WHO ARE THE SISTERS OF ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS OF BUKOBA ,TANZANIA

The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus is a Diocesan Congregation, belonging to the diocese of Bukoba, Tanzania. It was founded on the 13^th Dec 1932 by Bishop Burchard Huwiler (White Father).The Sisters are commonly known as St. Theresian Sisters of Bukoba or “Bathereza”.currently , we have 429 members, 385final vowed members and 44 temporary  vowed members. We have 16 Novices , 29 candidates and 36 Aspirants . It’s a multinational and multitribal Congregation, with members from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. This mix of different tribes and nations strengthens us with an increased passion to Evangelize for God’s glory throughout the world.

OUR HISTORY

In 1930, Bishop Huwiler was inspired to start Congregation of African Women for the work of Evangelization The Bishop was eager to have more devout and really zealous Sisters for the missionary work. This Congregation was to be guided by the Ignatian Spirituality, to prompt and support them in their passion for the salvation of souls. Additionally ,These sisters are steered by the “Childhood spirituality” of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, marked by the love of God ,trust, simplicity and humility . 

This idea of Bishop Huwiler was strongly supported by many missionaries . Despite the difficulties of that time, the Bishop selected three bright girls (Mary Rose, Julia and Joan Blandina) from the group that was working at the mission with the white sisters (MSOLA) to Bwanda Masaka Uganda, for the formation training of religious life at the Banna Bikira Convent (Daughters of Mary). The formation took one and half years before they were called back home to start a new congregation of the sisters of St Therese of the child Jesus.

However, it was only Joan Blandina who came back to start the formation training as a Novice in the Bukoba Diocese . The other two were needed by the Bishopsin their respectful Vicariates to start religious Congregation there.

The Novitiate of the Sisters of St.Therese was inaugurated on 8^th Dec 1932. This was a remark from Bishop huwiler’s journal; “The joy of the day was immeasurable at Kashozi Mission, to see the foundation of a really community of Religious.” All Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers and Sisters) were present to share the joy of that day. Bishop Huwiler to devoted his whole life to nurturing this new Congregation with patenal love and commitment

All missionaries joined the Bishop’s efforts in reaching out to different parishes and villages inviting more devout, respectful, and zealous girls to join a newly formed Congregation.   The first girls to join Novitiate with Sr. Joan Blandina on 8^th Dec 1932 were;

         Sr. Mary Veronica Kyonkuhaire

         Sr. Magdalena  Baigaine

         Sr. Mary Francisca

         Sr. Mary Agnes

These were the respectful girls who showed the signs of becoming nuns and were accepted by the Bishop to put on the habit and begin formation on 8^th Dec 1932.

The work of formation was handed to the Parish Priest, Rev, Fr Laurean Embil W.F.as Chaplain and Sr. Du Bon Bon Pasteur as a formator. Other members of the community of the White Sisters (MSOLA) worked as assistants supporting the formation team.

Fr. Embil, having a special devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux was very happy indeed to be the Chaplain. He really showed paternal love and commitment towards the Novices.