December 26, 2020 was our time to bless our new Provincial, Sister Laurentina Motseki. The occasion started with the Mass with Bishop Tumahole Augustinus Bani as a main celebrant. Concelebrates were Fr. Mohapi and Fr. Nthethe, parish priests.

The gospel of the day was read from Luke 19,1-10. In his homily the Bishop said we are individually called but communally sent as Holy Names Sisters.

After the Mass Sr. Laurenina was blessed as our new provincial of the Holy Names Sisters in the Lesotho Province. The occasion happened at Peka, where we usually hold the congregation celebrations. It was really a touching moment when Sister Catherine Ntoloane handed over the lighted candle.

Sr. Catherine said, Aaron was asked to light the lamp for the Lord. She addressed the new leadership team that they should light their lamps for the congregation.

Former Leadership Team (left to right): Augustina Thokoa SNJM, Francina Mokoteli SNJM), Eugenia Masheane SNJM, Aloysia Makoae SNJM Catherine NtoloaneSNJM

After the out-going provincial’s speech the Bishop blessed both new and old leadership teams. He expressed his gratitude to the former Leadership Team for service and he congratulated the new leadership team.

New Infirmary

On the same day the new infirmary was opened. The Bishop used the blessings book for prayers of the new infirmary. He encouraged the sisters that God should be among us in his fullness. He should help older sisters be united and love another to be relieved from their pain. They should welcome visitors like mother Marie-Rose.

On 6 December 2020, the whole province assembled at Peka to congratulate eight sisters who graduated from different institutions in 2020.

The celebration was very good and interesting. The Saint Theresa community at Belabela entertained the sisters with a drama and danced to a song called “Jerusalem”. The sisters enjoyed very much the entertainment.

During the gathering, the rules of the corona virus were observed, such as wearing mask and keeping social distancing. Sister Marcelina Konyana delivered a gratitude speech on behalf of the graduates. She explained that it was not easy for them to study since they are adults but today they are grateful because they see the results of their hard work.

Our provincial, Sister Catherine Ntoloane congratulated the graduates and thanked them on behalf of the Province for making it. She said their success is the success of the congregation, their education is going to benefit the congregation and spread its mission. Sister Catherine danced with joy as she was delivering the speech and everybody gave applause of joy. After her speech, she gave the graduates presents. The celebration ended with delicious food.

In October 2020, former students at Mabathoana High School donated sanitizers and masks for students and teachers. Sister Bathilda Heqoa warmly welcomed them.

After the distribution of their donation, Sister Bathilda, the principal of Mabathoana, expressed her sincere gratitude to the former students for donating the sanitizers and masks for the school. She said they came at the most needed time since the students and teachers need them to reduce the risk of the corona virus.

It was on 6 October 2020 at Maryland Health Center, when patients gathered with sisters from the Formation House to celebrate the Feast day of Mother Mary-Rose. Our postulant Lerato Lydia Rankoti gave a talk to the patients about our foundress: “Mother Marie-Rose loved to visit people on her horse called Caeser, it took her to the people, so we feel very compelled to be here and we are with you because you are very important. Our foundress was also sickly and she loved the sick. Please be aware that for each one of us, God has his own purpose about his or her life, even in his or her sickness. God’s blessings are there for each one of us. May you go back home healed and encouraged by the power of our healing God.”

On the same occasion, the 48 women patients who were present at Maryland Heath Centre were fortunate to receive some food parcels. Twenty of them were given a box of Future Life and the rest were given two packets of rice. The Health Center got those food parcels from a generous funder. On that day, Sister Amelia Motsamai read to the patients the word of God that is quoted in our Constitutions. Sister Theresia Lekena commented, “We are celebrating the birthday, baptism and death of our foundress mother Mary-Rose”.

They concluded the Feast Day of our foundress with the celebration of Holy Mass at their convent with the Oblates priests staying at Maryland parish, namely, Fr. Matlosa, Fr. Shai and Fr. Thamae.

In August 2020, our different communities donated food parcels to the needy families in the neighborhood during the corona virus pandemic. The food parcels included corn meal, beans, soup and cooking oil.

Motivated by the desire to take care of the Earth, the children of St. Angela House participated in a “clean-up” operation on Saturday, November 28th.

It is in a good mood and sometimes while singing that the children and all the monitors proceeded to clean the environment. The video capsule is proof of this.

St. Angela Home, located in Lesotho, helps children with disabilities.

This month, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) welcomed Aloysia Sebueng Makoae, SNJM (Lesotho) to the Georgetown University campus in Washington, D.C., where she will study research skills for the next six months. Sr. Aloysia, who earned her Ph.D in African languages from the University of Kwazulu in South Africa, plans to conduct research on “Empowering Contemporary Religious Women Through the Investment in their Capacity Building.” To read more, click here.

Pictured during a visit to Longueuil last year: (standing, L-R) Augustina Thokoa, SNJM, Ana María Vilca Mamani, SNJM, Catherine Ntoloane, SNJM and Eugenie Masheane, SNJM and (seated, L-R) Aloysia Sebueng Makoae, SNJM and Francina Mokoteli, SNJM.

In August 2020, our different communities donated food parcels to the needy families in the neighborhood during the Coronavirus pandemic. The food parcels included beans, soup and cooking oil.