The African Benedictine Sisters of Saint Agnes Chipole is a religious constitution founded on 5th June 1938 by the Swiss Bishop Gallus Steiger (see below). It is located in the archdiocese of Songea in Ruvuma region in southern part of the United Republic of Tanzania. The congregation started by three pagan (= not baptized) girls empowered by the Holy Spirit. Their names were: Ngalimau Milinga, Milinguayao Mahundi and Kilumbu Nunda, later baptized and named: Anastasia Milinga, Susana Mahundi and Sophia Teresia Nunda. Hearing and following the voice of God like these three young women remains the purpose and vocation of the congregation until today.
The first African Mother Superior was elected in 1967, and in 1982 the community in Imiliwaha founded by the Chipole Sisters finally became an independent community. Chipole and Imiliwaha share a common Mother Superior General in Songea.
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