DIOCESE OF KEETMANSHOOP

1. REASON FOR EXISTENCE

 

The mission of Christ is continued in His Church and through Him we are called to share in His mission. We strive to proclaim the Gospel message, to build up the community of faith, and to collaborate for the growth of humankind as a whole, thus giving glory to God, our Father.

 

2. ROOTS 

 

The Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God was founded in 1910 at Santarem, Para, Brazil. The founders, Bishop Amandus Bahlman, O.F.M., and Mother Immaculate of Jesus were initially assisted in the enstablishment of the Congregation by four Conceptionist Nuns of the Ajuda Monastery in Rio de Janeiro. The primary purpose of the foundation was to serve the people of the Amazon Region of Northern Brazil through the education of youth and the works of mercy. Today the Congregation serves in Brazil, Germany, Namibia, Taiwan, Republic of China, and the United States of America.
 

3. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES 

 

Our Marian spirituality is expressed in dedication to Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception. Through the Immaculate Conception of Mary, God reveals to all the eternal mercy with which He has, from the beginning, embraced humankind with his redeeming love and fidelity. Like her, we endeavour to develop Mary's attentive listening, her unwavering faith, and constant readiness to respond to the will of God, so that we, in our own lives, might reveal God's eternal love and mercy to all. We are called to integrate the spirit of St. Francis into our lives, especially the values of contemplation, conversion, poverty and minority, and the spreading of the Good News throughout the world. We offer prayer and sacrifice for priests and actively support them in their ministry.

 

4. QUALITIES OF SERVICE

 

We answer the special call to the missionary apostolate of our Congregation by living and proclaiming the Good News and through our cooperation in the building and developing of Christian communities. We give witness to God's love through our various apostolates: pastoral ministry, education, health care, social work and other apostolic ministries, especially through our being with and in service to the poor and powerless people of society. At our Mission in Dornfeld: Twice a year we prepare people to receive the sacraments. We give catechism classes, sacramental preparation and charismatic renewal. We also run a Soup Kitchen. We run a High School and a Primary School. We also run a Boarding School with training for Hostel matrons. We provide in-service-training for Kindergarten and Pre-School in Gobabis district farms. At the Epikuro Mission: We run a Primary School, training for needle work, and we do pastoral work. At the Aminuis Mission: We Run a Primary School, a Secondary School, and a Boarding School. We also do pastoral ministries. At the Dobra Mission: We do pastoral work and management of the Pastoral Center.
 

 

5. FUTURE DIRECTION

 

For the continued growth and development of the local Church, Sisters shall respect and appreciate the richness of the cultures of the peoples they serve and should adopt themselves to their character and mentality. Our concern about the dignity of persons and their liberation urges us to be mediators of reconciliation, justice and mercy in our relationships and in our apostolic service.

 

 

 

 

6. CONSUMERS

 

While our congregation's focus is placed on education of youth, we also serve the sick, poor, and powerless through health care and pastoral work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. OUR SMIC CHARISM

 

To be a contemplative, compassionate presence to all, in constant readiness for Christ's Mission, especially among the most needy. The Province of Namibia is international serving the following peoples: German, Nama, Damara, Tswana, Ovambo, Kavango.