Sr. Wafaa Shehata NDS grew up in the village of El Berba in the diocese of Minya in Upper Egypt. During the time when Sr. Juliana and Sr. Darlene lived in Berba, she was the first young women finding her way to the congregation of “Notre Dame de Sion”. After her novitiate in Egypt accompanied by Sr. Juliana and her first vows in celebrated in her home village, she came the Jerusalem and stays with the St. Mary’s community in Ecce Homo. Here she works in the guesthouse and also is in contact with the arab speaking Christian communities. On Thursday June 28th she celebrated her commitment to final vows in the Basilica of Ecce Homo.
“First of all, I would like to thank God for my call to consecrated life in Sion. This is a gift and a grace and I thank God for my family the first to plant the seeds of faith love and giving. Also for being in Jerusalem, it is a blessing.
A very special thank you to Archbishop Michael for all he has done for me and for celebrating the Eucharist of my final vows and for a meaningful homily. I would like to thank Father Carlos, NDS for his presence and generosity. I am very grateful to Sister Adriana, the Delegate of the Superior General, Sister Mary Babic who gave me the great joy of receiving my final vows. I am deeply grateful to Sisters Juliana, Darlene and Trudy for your accompanying me these past years. You have walked with me, guiding me, and taught me how to be a sister of SION and I appreciate everything you have done for me. I thank the sisters who in one way or another helped me to get here.
A very special thank you to the Choir for making my celebration so joyful. In a special way, I would like to thank the community of Chemin Neuf for your presence and for sharing life with us. I would like to thank our volunteers John, Cecilia and Roselyn for your friendship and generosity. I thank those who were present at this celebration: the Ein karem Community, the brothers of Sion, our sisters from Egypt, our Ecce Homo staff, the participants in the biblical program and friends.
I thank my community in Ecce Homo very specially for their welcome, solidarity, support and readiness to help me in any way and making my day very special. I am deeply grateful to all my sisters and friends for all you have done for me, for your prayer, support, gifts and wishes. The generosity from each one of you made it a joyful and meaningful day for me. I am honored to be a Sion sister! Thank you to each one for making my day so beautiful. I appreciated all you did to make the day so special!” (Sr Wafaa Shehata, NDS)