VINCENTIAN MARIAN YOUTH IN BOTSWANA
Botswana is a country with a population of about two million people, in the southern part of Africa. Vincentian Marian Youth was established in Botswana more than four years after the visit of the Vincentian Family Coordinators, Father Flavio Pereira from the United States of America, and Br. Sylvester Ojubiaja, coordinator for English-speaking African countries in 2018.
The coordinators encouraged Reverend Sister Nalini SCN and Paulinah Antwi, who were part of the Vincentians who attended the meeting with the visitors, to establish other branches of the Vincentian Family in Botswana with the sole aim of coming back to Botswana to establish Vincentian Family.
As Mother Mary told St. Catherine Laboure, “I have a mission from God for you. You will suffer. You will be contradicted but do not be afraid. I will grant you many graces so you should have confidence and not be afraid”. I will not elaborate on the contradiction and challenges I faced and continue to face in the establishment of Vincentian Marian Youth. However, with the onset of COVID-19 in late 2019, I could not do anything due to government regulations which did not permit free movement.
October 2022, I asked the Vicar General, Very Reverend Father Andrew Makgetla to give a presentation on the Miraculous Medal and Vincentian Marian Youth at Christ the King Cathedral in Gaborone after morning Mass. Fr. Andrew was aware of the opening of other branches of the Vincentian Family in Botswana because Fr. Flavio and Br. Sylvester paid a courtesy call to his office when they visited Botswana. With Fr. Andrew’s permission, the presentation took place after morning Mass that week. I made flyers for both VMY and Miraculous Medal to distribute after Mass. Through this initiative, some people came to register to be members of the two branches of the Vincentian Family.
On October 24, 2022, the first VMY meeting was held after Mass with three members, Tafadzwa, Christine, and Stephanie. They were very enthusiastic and willing to dedicate themselves to serving the Blessed Virgin Mary. The group discussed the contents of the flyer together, prayed, and closed the meeting. However, due to their school activities coupled with those of the church’s, we could not meet till the following year.
Our next meeting was in February 2023. It started with a prayer, discussion of the gospel reading at Mass, then talked about St. Catherine Laboure and the relationship she had with Mother Mary, and the history of the Miraculous Medal. We then planned our outreach activity. We agreed to pay a visit to St. Vincent de Paul Society’s center where they house disadvantaged children. The following Saturday, the group and one parent, Mrs. Victoria Okere, accompanied us to the center. The group socialized with the children and asked them how they could assist them. We had a prayer with the children and thereafter departed from the center. The members decided to visit the center to assist the children with schoolwork from time to time.
In June 2023, the group planned to visit a hospice run by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in a village near Gaborone. The members of the VMY requested from the Reverend Sisters which gifts they should bring when visiting the hospice. They responded with a list of items needed by the patients. Two weeks later, the VMY and Miraculous Medal Association members paid a visit to the hospice.
The Reverend Sr. Sunila welcomed us and briefed us about the activities of the hospice. Tafadzwa, one of the VMY members, registered the gifts taken in a book, then the group was divided into two groups and taken to the ward to pray and greet the patients. Our hearts were filled with joy when we left the hospice.
October is a month of praying the Rosary, so the members took turns in saying the rosary in our meetings. The importance of our Mother in the salvation of mankind was discussed. The group also elected office bearers. Tafadzwa Chigwada, whose picture is shown, was chosen as the president, Stephanie Okere as vice president, Anesu Mandizvidza is our secretary, David Mutamba was chosen as the treasurer.
VMY also contributed towards the celebration of the silver jubilee of Very Reverend Fr. Andrew Makgetla. The group donated three bags of onions for the preparation of meals for the day. On the 11th of November 2023, the Archbishop of Gaborone, His Grace Franklyn Atese Nubuasah, will be celebrating his Episcopal Anniversary at the Christ the King Cathedral. The group will contribute and participate during the event.
In November 2023, VMY is going to visit Gamodubo ChildCare Trust Centre. The children are from underprivileged homes. Some are orphans. We hope to build a relationship with the centre and see how best to assist them, going forward.
VMY Botswana
