Establishing a community is always an exciting moment, and when the context is a new world region, as is the case for NDS in Kenya, the questions that arise are many. How will the sisters collaborate with other organisations, and among themselves? Where will their ministries lie? What will Notre Dame de Sion in Kenya look like five years from now?
Perhaps a first question to review, though, before looking ahead to the future, is: how did the Sion community in Kenya come to be?
For over thirty years, the sisters have been carrying out “itinerant ministries”, which, as the name suggests, entail taking their particular forms of ministry for limited periods to countries beyond NDS’s existing international locations. Itinerant ministries usually come about upon requests to receive teaching on Sion’s special approach to the Scriptures. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR) was the first country the sisters were invited to, with expansion in subsequent years to Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malta and the Amazon region of Brazil.
Despite sisters living, in the past, in North African countries like Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and, still today, Egypt, the Congregation had never had a permanent presence in sub-Saharan Africa, yet there was a strong desire to be there. At the core of this wish is a simple premise, which Superior General Sr Oonah explains: “We go there for the new life we can gain for being in these realities, and for what we have to offer them.”
The sisters considered starting up in DCR and in Kenya, and between 2017 and 2024 they engaged in itinerant ministry in both, and kept up correspondence with contacts they had there. They discovered that Nairobi has a vibrant religious studies scene, with many young people attracted to religious life, and which may benefit, in future, from Sion’s specific expertise in Biblical education. In view of this, they decided that their first sub-Saharan home should be in Kenya.
For all four sisters, the new community is a big change, and they arrived with eyes wide open.
Sr Alejandra, who had never been to Africa before, was quite bowled over by the intense emotions she experienced upon seeing a reality so unlike any she’d ever known. She fell in love straight away with the culture, the nature, and the faith, hope and joy of the people. “This is where I am supposed to be,” she said.
As she stepped into the unknown, Sr Wafaa felt a mix of trepidation and hope. She is aware of the importance of each small step she and her community make in these early stages, and while she acknowledges that she has moments of both joy and struggle, she is curious and open to learning, and deeply committed to contributing what she can.
Sr Arlyne was more familiar with African cultures, having been to both DCR and Kenya on several occasions. Going back and forth has enabled her to notice new buildings and infrastructures being developed, and she hopes they will be for the benefit of everybody. A constant she has observed is the deep-seated creativity and resilience of the Kenyan people, and she loves how they bring this to their active participation during Mass.
Arriving from Jerusalem in November, Sr Juliana is the latest addition to the community, and the most senior of the four sisters. She initially took some time to take in her new surroundings, with chickens scurrying on the ground and monkeys in the trees. She was immediately struck by the challenging living conditions in her new neighbourhood, with many living on barely one meal a day.
The welcome the sisters have received has been both helpful and encouraging. The relationships they had built with congregations and organisations in previous years contributed enormously to their getting orientated from the moment they arrived last June.
The Comboni fathers have helped with some practical matters, such as accommodation, and introduced the sisters to their ministry. The Visitation Daughters of Mary provided many valuable resources and helped the sisters begin to understand the richness and diversity of Kenyan culture. The Franciscan Missionaries of Hope took them to meet the communities where they serve in Naivasha and Kisumu, some of which have no road access.
The sisters have taken part in diverse events and activities, in order to get to know the culture better and discern where their future ministry might lie. Groups such as the Association of Sisterhood in Kenya (AOSK) and the Kenyan Association of Vocation Animators offer various training courses. Sr Juliana took part in one of these events during her first week. The workshop was called “Wellbeing of a formator in formation mission, abuse and protection of vulnerable adults, sexuality issues in formation, admission and dismissal of a candidate”. At first, Juliana felt the course was not relevant for her. But on further reflection, she came to realise it was an excellent introduction for her immersion in Kenya as an outsider, with useful insights into the African church, with its questions and difficulties and its very traditional spiritual life.
Aware that spoken communication in another country can pose a significant barrier, Sr Arlyne signed up to a Swahili language course as soon as she could. “It’s vital for integrating in the nitty-gritty of everyday life,” she said. Sr Alejandra was grateful to be able to rely on Arlyne for basic language support at the beginning, and has since begun studying Swahili too.
As well as fitting into to their surroundings, the sisters are also getting to grips with living together among themselves, with the different cultural expressions they bring from the Philippines, Guatemala, Austria and Egypt. For Sion sisters, living in community is both a gift of God and the result of each member’s efforts, and the sisters look to their shared charism of dedication to the Word of God, to the marginalised and to interfaith understanding, to help them establish a harmonious community life.
After half a year of exploring their new environment, the sisters are keen to become more actively involved. Collaborations with the groups they have already connected with are key to their plan, and they would also like to reach out to communities of other faiths, such as the those of the synagogue and the mosques in Nairobi.
While continuing her theology studies online, Sr Wafaa would like to engage in social work in the underprivileged Kibera area. Sr Alejandra would like to find a teaching opportunity, also in Kibera. Sr Arlyne is checking out youth work opportunities in the parish of Guadalupe or in the nearby Ngong diocese. And Sr Juliana would like to enter into inter-religious encounter with Muslims within the geographical setting of the parish of Guadalupe and, in future, with the local Jewish community. In addition, the group is engaged in vocation work, and will continue to support the journey of some young women who are discerning religious life.
Sisters of Our Lady of Sion all over the world are with the Nairobi group in spirit and pray that God will continue to bless them as they move forward in their new venture.