MY SMSM VOCATION, OR RATHER, MY LIFE JOURNEY AS AN SMSM

Sisters stories

In 1988, I left my family to start my journey following Christ in the smsm. For three years, I was an aspirant with three other girls.

In September 1991, I started the postulancy in the community of Muganza with two other companions.

In September 1992, I entered the novitiate in Butare, Rwanda. We were three novices. Unfortunately, one of us left after three months.  My training was disrupted by the genocidal war of 1994, when we all had to leave the country to go first to Burundi and then to Italy. The novitiate continued in Brescia and I made my profession on 25 March,1995. All is grace! After profession, I stayed for a year in Italy, in an apostolate with the elderly while having some language lessons.

In September 1996, I was sent to Senegal for studies, first at St Joseph's College to attain the school level of the country. I stayed with the Cluny Sisters, and returned to my community of Guediawaye when we had holidays. In September 1998, I went to Thiès to study nursing. In the first year, I was staying with the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Subsequently, we formed a community of SMSM students in an apartment belonging to the Bishop, I stayed in Thiès for three years, until I graduated as a nurse in 2001.

Immediately after, I received my first mission assignment in Senegal. I was appointed to the community of Pikine to take charge of the clinic.

On 26 April 2003, I made my perpetual vows in Senegal.

At the end of 2004, Iwas "loaned" for three years to the community of Rwarangabo in Burundi to replace Sr M. Sebastiana as head of the clinic there.

In March 2008, I returned to Senegal, this time to Guédiawaye to replace Sr Monika [ insert family name] and take charge of the clinic.

In 2010, I made my second novitiate in Rome where I had the joy of meeting Sr M. Emerentiana and of visiting the Marist places in France.

In 2013, I received a transfer to the region of the Americas and went that same year to Waltham, USA, to learn English.

In early 2014, I was sent to Jamaica, to the new community of Seaford Town. Our sisters had been there in 1971 but they left many years ago.

In June 2017, I returned to Pikine, Senegal, to take charge of the clinic that had not had a sister in charge for eight months!

At the end of 2018, our Regional asked me to participate in a smsm workshop on aged care in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. Then she asked me to come to France to take responsibility for the community of our elderly sisters in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon.

In August 2019, I arrived in the community of 41 Rue du Signal, Sainte-Foy-lès Lyon where I am continuing the smsm mission with my elderly sisters!

Looking back at these past 25 years, I have a deep sense of gratitude to the Lord, for it is He who is Faithful. He has showed me a lot of love and mercy. Humanly speaking I am nothing - He is the only One who has guided my steps until today. All these experiences have made me grow both humanly and spiritually. All is thanksgiving.

" I am the servant of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your will" (Luke 1,38): the key word of my first profession! Along the way, I have discovered the greatness and depth of God's Love for me and for all humanity. At my perpetual profession, I summed up everything I felt inside me with this phrase from St. John "God is Love! Who remains in love remains in God and God remains in him" (Jn 15:16)Today, I can simply say "everything is gift”.

I take this whole year 2020 as a year of thanksgiving, for one day cannot express all my gratitude to God and to all those who have helped me grow in love, one way or another! May God be praised now and forever!

S. Athanasie Hakizuwambaza smsm