ST. JOSEPH’S CONVENT – NYABWINA

Uganda

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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY

We the sisters in Uganda have been exploring the possibilities of expanding the mission to different dioceses. Through the personal contacts with other religious congregation, sisters met the Claretian Fathers working in Nyabwina Parish which belongs to Archdiocese of Mbarara. This paved way for our existence in the diocese.

Nyabwina is located in Kabwohe Masheruka road which is a distance of 51 KM from Mbarara 580 Km from Kampala which is the capital of Uganda. Nyabwina is in the district of Sheema western Uganda. It’s a zone with a difficult access, located right outside and far from town. Nyabwina is one of the 30 parishes in the Catholic Arch diocese of Mbarara with land mark of 10,980sq. mts. The parish has 4,250 catholic Families and 12 sub-parishes. It’s surrounded by mountains, there are around 10,000 catholic in this village. The inhabitants are from the tribe of Banyakole. The main means of livelihood is agricultural products and animal husbandry. The main food is banana and millet.

During the visit of Provincial Sr Maria Goretti to Uganda in the month of November 2010, she visited the parish along with Sr Rosy Sequeira. They felt happy to have our presence, insertion and mission in this place.it was an occasion for us to be at the service of the poor and the needy in particular the Catholics, then the provincial received a letter of invitation from the Arch-bishop and met him in month August 2011 to discuss with him regarding our foundation in the Arch diocese. All the work of the Lord are good, and will supply all needs in time (sir 39:33) The dream of starting a new community is realized on 13 of January 2012. The pioneers were Sr Jacintha D’Silva and Sr Michalemma.

Since the convent was not yet built and the mission was urgent the sisters resided in the existing health centre building. On 13th January 2012 is a memorable day for us as community was blessed by archbishop His Grace Paul Bakyenga with our sisters from different communities, and religious priests, sisters and lay faithful. The community life began with two sisters namely Sr Jacintha D’Silva as animator and Sr Michealamma as member.

Our mission in this place is care for the sick. The parish had existing health center called St. Claret health centre and sisters continued the service in the facility until to this day. It belongs to the parish. Slowly the mission expanded to education as well and began St. Joseph’s Nursery School in 2016. we closed the school in 2021. After discernment and sensing the need for the care for mother and child we extended the service to the existing nursery building as the health centre had limited space for maternity service in 2022. As time gone by mission also progressed to various needs of the place. It was God’s inspirations to cater to the elderly to make them feel recognized, loved therefore sisters began ministry with elderly. Sisters sensitized women and men on saving culture and began saving groups in 2020. God continued his grace and inspiration to move to the differently able and support few children for better education, Support the poor mothers for income generating activities.

Students in the Classroom

Teacher at Work

VISION STATEMENT: “To empower the powerless through pastoral and healing ministry thus to restore human dignity”.

MISSION STATEMENT: “TO BE THE PROPHETESS OF COMMUNION”

EDUCATION APOSTOLATE

The community involves itself in the education of the children as sister teaches in the catholic founded Nyabwina Primary school. Imparting the knowledge, moral values and Spiritual guidance is given to the children. A sister provides guidance and counseling to the children, animates the liturgy in the school. And special attention is given to the slow learners. Presence of sister has made difference in the school.

Family Visits

Sisters involved in Liturgy

PASTORAL APOSTOLATE

Sisters with lot of zeal and love towards the development and formation of both the young, youth and elderly involve ourselves in the activities of the parish. We do liturgical animation by taking up reading for daily mass at parish. Decoration of the alter and church during feasts and important church activities. We do accompany priests for Eucharistic celebrations for sub parishes and share God’s love and care, interact with Christians. Involved in teaching catechism for children hence proclaiming the good news to the young. Sisters are providing spiritual guidance to the youth. We visit the families and pray with them to make them feel loved by God, share with them scriptures to strengthen their faith. Participation in the small Christian community prayers, rosary and Eucharistic celebrations.

HEALTH MINISTRY

The sisters run the health ministry in the parish health center called St. Claret Health center III .
Claret H/C III is located in Masheruka Sub/County, Sheema North HSD Sheema District, it is about 20km from Kabwohe town Sheema Municipality.
It’s is a private not for profit health facility (PNFP) under Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB) found in Mbarara Arch-diocese
It is one of the health Centre III in Sheema north, Sheema district. It was started in the year 2007. And it was started on the foundation of the church on the principle to promote the wellbeing of the society in the spirit of imitation of Christ.
The purpose of starting this health Centre was to provide the community with holistic health.
Started offering OPD services, In-Patients’ services, maternity and later included TB and ART services.
St. Claret health Centre serves the people from 22 villages and other areas like Buhweju, Kashari and Mbarara.
The people of the above catchments area are mainly peasants who grow Matooke, beans, maize and potatoes for food and cash, then coffee as a cash crop and rearing animals like cows, goats, pigs for meat and cash as a small population do some small-scale business.

St Claret Health Centre offers the following health services

Out Patients services
In-patients’ services
Maternity services
Ultra Sound scan services
ART/HIV Services
TB care service
Immunization services
Minor surgeries
School health program
Ambulance services

In collaboration with Ministry of Health and other implementing partners, St. Claret HC is able to provide immunization services, ART/ HIV care and TB care services to the community of Masheruka Sub- County and the neighboring subcounty. St. Claret health center collaborates with Mater Care International Canada towards mother and child health care. Mater care international provided us with all the medical equipments and furniture for the maternity. And Polish foundation funded us for maternity building.

Health Center Building

Medical Camp

Sisters involved in Patient Care

Visit of Mater Care International

Staff Team

Health Awareness Program

Staff Team in Action

Social Awareness Program for Women

Support to the Elderly

Joyful Moments with Elderly

St.Ann & Joachim Group

Support to the Differently Abled

Income Generating Activity

Supporting Children’s Education

SOCIAL WORK APOSTOLATE:

The community is involved in the empowerment of women through saving groups 161 as members. This given them the hope for future. And income generating activities for poor mothers 15 families by providing them with a goat each. Support to the 5 differently able families for income boosting with pigs, goats, bee keeping and petty shop. 20 children are supported for better education through payment of school fees. As God’s inspiration was to cater to the elderly, we have formed Sts. Ann and Joachim elderly group with 95 as members. We gather them every month for spiritual support by sharing the word of God, a moment of sharing their experience with one another and refreshments are provided. We do celebrate every year A DAY FOR THE ELDERLY with celebration of Eucharist animated by the elderly and a fellowship meal. Elderly group has made an impact on their lives they long for the day to be together and spend time with one another.

Lay Associates Group

Celebrating St. Joseph’s Feast

Community Prayer

Faith Formation

LAY ASSOCIATES:

Lay associates involve themselves in the various activities of the community apostolates, ministries they avail themselves for the prayer meetings every month. They do visit the needy, sick and provide them food and other charity work. They gather once in a month at every member’s family and pray together. They do support and collaborate in our ministries like day for elderly and other health centre activities like medical camps outreach programs. They do come together for foundation day of the congregation and St. Joseph Day participate in the prayers and reflection. We do nourish them with word of God and they themselves break the word of once in a month. They do have a day of reflection and solitude, sacrament of reconciliation during lent. This has supported them and made impact on their spiritual growth. Sharing the word of God has depend their faith and love for God.