SATURDAY 13 JANUARY

SATURDAY 13 JANUARY

Saint Hilary, Bishop, Doctor

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel – Mark 2:13-17

Our attention to the first part of this gospel we see how God interact with us. “Jesus went out to the shore of the lake; and all the people came to him, and he taught them”. Jesus went out to the shore of the lake. Jesus goes out to the lake. Then all the people came to him. Then he taught them. Then the second part: Jesus seeing Levi sitting by the customs house. Jesus went to him and talked to him. “he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him”. Jesus said that and Levi got up and followed him. We see Jesus going out to the lake and Jesus going up to Levi. Jesus always comes to us and guides us. The people listened. Levi followed Him. We are also called to listen to Jesus and to follow Him. Let’s reflect: Jesus always takes the initiative to come to me.

SUNDAY 14 JANUARY

SUNDAY 14 JANUARY

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel – John 1:35-42“As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus”. In these verses we can see the real mission of John the Baptist. He was called to be the forerunner of the Messiah. And John is doing exactly that. He is indicating his disciples who is Messiah, who is the Lamb of God. And the disciples, as soon as they heard it, they immediately followed Jesus. They left their teacher. John the Baptist was ready to be an instrument of the plan of God. He was ready to cease to exist once his role is done. And the disciples were ready to follow Jesus immediately. This is discipleship. Being an instrument of the plan of God and not to search for its glory but to withdraw when the mission is done. The other characteristic which is evident in today’s gospel is the readiness to follow Jesus. Immediately when you know that who is Jesus, leave everything behind and follow him. Whatever project on which we are working, whatever ideas we have, the moment we recognize who is Jesus, we must renounce everything behind and follow Him. Let’s reflect: To follow Jesus, I must recognize Him by listening to the Word of the Church and then I must leave everything behind to follow Him.

To Father

To Father

Letter to the Father

Father John, about the heart that reflects God himself.
A heart that is pure in intention and simple in love.
Intercede for us.

Father John, pure heart – foundation of the temple of the Triune God ,
A heart shaped by good deeds and a clear imagination
Intercede for us.

Father John, son of Mary Immaculate,
About a believing and trusting heart.
Intercede for us.

Father John, enterprising and motivated,
About a heart open and full of mercy.
Intercede for us.

Father John, rich in talents and charisms,
About a heart that knows how to share and does not set boundaries.
Intercede for us.

Father John, full of hope and goodness,
With a stable heart, filled with the fullness of God.
Intercede for us.

S .M. M. Małgorzata Cur SMI
December 8, 2023

Dispenser of God's Mysteries

Night vigil in Częstochowa (Poland)

Night vigil in Częstochowa (Poland)

Every year, sisters from the Polish Province gather at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Częstochowa to watch and entrust all the intentions brought to her throughout the night. This year’s night vigil entitled “Love and Challenge” from 3 to 4 June on Jasna Góra, began with an Appeal, followed by the testimonies of the first encounter with the Living God (testimony of a lay person, a religious sister and a priest). During the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, songs of worship were sung. The most important point of the vigil was the Eucharist, followed by white roses, as a symbol of the purity of hearts and small loaves, a sign of sharing the good. After midnight in the rosary prayer, we asked for the care of our Congregation and all the works led by the sisters. Then we sang hymns in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The following day we finished the vigil. After thanks and sending out by the Provincial, we have moved to our communities.

Completion of the school in Mwanga

Completion of the school in Mwanga

Completion of the school in Mwanga

In 2009, we started working in Mwanga in northern Tanzania.  Initially, the land was purchased and a monastery was built, but the plan was also to build a primary school with a boarding school. Building a school was a long process, and the sisters wanted to start working with their children as soon as possible. Then the parish priest came to the rescue, who provided us with a room at the church where classes for children were to take place, and in the meantime the construction of the school began.

On 15.01.2018, the school officially started its activity with 25 children (11 boys and 14 girls) with 3 teachers and 1 driver. In recognition of our Founder, it was named after him, so that during the mission of the sisters in Mwanga the charism of Fr. Johannes Schneider was spreading.

We appreciate good work of the sisters in the parish and cooperation with local residents, people noticed a great commitment, generosity and true love for children. These attitudes attracted the attention of parents who willingly began to entrust their children to our care (even children from Muslim families), trusting that it is in our school that they will receive a good upbringing, values and faith in God, and at the same time get a good start to the next stage of education.

In January 2019, the sisters had to leave the hall at the church, and since the construction work was not yet completed, for 6 months the classes took place on the territory of the monastery – under the kibanda, where class one pupils were taught and the second class were held in one of the rooms of the convent. The monastery compound served as a playground. In July, classes were transferred to the first finished classrooms on the construction site.

We thank God, the construction works this year was successfully completed and the children began to use the whole compound, namely the school building, boarding school and dining room. In general, the school is used for children aged 6 to 13 years, regardless of religious ties. There are currently 95 pupils now in 3 basic classes. The target is 7 classes, for about 315 pupils and above. There are two official languages in Tanzania – Swahili and English, but the classes are taught in English because it’s an English Medium school and it’s a good start for them for their next levels of education. It is also mandatory to wear uniforms, black shoes and greysocks. If parents don’t have money, or if the child has grown out of their shoes, they can wear others until they purchase them.

The lessons begin at 7:30 a.m. with a prayer followed by an appeal, during which children gets guidance from the teachers and on Mondays and Fridays sings the national Anthem Infront of the national flag. During break time that is 10:00 am, pupils take porridge and 12:30 pm have their lunch. Classes end at 15:30 pm. After then day scholars are dismissed to their homes, there are those who go by foot and those who go home by school bus and boarders continue with their preps, the school fees are paid by parents. 

Due to the fact that our school began to operate in the new building, on April 23, 2020, a dedication and official opening was planned, but due to the coronavirus epidemic, the celebration was postponed to the moment when the situation improves.