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Mpala Foundation Grows,
Notre Dame Education Center Becomes a Reality
In late January, our community in the Kampala suburb of Mpala nearly doubled. Sr. Sharan Hendricks of India and two young Ugandan women beginning their formation as Sisters of Notre Dame joined Srs. M. Amony, Colette, Immaculate, Juliet, and Ruthilde. Mpala is located on the main road between Entebbe, site of the main Ugandan airport, and Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. The new compound will be known as Notre Dame Education Center to reflect the programs for people in the area that will start soon. It is located on a hill in a neighborhood of Ugandans from various social and economic backgrounds.
“You see very fancy houses, middle class houses, and very simple houses all mixed together,” Sr. Colette explained.
“We have more connection to people here in the city than in Buseesa,” observed Sr. Ruthilde. “Our friendly neighbors often say Mgungobi when they see us.” (Mgungobi is a term of affection for white people.)
Many people stop by the new Notre Dame establishment to learn more aboutthe sisters. This gives the sisters an opportunity to practice the warm Ugandan tradition of hospitality for everyone, even at a moment’s notice. “You must always make time for people who come to see you,” said Sr.Ruthilde.
This fall she and Sr. Colette spent months getting to know their new neighbors while the three Ugandan Sisters of Notre Dame who also live in the community spent their weekdays in class at nearby universities to prepare for their professional ministries.
The property came with one small house and one big house but no structures suitable for ministry or formation for the growing Notre Dame community in Uganda. Three new buildings have been built into the hill in a way that provides flexibility for future local ministries as well as space for the sisters to live, work and have formation activities. A chapel, classrooms, and gathering spaces for ministries have been built in the uppermost building closest to the road. Next comes a large kitchen and dining space which is accessible from both the upper building and the formation house below.
Now that construction is completed, the sisters will settle into daily schedules filled with ministry and studies. The new Ugandan aspirants will be receiving instructions in religious life and volunteering at local centers to get some ministry experience. One goal of the new compound is to establish financially sustainable ministries that will serve as seeds of the Gospel in the local community. Currently the sisters are developing plans for a nursery school to give young children in the area a head start at learning English, reading and math.
Pictures at right:
Top: Sr. Ruthilde visits with a local family in Mpala. Middle: A woman carries her child near the new Notre Dame Education Center. Bottom: The view from the uppermost building.
April 2010