The Daughters of Our Lady of Fatima sisters celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Fatima yesterday in the Mother House at Rushoroza hill marking 107 years since Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children at Fatima. On the same day, Sr. Maria Tumuheirwe celebrated 25 years in religious life.
Preaching during Mass, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General Kabale Diocese, congratulated the Fatima sisters upon celebrating the feast day and delivered the greetings from the bishop who wished them fruitful apostolate both in Kabale Diocese and beyond.
He thanked the Daughters of Our Lady of Fatima for the good work they do in different departments and institutions of the diocese e.g Rushoroza Procure, Kabale Diocesan Printing Unit, Kabale Diocesan Book Centres, apostolate in various parishes among others.
He reminded them of the message delivered by the Blessed Virgin Mary, prayer, repentance. She congratulated Sr. Maria Tumuheirwe upon celebrating 25 years in religious life.
While giving her message, the Superior General of the Daughters of Our Lady of Fatima, Sr. Scholastic Kyobutungi thanked God for the gift of Mother Mary to the Church. She said that on 13/5/1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children, Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia in a small town of Fatima in Portugal and asked them to pray, make reparation.
She thanked the parents of Sr. Maria for offering and dedicating their daughter to God and now celebrates 25 years. It was also a moment of joy where different religious congregations in Kabale Diocese under their umbrella ARU (Association of the Religious in Uganda) came together to show solidarity in celebrating together. These included Daughters of Our Lady of Fatima, Daughters of Mary and Joseph, Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Brothers of St. Joseph the Worker, Holy Family Sisters, Benebikira Sisters and the Brail Sisters.
Sr. Kyobutungi expressed joy and gratitude for the Feast Day of the congregation, very first day when Mary appeared to the 3 children and subsequently other apparitions. She requested the children to make reparation for sins and pray for the repentance of sinners. She appeared for the other 6 months consecutively (from 13th May to 13th October 1917). “It’s a day to remind ourselves of the charisma of the congregation, to pray for repentance of sinners, make acts of reparations,” said Sr. Scholastic Kyobutungi.
The Fatima sisters have 28 communities in the country spread from various districts. Before the actual day of the celebration, the community members have a one week retreat and this year it was facilitated by Fr. Fidel Ndagijimana, Pastoral Coordinator Kabale Diocese. She was grateful to him for giving them a fruitful facilitation.
Sr. Scholastic encouraged all the people of God to mend their ways, pray the rosary daily and devoutly, pray for our families and at work places with the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima.
The parents and relatives of Sr. Maria Tumuheirwe thanked God for the gift of her religious life for the last 25 years. They thanked the Daughters of Our Lady of Fatima for receiving and accepting their daughter into the congregation and nurturing her vacation in the last 25 years. They thanked their daughter, Sr. Mary for loving her religious life with commitment and prayed that God continues to strengthen her in the vocation.
Sr. Maria Tumuheirwe, the jubilalian thanked God for the gift of 55 years of age and 25 years in religious life. She thanked the Daughters of Our Lady of Fatima for accepting her into religious life where she has been for the last 25 years. She thanked her parents from Nyakishenyi for nurturing her into what she is today.
She said she finds joy in serving the less privileged like the elder, the sick and handicapped. She pledged to continue doing her apostolate joyfully and gladly with the help of God. She appealed to her fellow religious to always.
May our Lady of Fatima watch over us and guide us on our journey of faith.
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