St Joseph’s convent - Nakaseke

Uganda

Quick Contact

Office Address

Brief History of the Community

It was the plan of God that the fragrance of the Congregation of the Sisters of ST Joseph of Tarbes should reach Uganda and permeate its presence everywhere in the country. He worked it so methodically and prepared our Sisters to venture into staring a new mission in the pearl of Africa. All the necessary arrangements were made by the Provincial Sr Mercy Jacob.

It was on 5th November 2002, that Sr Mercy Jacob then Provincial and Sr Rosy Sequeira placed their foot on the new continent. The first community to be founded was Nakaseke, in the Diocese of Kasana Luweero, in the district of Nakaseke. It is around 66km from the capital city Kampala. The priests and the people of God at the Nakaseke parish welcomed the Sisters and accepted them warmly. In the month of December the second member of the community Sr Lincy Augustine arrived in Nakaseke. Sr Anitha D’Mello arrived in February 2003. The three members lived in the presbytery along with the priests. In the month of June 2003, Sr Alphonse D’Souza, the fourth member of the community arrived at Nakaseke.

On 11th June 2003, the newly constructed convent was blessed and inaugurated by Rev Bishop Cyprian Luwanga, the Bishop of Kasana Luweero diocese by then. The sisters began to live the mission with zeal and enthusiasm. They were actively involved in the pastoral work, social work, education and sacristy. Sr Alphonse was teaching in the St Joseph’s Primary School and Sr Anitha was teaching in Mazzoldi College. Through the house visits the Sisters realized the need of the hour was to care for the vulnerable children. In order to help these less privileged children and their families, a new project was started in collaboration with AVSI. In the year 2007, St Joseph’s Foster Home was blessed and inaugurated, to care for the children of the single mothers.

In 2012, March 17th, the formation ministry was added to the community. Sr Sunitha Francis was appointed as the Postulant mistress to accompany the Postulants. As the years went by, ARU (Association of Religious in Uganda) advised the Sisters to reunite the foster home children to their families as per Government Act. By 2018 the sisters were able to succeed in this mission of reuniting the children to their families. So the foster home was closed but the children continued to be followed up in their families. In the year 2018 the Sisters came out of Mazzoldi College after rendering few years of service.

All glory and thanks to the Almighty God who enabled the sisters to start a nursery school in 2019. After the closure of the Foster home, sisters sensed the need of the locality to have nursery school to give good Christian foundation to the little children. Through this the sisters were called upon to enter into education ministry again. Today St Joseph’s Community based organization is reaching out 158 children and their families in partnership with AVSI.

VISION STATEMENT

Being attuned to the voice of God, recognizing the uniqueness of each Sister, we strive to grow in fraternal relationship as SJT’s and become effective witnesses of Christ’s mission as a sector.

Apostolates of the Community

Education Apostolate – St Joseph’s Nursery School
St Joseph’s Nursery school was started in the year 2019 with few 44 children of the locality. The school is managed by the Sisters. The number of the children has been increasing and now we have 115 children studying in Baby, Middle and Top classes. The school has 5 staff members and 2 sisters actively involved in this ministry. The sisters and staff members are striving towards its vision and mission by giving them the good moral and Christian values. The performance of the students has been good and appreciated by many.

Vision: Holistic development of the child
Mission: to Nurture moral values in children for responsible Livelihood.

Pastoral Apostolate
The sisters and the Postulants are actively involved in the pastoral apostolate. Home visits and praying with the family is an important weekly activity of the community. The Postulants along with their mistress take care of the sacristy and arranging for daily masses. The young sisters are involved in conducting communion services in the sub parishes on feast days and when called upon by the priests for assistance.

Social Work Apostolate
The community runs St Joseph’s Community based Organization in partnership with AVSI to support the less privileged children and their households. Through this project the children supported to pay their school fees and overall wellbeing of the individual person. The family is empowered and economically strengthened through village savings and loan association. Different training programs are organized to empower the parents to strengthen their financial sustainability. Income generating activities, to support some families to help boost their business and increase the family income.