutions run by the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes. This new initiative of Tailoring Project was blessed and inaugurated along with the Holy Eucharistic Celebration by Fr. Charles Okatta OFM Cap, the Parish Priest of Kakira. Sr. Vani Susheela was made the in-charge of this new Project. She was the first to lead the project and laid a strong foundation in the administration, marketing and establishing trust with the initial clients. Her pioneering work set the tone for the project’s current success.

Today, tailoring program initiative at St Joseph’s Convent – Jinja not only serve the practical need for affordable, quality uniforms but also has created avenue for mission outreach and empowerment specifically for the school dropout teenage mothers and girls by offering them with:

  • Tailoring skill training.
  • Promoting their self-reliance and income generation to sustain their families and children.

On 8th February 2025, the tailoring project was handed over to Sr Christina Gomez to be the In-charge, Sr Christine Nambalirwa as the bursar and Sr Susan Adong as the supervisor. These sisters play a vital role by adding a profound dimension to both the practical and spiritual development of the beneficiaries.

Sr Christina Gomez –current project in charge

Sr Christina Gomez sees to the overall management of the project. Her responsibility include: 

  • Coordinating production schedules and ensuring quality control.
  • Ensuring alignment with the congregation values and mission
  • Fostering a spirit of unity and collaboration among the Sisters and beneficiaries.
  • Liaising with clients and schools for uniform orders

Sr Susan Adong – project Supervisor

Sr Susan ensures day to day operations run smoothly. Her duties include:

  • Supervising the tailors production staff
  • Monitoring progress to meet the deadlines
  • Ensuring that the work environment is safe and collaborative
  • Providing spiritual and moral support to the workers

Sr Christine Nambalirwa – project bursar

Sr Christine manages financial aspects of the project, including;

  • Budgeting and tracking income and expenses
  • Managing payments for material and labor
  • Preparing financial reports and ensuring transparence, embodying Christian Stewardship, and accountability.
  • Seeking financial sustainability while maintaining affordability
  •  Educates teenage mothers and girls in basic financial responsibility, connecting ethical handling of money with faith values.

Together the sisters foster an environment where faith and practical life are deeply intertwined to Offer a holistic formation – teaching tailoring while restoring self-worth, dignity and faith, encouraging and cultivating a community of belongingness needed for the teenage mothers and girls who feel rejected or excluded by the society. Encourage the teenage mothers and girls to see their work as a vocation not just a job participating in God’s creative and redemptive work.

Activities undertaken in the project
While the tailoring project is developmental in nature, it remains deeply rooted in the charism of communion. Therefore, at St Joseph Youth ministry (tailoring project), we consider work as a ministry of service and not merely a business venture.

Production of uniforms
The main activity of the project is the design, cutting and stitching of school uniforms. Initially serving only the SJT schools, the project has expanded to serve other institutions nearby. In doing this we consider dressing children with dignity, supporting education and witnessing to the love of Christ through care, love and humility.

Custom orders and repairs
The tailoring unit has begun taking small scale custom tailoring and repair jobs to maximize productivity off peak times.

Skills training (Future Plan)
There is consideration for starting tailoring skills training component in future to empower young women of the surrounding locality, with sewing and business skills, aligning with the mission of promoting dignity and self-reliance. 

Sr. Susan In-charge of the skill training
We continue to promote and build communion with the milieu as we serve with love and dedication. 
St. Joseph’s Convent -Jinja