Consecrated religious women carry out different missions across the world in their effort to witness Jesus Christ. In Djibouti nuns from the Consolata Missionary Sisters (IMC) - an International Religious Congregation founded in 1910 by Blessed Joseph Allamano, for the purpose of Primary Evangelization continue to serve God’s people in the predominantly Muslim community.
Sr. Leah Muthoni (IMC) from St Peters and Paul Kiptangwanyi in the Kenya’s Nakuru Diocese is one of the Consolata Missionary sisters currently serving in Djibouti. The second born in her family had her desire to join religious life triggered by her admiration for the religious sisters who would occasionally visit her local church.
In a small library located at St John the Baptist- Osembo, she came across assorted books and magazines on saints & religious life. It was while reading these literatures that she discovered the Consolata Missionary Sisters (IMC) and was drawn to their way of life prompting her to write to them seeking to know how she could join the religious institute.
Sr. Muthoni began her journey as a Consolata Sister in year 2003, where she got immersed in the Consolata Charism of proclaiming the good news to non-Christians. She has served as a missionary in Brazil and is presently in Djibouti. She has experienced fulfilment over the years in both countries, but especially in Djibouti, where she has lived for the past five years.
Bordered to the South by Somalia, Ethiopia to the west and Eritrea in the North Djibouti's population is approximately 1.1 million people with one Catholic Diocese comprised of five missions. 94% of the Horn of Africa nation is Muslim and 6% Christian.
Church apostolate fostering interreligious dialogue
Her experience has been enriching because missionaries work and serve the people by witnessing the love of Christ that they have received from their religious brothers and sisters. Although 99% of Christians in Djibouti are foreigners and 1% Djiboutian, the Consolata Missionary Sisters continue to witness Christ through their actions.
According to Sr. Consolata Muthoni, God's love knows no bounds because as they share with their Muslim brothers and sisters, she feels they love them and, in turn, they are loved and embraced by the local community. Muslims welcome them and have provided them with space to share and witness through their way of life. Even if they do not teach catechism, they help children, young people, and women through charitable work.
Majority of the learners in learning institutions ran by the Consolata Missionary Sisters are Muslims and since most of the teachers who work in their schools are Muslims, they share a mutual relationship. The sisters invite them to their different feasts such as Christmas and Easter, whereas the Muslim brothers & sisters reciprocate by inviting the religious sisters for feasts such as Ramadan.
It is evident that the country has an on-going interreligious dialogue; Djiboutians prefer Catholic schools because they provide a holistic education that encompasses not only learning but also the integration of all aspects of the human person.
According to Sr. Leah Muthoni, “the goal of the sisters is not to convert but to share and witness Christ in this country through their way of life.” As a result, they believe that by witnessing through their lives, many hearts will continue being touched and their way and quality of life impacted positively.
Preaching the gospel at all times with faith in the Lord amid challenges
“Our work is to be, and God's work is conversion. We plant the seed and leave the rest to the Lord. Even though our churches do not have Djiboutians, we feel fulfilled because we share Christ's and Christianity's values’. Adds Sr. Leah
Consolata Missionaries launched this interreligious dialogue mission in 2003 and this has allowed them to integrate with the people and learn about the realities of their backgrounds. They have grown to care for the people of Djibouti, sharing their joys, sorrows, successes, and challenges.
One of the problems they missionaries encountered when they first arrived in Djibouti was the requirement to work on Sundays. Djibouti being a Muslim country, their weekends are on Friday (the Muslims' day of worship) and Saturday, so Sunday is a regular working day.
Language barrier has also been a challenge considering that any missionary going to Djibouti must learn foreign languages such as French to communicate with the local community. Djibouti’s semi-arid climate makes access to food quite difficult forcing the missionaries to source fresh farm produce from Ethiopia.
'We face these challenges with faith in the Lord who has called us. We do this with patience, which is, by the way, the first requirement for being able to serve the people. Another factor is goodwill, the ability to ask, and being simple and humble. I should be able to recognize that I am treading on other people's holy ground, remove my sandals, let go of what I know from Kenya, and welcome these new realities to adequately offer my services'. Sr. Leah stated.
Seen through the experience of Sr. Leah Muthoni, the on-going dialogue, their apostolate and obligation, the story on the Consolata Missionary Sisters since the foundation of their mission in year 2004 in Djibouti brings the words of St. Francis of Asisi to mind: “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”
