In 1999 the Community of St. Mary opened a special novitiate for the formation of a new Anglican religious Order in Malawi in south central Africa. When the first sisters returned in 2002, they asked to continue as Sisters of St. Mary, under the Rule and as a branch house of CSM. Their desire for continued guidance in the ways of total dedication to God and service to his people was met by the American sisters' equal desire to fulfill this opportunity for mission.
The current household of seven sisters includes the three fully professed sisters, two junior sisters, and two novices. In addition to religious formation, we were able to pass on practical skills in accounting; basic computer
maintenance; logistical databases; graphics and work processing; sustainable, bio-intenseive agriculture and basic animal husbandry; first aid; and traditional monastic plainsong for their liturgical services.
Our vision for "mission" in Africa was less to evangelize and
provide "an American way" of doing ministry so much as to
build up an African community within Africa, imparting
the
best skills we could offer in a short time but building more
on long term relationships. The sisters are the
"missionaries" -- establishing their own African vision for
ministry in the midst of their own people. From their convent
in Luwinga they are building a Christian community center
in the heart of poverty-stricken Malawi, providing a model
of prayer, community-building,and sound management of
natural resources.
In Their Own Words
"Although 80% of Malawians are Christians, it is very mportant to have sisters
in Northern Malawi. It will not only be beneficial to Northern Malawians, but to the whole Malawi as a nation. Since we are the first Anglican Malawian sisters, we need to help our fellow Malawians in their spiritual life, to bring them closer to
God, to help people with our prayers, to share alms with the needy and poor in spirit, and to encourage other women to devote their lives to monastic life.
"We want to dedicate our lives to God in this way because we want to serve God with our whole heart, and to put our trust in Him. To thank Him for what He has been doing for us. To find the source of endless joy. To be the spouses of Christ. To answer His call and to devote ourselves in prayer, work, and study."
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St. Mary's Convent in Luwinga, Malawi, Africa
The return of the founding sisters in September 2002
meant building the first Anglican monastic house for women
in Malawi. The architectural style and materials of the
convent are the handmade brick and tin roof construction
typical of the area.
Seven sisters live and work at our branch house in Luwinga,
drawn from all over Malawi. They hold altar guild
workshops for the women of the Diocese and teach
Bible and prayer to children and young girls. They
preach, visit the sick in hospitals and have a visible
outreach in the larger Diocese, always respectful of
their witness as women in a
conservative, traditional
society.
The sisters have developed a nine-acre farm to
provide food for themselves, guests and their
orphans feeding ministry. They also work at the
convent, sewing clerical shirts, church school and
church women's group uniforms, and vestments as
a ministry to the Church and to support themselves.
The Malawian sisters' latest endeavor, thanks to
funding from American parishes, is to feed over 150 AIDS orphans once
or twice a month in partnership with the local parishes of the area. These
meals are a full day affair for children who cannot afford to go to school.
The sisters provide a safe place to play and learn vocational skills as well
as to worship God and to return home with enough food for the next day.
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How You Can Help This Mission
The sisters are unable to generate much income in cash-poor Malawi and are dependent on the generosity of outside donations to maintain their outreach ministry. They also work at the convent, sewing clerical shirts, church school and church women's group uniforms, and vestments as a ministry to the Church and to support themselves.
How You Can Help this Mission
One Semester Tuitions for Secondary School Malawians have a strong sense of responsibilty to care for the children orphaned by AIDS within their own family systems, yet the resources are often not available for all the children to go to school. You can give orphans the chance of a stronger future with the donation of secondary education. |
$150 |
A Fund to Purchase Recreational Equipment for the Orphans Feeding Program Recreation is a natural way to socialize and teach children the 10 Commandments as well as to give them physical and mental exercise. |
$ 700 |
A Fund to Purchase Educational Equipment for the Orphans Feeding Program Tools for teaching children both basic reading and writing and vocational skills will help to replace the time lost from school. |
$ 500 |
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