© Benedictine Sisters Benevolent Association, used here with permission.
She developed a list of topics related to the history, culture, politics, sociology, and economics of Africa. With her practicum advisers, the list was distributed to around the region for possible inclusion in social studies classes. The calls poured in! Each class required a separate preparation; she had to teach about the roles of women in Africa differently with early elementary children than with a junior high class. Even during the last week of the semester, her practicum adviser had to turn down requests from teachers who wanted to get her into their classrooms.
This photo was taken just as Sister Gaudensia left the stage, after shaking the President’s hand and receiving the case into which her diploma will go – after she finishes final exams.
(Text and photo © Benedictine Sisters Benevolent Association)
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Saturday, December 17, 2011, was a big day in the life of Sister Gaudensia Mwanyika. It was the date of her graduation from The College of St. Scholastica. Her degree in secondary education was adapted to teaching in her home country.
Sister Gaudensia began her day by attending the Baccalaureate Mass at 9:00 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel. She followed that by a reception for her friends in the monastery (serving African foods). Later she walked across the stage to receive her diploma at the noon graduation ceremony held in the Reif Recreation Center. On Monday evening, December 19, Sr. Gaudensia was feted by the Sisters in the Rockhurst Dining Room. Her friend and Community member, Sister Petra Mkongwa, attending school in Cincinnati, ended the evening by singing a beautiful song in their native language Swahili.
Sister Gaudensia is a member of the African Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes whose motherhouse is at St. Gertrude Convent Imiliwaha in southwestern Tanzania. Her community, along with their sister-convent, St. Agnes Convent Chipole, are twin communities with St. Scholastica Monastery.
College education in Sister Gaudensia’s homeland is not easily available at this time. It is the intention of St. Scholastica Monastery to educate Sisters from our twin communities so they can return home to help their own Sisters and their own people.
In mid-January Sister Gaudensia will return home to Tanzania for a few months before returning to The College of St. Scholastica to begin a Masters degree.
Sister Gaudensia (seated left) with some of her friends and strongest supporters:
Sister Lois Eckes (prioress, seated right); Sister Petra Mkongwa standing next to Sister Gaudensia;
Back row, from left: Betty and Wayne Nurmi; Sister Edith Bogue; Sister Martha Bechtold;
Sister Mary Rae Higgins; Sister Chisom Azuogu; and Sister Beverly Raway.
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