Tag: Sisters of Mercy

Embracing Our Friends Who Are Deaf: A Journey of Inclusion

By Sr. Gladys Chama, CNCS Mansa Hub Sr. Gladys Chama is a religious Sister from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy and is currently serving as a Postulant Mistress in her congregation. As an early childhood educator by profession, her passion lies in transforming lives through spiritual growth, reading and handwriting. Her journey took a beautiful turn when she discovered the joy of communicating with friends who have special needs, particularly those who are Deaf. However, she was struck by the realization that they are often sidelined, even in churches. “We have many Catholic churches, but few sign language interpreters. I wondered, does this mean there are no individuals who are Deaf in these churches? The answer is clearly no. This sparked my desire to learn sign language and help our friends who are Deaf fully participate in church activities,” Sr. Gladys said. She shared that as she drew closer to individuals in the Deaf community, she came to appreciate their positive energy, love, and authenticity. “They are frank, truthful, and their love is genuine. This experience has taught me that, with effort and appreciation, we can make a difference,” Sr. Gladys said. She has urged everyone to strive to be more inclusive and welcoming and to learn to appreciate and support people who are Deaf. “Together, we can create a more loving and compassionate community,” she said. Quoting from the Sisters of Mercy Rule of Life, Sr. Gladys added, “We must love people, as there was so much more beauty and goodness in them than the evil we often saw. Each person showed us a facet of God’s glory.” She said this resonates deeply in her service to people who are Deaf, where she sees God’s glory shining through their smiles, gestures, and love.

NOTHING IS TOO LITTLE TO SHARE

“When I have some time free from work, I walk to Shoprite to talk and listen to their stories… By Sr. Martha Chanda The streets of Mansa in Luapula Province are not exempt from the presence of street children. In the vicinity of Shoprite, one can observe numerous children wandering, often hungry and begging for food and money. Their plight plainly highlights the realities of hunger and poverty within our society.  Sr. Patricia Mubanga Mulenga is a Religious Sister from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy who has dedicated herself to the service of street children in Mansa. Inspired by her Congregation’s charism of compassion and the example given by the Founder Archbishop James Mwewa Spaita, who loved the homeless, coupled with her professional counselling skills, Sr. Patricia is able to interact with these children with competence and compassion. During her free time, she often walks to Shoprite to talk and listen to the children. She believes every child, regardless of their circumstances, is a child of God deserving of a better life. Sr. Patricia says she is inspired to lend a helping hand by the resilience of some of the children, who despite the numerous challenges on the streets are fending for their families. When I see them hungry and whenever I have something, I am compelled to give, not only food but in other ways as well. Sometimes my community and I go out of our way and share what we have from our table and sometimes from well-wishers. I find joy in cooking nice food for them to eat even if it is only one meal for a small group. The story of the five loaves and two fish in the bible always charges me on. Nothing is too little to share. Sr. Patricia. Sr. Patricia says she desires to establish a skills center were these children can be empowered with different practical skills rather than being on the streets. She is appealing to people of goodwill to partner with her in changing the lives of these children by empowering them with the needed skills, shelter and love.