Bishop Beckman, priests join in celebrating Mass for Sisters from across the U.S.
By Bill Brewer
The solemnity of the Assumption of Mary on Aug. 15 was an especially joyous day for the Missionary Congregation of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary from Uganda.
The three Evangelizing Sisters who serve in the Diocese of Knoxville at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut—Sister Maureen Ouma, Sister Elizabeth Wanyoike, and Sister Restituta Nyinoweitu—celebrated the feast day of their patroness, and they were joined by 13 members of their order from across the United States to mark the order’s Golden Jubilee with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Beckman.
Evangelizing Sisters of Mary hold a cake commemorating the golden jubilee of their order, which was celebrated with a Mass on Aug. 15 at St. John Neumann Church. A reception for the Sisters in the St. John Neumann School gym followed the Mass. (Photo Jenny Martinez)
“Today is a great day of joy. We celebrate 50 years, the Golden Jubilee of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary. What a joy it is to celebrate with you, particularly on this great feast day of the Assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven. Where Mary has gone, all of us hope to follow,” Bishop Beckman said, welcoming the Sisters, all clergy, and the St. John Neumann congregation.
Concelebrating the Mass from the Diocese of Knoxville were Father Mark Schuster, pastor of St. John Neumann Parish; St. John Neumann associate pastors Father Bo Beaty and Father Michael Raj Joseph; Father Daniel Cooper, associate pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade; and Monsignor Patrick Garrity.
Priests with the Apostles of Jesus religious order concelebrating the jubilee Mass were Father Pontian Kiyimba, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg and Good Shepherd Parish in Newport; Father Augustine Idra, the regional superior based in the Diocese of Allentown, Pa.; Father Speratus Kamanzi, also of Allentown; Father Apolinary Kavishe of the Diocese of Cleveland in Ohio; and Father Jeoffrey Inira, who was visiting from Nairobi, Kenya.
As the Evangelizing Sisters, priests, and deacons processed into Mass, accompanied by a Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree honor guard, each Sister placed a lit candle to mark the 50th anniversary on a table before the altar.
Bishop Beckman recognized Monsignor Garrity for his role in embracing the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary when they were assigned to St. John Neumann when Monsignor Garrity was pastor there from Feb. 1, 2010, to July 1, 2018.
“St. John Neumann, in particular, gives thanks to Monsignor Garrity. Thank you for your instrumental role in bringing them to this beautiful Diocese of Knoxville,” the bishop said.
Also recognized during the Mass intentions were the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary founders, Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi, FSCJ, and Father John Marengoni, of Moroto Diocese, Uganda. Bishop Mazzoldi died in July 1987. Father Marengoni, MCCJ, died in July 2007.
Saying ‘yes’ like Mary
As the readings were given that foretold of Mary’s Immaculate Conception and the testament of her saying yes to God, the Holy Mother’s presence began to fill the church through the people in attendance to uplift her.
Sisters in procession placed lighted candles before the altar in St. John Neumann Church during the Mass. (Photo Jenny Martinez)
In his homily, Bishop Beckman recounted his first visit to the Holy Land nearly 20 years ago.
“I will never forget the April morning that our tour bus pulled up to the hill in the hill country of Judea, where the place of the visitation is marked. … When we arrived at the top, we found a beautiful image, statues of Mary and Elizabeth standing in the garden, both with child, Elizabeth further along than Mary. And the Franciscan friar was in the flower bed planting spring flowers in the courtyard,” the bishop recalled.
“As we went up to the Church of the Visitation with all the east-facing windows to celebrate Mass at that location, the sun had just risen, and beautiful morning light filled the church. And our hearts were full of joy as we celebrated Mass of the visitation, which is what you do when you’re in the Holy Land at that location, whatever time of year it is. Mary, mother of God, the Holy Theotokos, carries in her being the light of the world,” he continued. “She is the tabernacle of the Most High God as she goes to visit Elizabeth. And the inevitable response on the part of John in the womb of his mother is to leap for joy, the same joy, the taste of it, that we experience … as the morning light filled the Church.”
Those cherished memories led Bishop Beckman to highlight a faith-filled community devoted to Mary and her infinite love for her Son.
“The Evangelizing Sisters of Mary, like Mary herself, have been bearers of the light of Christ with you wherever you have gone in this world. Imagine that this great history began 50 years ago, a Golden Jubilee that we celebrate today,” the bishop pointed out.
“There is in each one of you a palpable joy, and I know it comes from the presence of Christ within you. Each one of you was bathed in light when you were baptized. You carry within your very being the mystery of the Trinity: God, Father, Son, and Spirit. But in consecrating or being consecrated to religious life, the gift of that presence is made more palpable and visible to all of us in the world. And we are so grateful for that,” he noted.
He thanked the Evangelizing Sisters for being their order’s forerunners of the faith in the United States, comparing them to John the Baptist.
An Evangelizing Sister of Mary receives Communion from Bishop Mark Beckman during Mass. (Photo Jenny Martinez)
“The beautiful witness of your lives is a testament to Christ, the life of the world,” Bishop Beckman shared. “Dear brothers and sisters, these Sisters are living signs of what all of us are called to be in our own baptismal promises. The Lord longs for us to carry Christ into the world as tabernacles of His sacred light, that all people may be touched by that light and drawn to the joy of the Gospel.”
Bishop Beckman recognized the priests of the Apostles of Jesus who were on hand, welcoming them to the parish and the diocese, and thanking them for their gift in serving God and His people.
“This day of Mary is the great promise of the light of God to come. A woman clothed in the sunlight bearing a child. A great icon of Mary, Mother of God, clothed fully in the light of God. At that moment, when the Lord drew her to Himself, body and soul, into the glory of heaven. Where Mary has gone, we do hope to follow,” the bishop said.
“So, may the good Lord continue to use each of us in spreading the joy of the Gospel, the light of Christ in the world. Thank you, Sisters, for doing it here with us in the Diocese of Knoxville. We are most grateful for you, but also to all the members of your community throughout the world and know that our prayers are with all of you today,” the bishop concluded.
During Holy Communion, the Sisters sang a hymn in the Kiswahili language based on the 42nd Psalm, “Like a deer that longs for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God.”
Then, following the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Sisters rose from the front pews and stood before the statue of Mary and sang “Mary Loving Mother” by Mathias Francis Bbaale:
Mary loving Mother; Mary loving Mother,
On our knees we pray you;
Listen to your children;
Mary love, Mary love; Mary loving Mother
Mother of the Savior;
Virgin full of grace;
We praise you today;
We greet you door to heaven;
We sing your boundless glory;
Your name is sweet and holy;
At the annunciation;
Your yes became salvation;
Within our songs we thank you
O Queen of all the Angels;
O Queen of all the people;
Accept us in your kingdom;
O Queen of all the Apostles;
O Queen of all the martyrs;
Your glory may be ours.
Near the conclusion of Mass, Sister Maureen and Sister Elizabeth addressed Bishop Beckman, Father Schuster, all the clergy, and the congregation on behalf of their order.
“With great appreciation I stand here today on behalf of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary who minister here at St. John Neumann. To God we give all glory and praise, for it is in Him that we live and move and have our being,” Sister Maureen began.
“Our presence here today has been made possible by so many wonderful people. First and foremost, I want to acknowledge his excellency, Bishop Mark Beckman, our shepherd and spiritual guide in the Diocese of Knoxville. A year ago, when I approached you about leading us today in this eucharistic celebration, your willingness was an immediate yes, even before you checked your calendar. Thank you, Bishop, for leading us today as we praise God for His gift of salvation in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
In a moving devotion to the Blessed Mother, the Sisters sing “Mary Loving Mother” by Mathias Francis Bbaale before the statue of Mary in the church. (Photo Bill Brewer)
“Secondly, I want to thank our pastor, Father Mark Schuster, who has been a vital part of this preparation by giving his consent and full support together with the priests who serve alongside him here at St. John Neumann, Father Bo and Father Michael. I would like to acknowledge the presence of the priests of the Diocese of Knoxville, Monsignor Patrick Garrity and Father Daniel Cooper, as well as Father Augustine Idra, the regional superior of the Apostles of Jesus, and all his brother priests who have traveled from far and near and are here with us,” Sister Maureen said.
Sister Elizabeth then addressed Bishop Beckman and all those in attendance.
“On behalf of our superior general, Mother Jacinta Mary Adhiambo and her counsel, who are also celebrating this day of jubilee in Uganda, Africa, where we were founded. And on behalf of my Sisters in the United States, I take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for joining us to thank the Lord for these 50 years He has given to us,” she said.
Sister Maureen and Sister Elizabeth told those assembled that the United States, the Diocese of Knoxville, and St. John Neumann are where they feel well-received and accepted.
“Thank you so much. There is an African saying by Ubuntu that says, ‘I am because you are.’ This reminds us that we walk through this life together, sharing our joys and our pains. This strengthens our faith and the mission entrusted to us, and that’s what we share in common. This is what we celebrate, and as a missionary congregation we know and have experienced that we are who we are because of each one of you who is present, and even those who are not here today. You stand with us and for us in all that we do. We are united by a common mission to be Christ to one another, and that is our experience here,” Sister Maureen said.
She noted that on Aug. 15, 2010, after an invitation by Bishop Richard F. Stika, the Diocese of Knoxville’s third shepherd, two Evangelizing Sisters of Mary arrived in the Diocese of Knoxville. She recalled that Monsignor Garrity ministered with the Sisters and invited them to St. John Neumann.
“This parish community has been part of our journey for the past 16 years. You are a living reminder to us of Christ’s promise. ‘Everyone who has given up houses of brothers or sisters, or father or mother of children, or learned for the sake of my name will receive 100 times more.’ We have truly experienced the fulfillment of this promise right here among all of you,” Sister Maureen said.
Sister Elizabeth then asked Sister Maureen and Sister Restituta to come forward for a presentation of gifts to Bishop Beckman and Father Schuster for their love and support.
A reception for the Evangelizing Sisters was held in the St. John Neumann School gym following the Golden Jubilee Mass.
The congregation was founded in 1975 in Moroto Diocese, Uganda, by Comboni Missionaries Bishop Mazzoldi and Father Marengoni, driven by a vision to spread the Good News of the Risen Lord to the unreached. The Evangelizing Sisters of Mary are currently more than 470 professed Sisters from six African countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan.
The order serves 12 countries: South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania (Zanzibar), Zambia, and South Sudan in Africa; Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom in Europe; the United States in North America; and Jamaica and Cuba in the Caribbean.
The order’s mission is carried out through four formation centers, 62 apostolic communities in 32 archdioceses, and dioceses across three continents.
According to its charism and mission, the Evangelizing Sisters are “inspired by the pierced heart of the crucified Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.”
“We are called to evangelize the non-Christian world. First evangelization through catechetical instruction, planting new churches and strengthening existing ones. Our holistic mission seeks to uplift human dignity spiritually, psychologically, socially, intellectually, morally, and materially,” according to the order’s charism and mission statement. “Our mission is to evangelize holistically through pastoral ministry, education ministry, health ministry, and social ministry.”