Southern Africa. In August 2025, seven young women from the Our Lady of Peace Province (AFM), who did their Novitiate in Nairobi, Kenya, made their First Religious Profession in the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
On 5 August 2025, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Benoni, Gauteng in South Africa, near the Provincial House, a young woman from Lesotho and two from South Africa pronounced their vows in the hands of the Provincial, Sister Cecilia Motanya, delegate of Mother Chiara Cazzuola, Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Fr. Bonginkosi Nhleko, Provincial Councilor of the Vice Province of Blessed Michele Rua (AFM) and Director of the Community of Saint John Bosco of Gauteng. After the Holy Mass, the celebrations continued at the Provincial House in Benoni.
On Sunday 24 August 2025, at the Mornese Spirituality Center in Lusaka, Zambia, the Provincial, Sister Cecilia Motanya, welcomed four young women from Zambia into the FMA Institute, who made their First Profession in her hands. The other three new Professed were present at the Holy Mass, presided over by Fr. Leszek Aksamit, SDB.
SDB, Discalced Carmelites (OCD), and diocesan priests were present at both Masses, together with parents and family members of the new Novices and representatives of the Salesian Family.
“Anchored in Hope” is the theme chosen by the seven newly professed women, inspired by the Jubilee Year and the Strenna 2025, with the Word of God, “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom 5:5).
These First Professions constitute a historic event for the AFM Province which, after many years, the province has had two FMAs from South Africa and one from Lesotho. It is also the first time that the First Profession was held at the Provincial House in Benoni, South Africa.
The Sisters expressed gratitude to the Lord for the gift of these new vocations to the Province, and to their parents who offered them to the Lord, with the hope of serving young people in fidelity to Him in the Salesian Charism, according to the spirit of Saint John Bosco and Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello.
