We are committed to serve all without regard to religion or material means, especially those in greatest need. Community life and prayer sustain our witness to Christ’s presence wherever we live and work.
We have over 75 Years of Monastic Presence and Ministries in East Africa and ministries in 10 Dioceses throughout Tanzania.
“The long journey to becoming a Sister”…
- Aspirant – Girls who want to join our community first need to do an exam. After successfully passing the exam, a girl can come to stay in the school. Normally, girls enter as Aspirants at the age of 12-15. Depending on their age they stay as Aspirant for around 2-4 years.
- Candidate – At the age of 16 or older, the girls can go to the Kiyogawale Formation House (see below) to learn the Catechism for 2 years. After studying they have to do an examination and if they pass with good results they get a certificate for teaching people the Catechism. They become religious teachers.
- Postulant – Postulants stay at Chipole convent and are led by a sisters who teaches them and helps them with the community life. They wear the habit with short sleeves and a St. Benedict medal around their necks.
- Novices – At the end of this last stage the candidates change their name and become Sisters. We start to call them with their new name and always with “Sister”. It takes the Novices two years to take their vows. The second year they go to stay with other Sisters in the parishes. This is the year for practicing how to serve people, for example to teach religion, help to support people in need and carrying out other activities.
Kiyogawale Formation House
On 12th September, 1988, the sisters of St Agnes Chipole founded the Kiyogawale Formation House in Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region, Tanzania. Kiyogawale house hosts candidates who wants to join the congregation in the future. It is a college for Catechism where candidates stay 2 years to prepare for the examination prepared by the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference (TEZ).
