By Sr. Tryness Mulubwa, Lusaka CNCS Hub
Salesian Sisters have been urged to embrace their differences and use gratitude to strengthen unity and cooperation within their religious community.
Fr. Eustace Siame (SDB), the main celebrant, made the call during Mass held at the Mornese Spirituality Centre in Makeni, Lusaka, following the completion of an assembly where the Sisters reflected on their experiences and celebrated their journey together.
Fr. Siame said differences in opinions and understanding were a natural part of community life and should not be a source of division.
“It is not possible for us to be the same. We are supposed to be different and it is that difference that complements and makes our solutions to problems more meaningful,” he said.
Drawing from the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11–19, Fr. Siame said gratitude could strengthen relationships and bring people together despite their differences.
“Gratitude makes us whole. We may look separate, but when we show our oneness by saying thank you to one another, we become one,” he said.
Fr. Siame encouraged the Sisters to remain grateful to God for one another, the growth of the congregation and the experiences that had brought them together.
He said their unity and positive witness could attract more vocations and contribute to the congregation’s continued development.
Meanwhile, Sr. Anastasia Katongo described Gratitude Day as a family moment that brought members together to celebrate their life as Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, appreciate their diversity and reflect on their shared mission.
“The different experiences, opinions and abilities of each member made community life richer and provided opportunities for learning and personal growth,” she said.
Sr. Katongo said recognising the uniqueness of others had helped her appreciate that her own ideas were not always the best, as others could offer different and sometimes better perspectives.
And Sr. Felistus Kunda described gratitude as “giving or planting a seed of love”, saying she was grateful for the presence of her fellow Sisters whose lives and experiences continued to educate and enrich her.
She said valuing one another’s views through mutual love, trust and respect was important because every individual had something to contribute.
“Every member is responsible for building the Province. The Province is not sustained by a few individuals but through the contribution and responsibility of everyone,” she said.
Sr. Kunda encouraged the Sisters to remain thankful for the people, experiences and opportunities God places in their lives, saying life itself was a gift from God and should never be taken for granted.