In May we were happy to receive a visit from two of our Franciscan Sisters, Provincial Kata Karadza and her Vicaress, Sister Lydia Jurisic who came to spend three weeks with us. The Sisters came for a fraternal visit and to look for possible locations for the opening of a mission here in Africa.

They enjoyed being with us here in the village of Kivumu and they took many opportunities to walk about the area and to be greeted by the passers-by. They marveled at the kindness and hospitality of our villagers who are very congenial and respectful despite their desperate living conditions.

Often the Sisters remarked on the poverty that they were witnessing and it was obvious that this was very disturbing for them. But they also had a chance to see the happy faces of the children at play and the love and joy that these young Rwandans show without any reservation!

The Sisters traveled to a number of places in Rwanda, like Mbazi where we have another Franciscan community and where they viewed a project for children with disabilities that is being supported by Padri Vjeko Centre. The Sisters also went to other locations in the country like Nyanza, and Kigali where they spent time at a Salesian community.

Two Franciscan Sisters from the same congregation who have a mission in the Bukavu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo came to Kivumu for a few days to visit with Provincial Kata and Sister Lydia. The Bukavu Sisters have been in Africa for over forty years and were happy to share their many stories of life here.

We managed to take Provincial Kata and Sister Lydia to nearby Uganda, where they saw a couple of other possible locations for their mission project. We stopped in at the village of Rushooka to visit the Friary and Church. The Sisters even managed to have a visit with Archbishop Paul Bakyenga of Mbarara who warmly invited them to consider his Archdiocese as place to open their mission.

In closing we sincerely hope and pray for the Sisters to have their dream of a mission in Africa come true!