The St. Kizito Foundation is pleased to introduce Sister Assumpta, a sister from the Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Sr. Assumpta is presently visiting the United States—specifically Northeastern Ohio—on sabbatical from her duties as a teacher and Administrator at St. Monica School for Girls in Gulu, Uganda.
Sr. Assumpta credits her parents with her vocation. Her parents were faith-filled practicing Catholics. Her mother was a very prayerful person, often gathering their family for the rosary and prayer. “She taught us to have a servant’s heart,” said Sr. Assumpta, referring to her mother who encouraged her children to be of service, especially to the poor and elderly.
One of ten children, Sr. Assumpta, plus three of her sisters, entered the convent. She entered with her twin sister at around 16 years old. Her twin sister eventually left the convent but serves the church as a committed laywoman. Sr. Assumpta’s older sister also influenced her vocation. When she attended her older sister’s profession to religious life, she knew that it was what she wanted to do with her life.
Sr. Assumpta speaks perfect English. She said children in Uganda must speak English in school from Primary 3 onward. One of the methods used to practice English is to debate on various, sometimes random, subjects!
Upon entering the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sr. Assumpta’s attention was focused first on formation as a Sister. After professing vows to religious life as a Sister of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sr. Assumpta then trained to become a teacher. She taught the equivalent of high school in Uganda. The subjects she taught were religion and history. Sister taught at the communities Mayo Secondary school before transferring to St. Monica’s school.
St. Monica’s is a vocational school for girls. It is a school surrounded by high thick walls with a gatekeeper. It is located across from a prison, which affords it a little extra protection from the guards who work there. This school is widely known for its compassion and caring, particularly for young women and girls abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army. They provide education and vocational skills and a safe place for women and children afraid of the LRA. Some, known as night commuters, would stay in the St. Monica compound at night, returning to their homes during the day.
Today St. Monica is still empowering young women and girls by providing them with valuable trade skills such as secretarial, seamstress, hairdressing, catering, knitting, and weaving. Students also enjoy extracurricular activities such as netball (similar to basketball), football (soccer), volleyball, as well as music, dance, singing, and drums. St. Monica additionally offers adult literacy classes. Sr. Assumpta resides at St. Monica in a mostly administrative capacity today. Some of the St. Kizito scholars reside and receive education from St. Monica’s school.
Sr. Assumpta will spend be in the United States through September. She is favorably impressed by what she has experienced thus far. She finds the United States very organized and filled with generous and warmhearted people. We are happy Sr. Assumpta is visiting and hopes that many in our St. Kizito Family get a chance to meet her!
Sr. Assumpta will be the keynote speaker at the St. Kizito Fall Fundraiser on Saturday, September 21st.
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