Africa North East

Brief history of the Province

The Beginnings

In 1956, at the request of Cardinal Rugambwa, the house of Mugana in Tanzania was opened. The Pioneer sisters were: M. Angelina Rivetta, Giuseppina Grillo, Vittoria Piccolo and Carolina Gandini. They were engaged in the health care and promotion of women and children. From 1966 to 1969 Mugana was part of the Delegation “St. Joseph” Vimercate.
From 1969 to 1981, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Zaire formed a delegation of Mother Bakhita. Then from 1982 to 1984, Tanzania, Malawi and Zaire became three distinct delegations. Then, from 1985 to 1987, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi became Vice Province “Josephine Bakhita”. In 1988 it was given a new name “Queen of Apostles. In 1991, the Vice Province “Queen of Apostles” became a Province, with M. Bocardo Mary as the Provincial Superior.

At Present

At present, Queen of Apostles Province – North Eastern Africa is spread in five countries: Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi and serves in 11 Dioceses. It is composed of 18 Communities. It counts 101 Sisters, with an average age of 49.5. Interculturality is a peculiar feature of our Province: 77 sisters are Africans, 20 Asians and 4 Europeans. Among the 77 African sisters: 36 are Tanzanians, 15 Ugandans, 14 Malawians, 10 Kenyans, 1 Sudanese and 1 Congolese. There are 87 perpetually professed sisters, and 14 temporary professed. In initial formation there are 6 Aspirants, 4 Postulants and 9 Novices.
Our main apostolic ministries are Education (formal and non-formal), Evangelization and Catechesis, Pastoral Health Care (Dispensaries, Hospitals, Home Based Care Clinics and visiting the sick), Formation of the Laity and Lay Canossians, Spiritual Exercises in different forms, and care of “the vulnerable” wherever we are. Our mode of operating is preventive, promotional and collaborative with other partners. The extent of this collaboration and influencing factors vary from place to place.
We carry out the mission of making Jesus known and loved in the local Church, in collaboration with the Lay Canossians, the Secular Missionaries of St. Magdalene and all “people of good will”. In our ministries, we work with Christians of other denominations and of other religions with respect and collaboration. Ecumenism and interreligious dialogue take place at concrete level of day to day life.

Our Strategic Profile

Spurred on to become joyful and prophetic witnesses, we the Canossian Daughters of Charity of the North-Eastern Africa Province are committed to making Christ known and loved in every sphere of the society in which we serve:
We will achieve this through faithful pursuance of the following strategic thrusts:

• Being Faith-filled (F) Canossian Sisters who consciously work to live a life of conversion and integration, and becoming architects of communion;
• Dedicating (d) ourselves to willingly serve the poor, needy and marginalized;
• Cultivating (C) joyful and sustainable partnerships and collaborations among Sisters and with the laity, where possible, across all our ministries, programs and services; and,
• Creating (C) platforms and programs to evangelize and promote our vocation.

By God’s Grace and through our authentic witnessing, we will draw young women to our way of life and further build the Kingdom of God