SR. PHILISTER TABU CMS | (Mexico)
My name is Sr. Philister Tabu from Arua Diocese. My home parish is Holy Rosary, Logiri Parish. I come from a family of 9 children. For my education, I went to Logiri Girls’ Senior Secondary School for four years and later joined Paidha PTC Kyambogo branch for a grade 3 teacher training course. While studying, I participated in all the church activities in the school: I served as an altar girl, was a devoted member of YCS and doubled as a choir mistress. In college, I served as a catechist of the catholic community and in the absence of the priest, I would celebrate the para-liturgy on Sundays with the rest of the students. I was also given the responsibility of serving as the treasurer of the YCS Paidha Federation.
After my teacher training course, I worked with Save the Children organization in Rhino Refugee Camp. There, I developed a passion and love for teaching. Since my childhood, my entire life has been in the church. At the age of 7, I joined the liturgical dancers and later joined the parish choir. One day when I came back from school, I remember I was in P.2, I told my mum to take me to the place where the sisters lived because that day, the teacher had spoken about the catholic priests and nuns. I didn’t know how or what a sister looked like because we didn’t have any in the parish.
My mum promised to take me to Ediofe Cathedral where the sisters lived after my studies. I told her that it was not necessary to study, explaining to her that St. Peter did not study but became a pope, so, I was ready to join the sisters. Her wise response was; “Tabu you need to learn how to read and write so that you will be able to handle the bible.” I obeyed her. After my P.7, I went back to her and told her that I had finished, now she could take me to the sisters. She again told me that it was not enough, emphasizing that I needed to study more.
On a serious note, she told me that I would have to discover the sisters on my own. So, when I joined secondary, I met the Enclosure sisters. When I learnt about their way of life, I lost interest and told myself I better get married. Fortunately, when I met the Comboni sisters and when they spoke about St Daniel Comboni and the nature of their work and how Comboni loved the Africans, I exclaimed, ‘that’s where I belong.’ Without any further delay, I wrote a letter to them and I got a positive response. I became their aspirant in 2011.
I joined the pre-postulancy in 2017 with the rest of the aspirants in Arua, accompanied by Sr. Sabina, the vocation directress and Sr. Janet Atim. We were then sent to Nairobi and after two years in Nairobi, I came back to Uganda to continue the formation in the novitiate.
On 14/9/2021, I made my first profession at Namugongo Retreat Centre. I was assigned to work in the retreat Centre as I waited for my visa to Mexico. I became a sister because I wanted to do something more for the Lord. As a child, I wanted to go to Egypt to see the place where they had escaped with baby Jesus. Little did I know that it was a missionary vocation revealing itself to me.
Our mission in Mexico is among the Afro-Mexicans (these are the descendants of the slaves who were taken to America). Many of them settled in the coastal regions of the Pacific Ocean. I have dedicated my time to the youth apostolate, offering them Christian formation and some leadership skills; making them aware of their importance and roles in the church. I organize youth camps and retreats, in which we tackle matters concerning the youths of today. I also work with the diocesan team of the youth apostolate, planning all the youth activities of the diocese.
In addition to that, I also do both vocation and missionary animation together with the association of the religious in the diocese. Apart from the youth apostolate, I also take care of 3 chapels. Every Sunday, I go out to celebrate the para-liturgy with the people and help them receive the Blessed Sacrament in the absence of the priest. I bury the dead and visit the sick during the weekdays. Since the small Christian communities are still growing, I share with them the word of God before the actual Sunday.
Meanwhile, the rest of my sisters do the same. I believe that a normal mission always has challenges, therefore, the hardest thing so far I have experienced is the weather. There is also little commitment and dedication in the church as a good number of people prefer to stay away from the church. However, I feel accepted by the people and I have realized that when you love them, they will love you in return. I urge all the youth to embrace the religious/missionary life without fear. Once God calls, He doesn’t withdraw His call, ours is only to co-operate with Him because He takes the initiative in every step of our life. Remember that the youth are not only the future of the church but also the “today” of the church. There’s no need to wait for the future but we must act now and assume responsibility in the church.
