Sr. Elisabeth Villemure from Grand-Mère (Québec) to Uganda and Kenya

I come to share with you a love story that is some years old but still alive. I invite to enter into this mistery.

My name means "God's house" and I like it! The history of my vocation started when I was 10 years old. A sister came to talk to us. What an emotion to listen to her praying the "Our Father" in a language that made us laugh so much... The seed was planted and the idea of becoming a missionary started growing in me. I have had doubts, hesitations, struggles. I was a teacher and I was engaged.

Then during a retreat the light dawned on me. In the certitude and the deep inner peace, I got the courage to become religious missionary.

I join the MSOLA postulate at Quebec, with 11 companions. I have never regretted that decision. God is patient with me. He respects my journey. To prepare a missionary needs time.

En 1971 I arrive to Uganda! What a beauty and what a people! and I am sent to bring the Good News. I am young, enthusiast, ready to give everything so that Christ might me known and loved. I teach maths in two secondary schools: a boarding school for girls and the seminary. I put all my heart to get to know those young men and women. I discover their wonderful country, their values and their culture.

Seeing how they live it is me who is evangelized! I am marvelled at
the faith of the people. They walk miles to come to Church on Sundays.
The celebrations are joyful: songs and tamtma, it is colourful and full of life.

Greetings are important and necessary before any talk! What a lesson to be attentive to the person...
I see how those having little share with their neighbour. Often I am that neighbour that receives the little they had...

In 1982 I am called to Canada for a service of missionary animation in Quebec. Three beautiful years where I become aware of another dimension of my missionary vocation: become bridge between two
cultures. I try to make Canadians discover the richness of the
Ugandan people. I see myself as a sign of the Church's universality.

In 1985, I return to Kenya. I learn "kiswahili" the language spoken there. I live in Kangemi, a parish in the outskirst of Nairobi. More than 50.000 people live in that "bidonville". There are 15 small christian communities, with its leaders, catechists, and voluntaries looking after the sick, the poor and the many refugees.

I work with the youth, the catechists and the readers. I am responsible of the formation for the different ministries. Working with them I discover their courage to face life and to keep their commitments, and I am evangelized by their faith and their witness.
I am happy in Kangemi, but I am asked to go back to Uganda. It rebuilds itself after years of war. I am at ease in the middle of a people proud of their identity and happy to live despite difficulties and suffering. A people rooted in their culture, their faith and the courage of its Martyrs. I am happy to live there my missionary vocation.

Looking back at these years I see how good it has been to live at the service of the Africans. With them I have learnt the joy of living and the meaning of sharing.

Sr. Elisabeth Villemure, MSOLA