Eight second-year prenovices are currently in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe for a period of bonding and language experience as they continue their preparations for the novitiate.
The group is made up of eight prenovices: Eudite Belmiro Eduardo, Belsa Augusto, Eva Pedro Miudo, and Wine Flávio from the Mozambique Area; Tinayeishe Madzima and Loveness Tigere from the Zambezi Area; and Madalena da Silva and Franzinha Fernandes from the Area of Portugal. They are accompanied by the Prenovice Mistress from the Zambezi Area, Sr. Mary Lungu.
Their time together has been filled with community life and practical activities, including shopping for essential household items, cleaning, preparations for leading Monday Masses at the parish, laundry, and gardening, including planting more vegetables.
Alongside these community activities, the prenovices have also had opportunities for pastoral work, engaging with the Nazareth and Chengetanai Old People’s Homes, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Primary School, RSHM Clinic, the parish, and the Vocation Group.
Reflecting on the experience, Loveness Tigere shared, “I am enjoying the time of being with my companions and learning about each other’s culture.”
For Franzinha Fernandes, the experience has also been an opportunity to encounter the people and liturgical traditions of Zimbabwe.
She said, “I am having a great time here in Zimbabwe, and I like how the people sing and dance during Mass. I like interacting with them, but it is a challenge because of language.”
Eva Pedro Miudo expressed gratitude for the opportunity to strengthen her English while preparing for the next stage of formation.
She said, “I am grateful for this chance to learn English, and I am also happy to be with my friends as we prepare for the novitiate. We are managing pastoral work despite the challenge of not knowing Shona.”
Their experience in Chinhoyi is helping the prenovices grow not only in language and cultural understanding but also in community life, pastoral engagement, and mutual support as they prepare for the novitiate.
Despite the challenges of language and adapting to a new environment, their time together is proving to be a meaningful opportunity to deepen their relationships and strengthen their sense of vocation.
Prayers are requested for these young women as they continue to discern and deepen their call to become RSHM and journey faithfully toward the novitiate.
