Religious Women Serving Other Women

The mission of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis (TSSF) is “to be an empowering presence” to all in everything they do.  It challenges each member to live and work in a way that uplifts, affirms, and energizes others so that they stand up at their best and give their highest possible contribution to their and others’ welfare. All the apostolates of the TSSF—healthcare, education, pastoral and social, administrative, catering, agriculture…are the standard avenues whereby the TSSF seek to channel energies to those they serve and collaborate with.  The mission statement equally carries the challenge of being in constant union with God who continuously pours out his gratuitous power and grace on those who serve others.

The exceptional attention to women and children lies at the foundation of the African beginning of the TSSF. Logically, Venerable Maria Hueber opened the first free school for girls in Brixen after learning from the misery of her widowed mother and from her own hard experience of growing up as a vulnerable girl, open to various forms of abuse.  The five pioneer TSSF in Cameroon showed themselves as friends to women and girls.  Sr. Camilla Geier, the famous midwife who founded St. Elizabeth Catholic General Hospital, Shisong in 1935 and served there till her death in 1985, remained a personal companion of the women throughout her life and service in Cameroon.  When women were conscripted as Fon’s wives, those who escaped to Shisong convent were safe. Sr. Camilla received recognition from the Fon of Nso, “Yaa Wonle”—”Queen of children” because of her love and empowerment of mothers in the care of children. Sr. Dorothy Wild opened the Girls’ Schools in Shisong and Njinikom and most mothers recall and cherish the formation they were given on home management, child care, self-care, etc.  Of course, these pacesetters inspired the charism in the African TSSF who, from generation to generation, have remained vanguards in the cause of women.

The TSSF interact with women of all ages in every apostolate.  In most of the hospitals, for example, the head of the antenatal and infant welfare clinic is a Sister.  These have the art of animating pregnant and nursing mothers, listening to their concerns, counseling, and teaching.  The women at the ANC are not satisfied until they have been palpated by a Sister, and not the other staff members.  Sr. Helen Aminshu, 50 years as a religious who has worked as a nurse/midwife since 1987 feels fulfilled after having accompanied many women from pregnancy to child-bearing in almost all the health services of the TSSF.  “Many times, we carried women in labour on a stretcher from Akwaya to Nigeria”. Still in active service in St. Padre Pio Hospital, Douala, Sr. Aminshu “goes through the delivery process with every woman” and shares the joy of a new baby, but when there are problems with mother, child or both, she still accompanies the family.” Her presence is solace for the women.

As the Sisters continue to run both women’s Centers and co-educational schools, they still impact the girls in the primary, secondary and post-secondary institutes of learning and vocational Centers where they are considered by many girls as models of respect, creativity, care, hard work, etc.  Evodia Keja, running a business in Sweden, is happy to recount how the Sisters in Girls’ Vocational School, (GVS) Shisong and GVHS Bafut contributed to building up her spiritual life and home management, which have made her happy and able to give back to the community.  Mrs. Mbiydzenyuy Fidelia, a nurse in St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital Shisong for over 15 years, equally traces her roots and identity to the Girls’ Vocational School, Shisong, and is glad for the positive impact made by the Sisters in her life; “prayer life, good morals, respect and care for others, being focused and perseverance in life”.  The Sisters’ character attracted Fidelia to their company, “I am always with them because they inspire”.

It is no news that the women in our villages are more vulnerable if they are financially dependent.  We also work to liberate the women from the claws of unhealthy cultural norms; for example, in certain ethnic groups in Cameroon or families, the women do not have the right of ownership of property; some are bought into marriage through bride pricing and henceforth subjected to slavish chores. Within our African societies, there are still communities where the education of the girl/woman is considered a waste of resources believing that the job of the woman is to be given in marriage for childbearing. Others are prejudiced against and excluded from decision-making in the social, economic and political life.  We intervene in educating both men and women on the inalienable right of ownership of property and other rights, to participate in socio-economic and political debates, etc.

Therefore, women’s animation in the villages where Sisters serve is motivated by the belief that “to impact the woman is to impact the entire family”.  For Sr. Hedwig Vinyo, it is a special charism to gather and animate women’s group for self-reliance projects.  “I easily bring women together”. Sr. Clementine Ngong, founder of Choose Life Generation NGO, felt called to serve other women and was inspired by her experience of being a woman. “I came to discover that most women are vulnerable—girls, single mothers, sick women especially HIV-positive or struggling with sexually transmitted diseases, more exposed to insecurity, victims of deception and disappointments, low self-esteem, abused, etc. I feel the need to turn a special pastoral attention to women.  At the same time, I discover that women were quite resourceful, capable of so many things, hardworking, trustworthy, and sacrificing in all ways for their families. I meet many young girls who are discouraged as they didn’t have educational opportunities. Despite their particular challenges, their spirits are generally high. I have been looking for ways to build their capacities through various training workshops, financial management, support groups, hygiene and beauty.  It has been worthwhile working with women especially when we accompany them into transformation and becoming more powerful resources as they come to understand and tap into their potentials.  We have many examples of those who are putting their heads up and living happily and responsibly today.  Many single mothers, for example, have been able to stay strong and nurse their children. Sometimes it suffices to open just a small avenue for a woman; for example, 100 euro capital to start her own business and she picks wings from there.  I find joy in working with women as they are generally ready and open to learning.  Some still fall through the cracks, but many of the women we have coached are successful.  We have done little, and remain committed to the course of women.

Similarly, Sr. Marceline Yenmuleh’s cause is motivated by the plight of women who suffer “victimization by harmful traditions” and are often considered and treated as “second-class citizens” in a patriarchal and male chauvinistic society.  “I believe that empowering women through proper education will boost their self-esteem and self-confidence so they can have the courage to claim their place in society, and work for their emancipation”.

Another fundamental challenge comes up when the Sisters don’t feel empowered enough to assist the women; Sr. Mediatrix Wirba, Provincial Councilor in Charge of Pastoral and Social Services responds to this by organizing yearly refresher courses to boost the Sisters’ capacities in various domains.  The Sisters empower themselves in order to empower others for “we only give what we have”.