I am a Comboni Missionary Sister, and I made my first vows 40 happily lived years ago at the age of 22.

I first arrived in Zambia almost 35 years ago. My deepest urge has always been the proclamation of the Gospel. Making Jesus known, loved, and meaningful to people’s lives is my absolute joy. For a long time, I considered myself an apostle and an evangelist. Truly, though, in these ministries, I feel as though I have served as a “deacon” without the formal title. 

I was only 27 when the parish priest in my parish fell ill and could not celebrate the Eucharist. He asked me to step in and celebrate the Word for a crowded church in a slum in Lusaka. I proclaimed the Word, delivered it to the community, and distributed the Eucharist to the community. I eventually entered almost every house in that slum and the neighboring areas.

I experienced the same reality while serving in the remote Kalabo area in western Zambia. I reached out to Christian communities that had never even seen a consecrated woman. I had to advocate for this community and their sacramental needs. In the end, a priest from the mission traveled to this remote region with me to minister to the people.

Over the years, I have served as a catechetical coordinator from the village level all the way to the Conference of Bishops in Zambia. I have also shared in the formation of priests and religious sisters through collaboration and formation workshops. I know I am appreciated in the church in Zambia because of the ministry I have carried out all these years. This has been the way that I have faithfully served my community through the years. It feels I have been called to serve as a “hidden deacon.” It would be an abundant grace to see women admitted to the diaconate so that they could better serve their local communities.