Muheza
The Mother House for the Rosminian Sisters in Africa is based in Muheza. It is approximately 40 kilometers from Tanga. In the village of Michungwani (= orange grove) the Sisters set up their Formation House and subsequently the Holy Family Pre / Primary School on property purchased by us when our numbers began to increase, and to create a Formation House to introduce the Aspirants, Postulants and Novices to the Rosmini way of life. The property extends to include a farm from which we produce most of our own food. We have cows, pigs, turkeys, hens, other fowl, banana trees, pineapples, oranges and more. Surplus eggs, vegetables, fruits and meat are sold to the local people and the monies used to assist the Sisters with running and maintenance expenses. Sr. Alberta, (with white veil), worked for over 45 years in Tanzania, and Sr. Lelia (black veil) for 25 years, were instrumental in setting up and developing the Muheza Community and both did trojan work during their Ministry in Tanzania.
The nuns with perpetual vows and the junior nuns live in the Mother House. Most of them (having attended College during their Novitiate years), teach in their Pre / Primary school, dedicate themselves to catechism in the parish, and carry out services for the functioning of the house.
Then there is the house for the aspirants. The young people come to us with a vague idea of religious consecration and then, gradually, through prayer, talks, discussion and interaction with the professed Sisters, and other Religious, they become aware of the value of religious life. At present we have 11 aspirants who, in addition to their prayer life, become fully involved in the work on the farm and the daily maintenance of the grounds. They also live together, cook together, and get to know one another and learn about the Rosminian way of life.
A family atmosphere is essential in Community life. The Sisters who provide guidance for the Aspirants (at present Sr. Anisia and Sr. Yohana) are therefore their ‘go to’ people for all their questions, concerns, joys, pain, and learning. During their time with us they first learn the fundamental elements of Christian life: catechism, the sacraments, the commandments. Furthermore, they have a first experience of community life and have a very first approach to religious vows. All in the Community learn to speak English and Italian.
The life of the community is punctuated by prayer, daily Mass, the liturgy of the hours, discussion, and work in in Holy Family English Medium Pre/Primary school (approx. 547 students) and on the farm.
Our first Aspirant from Vietnam (in 2025) is welcomed to Tanzania by some of our Novices.
Sr. M. Yovina Nyaki is the Headmistress of Holy Family English Medium Pre/Primary School. Sr. Emmanuela Mosha is the Burser and Sr. Yohana is the Secretary. The school has more than 25 lay staff who are teachers and 10 auxiliary staff. Students (286 boys and 261 girls) start to arrive from 7.00 a.m. and the Sisters often have to skip breakfast themselves to ensure that they are on site to welcome the children to school and get them settled for the day. As is the case in all the schools managed by the Sisters, for health and wellbeing, food is served in the morning and again at lunch time. The contribution from the parents to the school is used towards this purpose.
We also issue a ‘Come and See’ invitation to young women who may have an interest in religious life, to come and spend a few days with the Community in Muheza, to explore and discern their vocation and to learn more about what is involved in being a part of a Religious Community, the commitment to God and to prayer, the commitment to colleagues and to the Ministry of serving all God’s people, being prepared to accept a life of celibacy, a life dedicated totally to God.