Peramiho Priory Series: Blessing and Marko

(While on home leave Sr. Rosann Ocken, Prioress of Peramiho Priory, sat down with Sr. Inviolata and talked about the work of the sisters in Tanzania-Peramiho Priory.  One of their major ministries is the Orphanages where they take care of 80 children. If you would like to learn more about the work the sisters are doing check out www.mbsmissionaries.org.)

For two young people the Benedictine Sisters are the family they never had. Having stayed with the sisters in the orphanage from birth, both have been blessed to find the love and care they needed. For Blessing Benedict she was found with no connections to her family. The sisters took her in and adopted her.  When legalizing her paperwork they asked her what she would like her last name to be. Proudly she told them, “Benedict! I belong to the family of the Benedictine Sisters.” In Latin Benedict means blessed.

For Marko Kapinga giving back to the sisters who gave him so much is important. Marko and his siblings have lived at the orphanage since birth. Their parents were lepers. Marko did exceptionally well in school and was given the opportunity to go to Catholic University by Sr. Fromunda. He became a teacher and is now back at the mission teaching the orphans.

Sr. Rosann says that when you see exceptional children if we have the funds we will do the best we can to educate them. It’s for the good of the person, but also good for the nation. These children appreciate so much and they have opportunities they would never have otherwise.

Abby in the Abbey: The Little Things

 

 

 

Here I am again, Abby, comin’ at ya!  Gee, don’t the months go by fast?  It seems like I just wrote a message to all of you and now, here it is again, time for another update from me!  Well you can see from the picture that we had a great time at the picnic last evening.  I got to sit on Sr. Dorothy’s lap and get some love!  Doesn’t everyone deserve that kind of attention?  Sometimes the days go by so fast and there isn’t the attentiveness to show our appreciation to those closest to us. The people and things around us tend to get taken for granted.  Us dogs, of course, are great at giving unconditional love, but even we sometimes fail.  Like me, for instance.  If my favorite Sisters are around then I always want to run to them and get their petting and attention and kind of ignore the others.  That is something I definitely need to work on!

Otherwise things here at the monastery are going fine.  I went with Sr. Rita Marie for “our” retreat at Hildegard House.  I like it up there, but it is exhausting because I need to be constantly on guard to protect her.  There are all kinds of strange sounds, like the refrigerator coming on, coyotes howling in the distance etc.  that trigger my need to bark!  I even saw quite a few deer and Sr. Rita Marie had to explain what kind of creatures they were.  I liked sleeping in though.  Isn’t it nice to treat ourselves to these small pleasures?  Dogs are great at that and I think it is part of my job to help the Sisters see the small things and give us joy and happiness.

Til’ next time….

Abby

Peramiho Priory Series: Good Shepherd Orphanage Part 2

(While on home leave Sr. Rosann Ocken, Prioress of Peramiho Priory, sat down with Sr. Inviolata and talked about the work of the sisters in Tanzania-Peramiho Priory.  One of their major ministries is the Orphanages where they take care of 80 children. If you would like to learn more about the work the sisters are doing check out www.mbsmissionaries.org.)
 

One difficulty with the orphanage is the government takes no responsibility with orphans. They do not even help cover the cost of education. The costs to raise them then lands on the sisters that take them in. They must pay for shelter, food, healthcare, clothing and education. The expenses are constantly growing.

 

The sisters work with the social workers in the area to bring the children that are in need into the orphanage.  The families sometimes can’t sustain the child because of the loss of the mother. The temperatures in Mjimwema get down to freezing and without a special bond, like the bond between a mother and child, the children could die. The families are encouraged to visit and bond with the children while they are at the orphanage before they go back home.