The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (MSHR), (also known as Holy Rosary Sisters), working in the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region of Ghana, have acclaimed Sr. Cecilia Kudexa, of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC), for leading an impactful life throughout her stay in the Afram Plains.
This happened at a send forth meal in honour of Sr. Kudexa at the Holy Rosary Sisters Convent in Asikasu, Donkorkrom on December 29, 2024.
Speaking on behalf of the Holy Rosary Sisters, Sr. Joy Abuh, former Regional Leader of the MSHR in Ghana, who happened to have begun her missionary work in Donkorkrom around the same time Sr. Kudexa, (about 12 years ago) declared that “Sr. Cecilia is a woman that is alive. She is very young at heart, a real organiser, so gifted”.
According to the Missionary Sisters, Sr. Kudexa is a community person, highly collaborative and dependable; a woman of great wisdom, which she demonstrated so much, while working with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR), as well as the Catechists of the Vicariate.
Through the lens of Sr. Abuh, still, Sr. Kudexa is a great disciplinarian and “a teacher to the core”. She is also very direct and expressive when it comes to her dealings with people.
Sr. Abuh, who has been “an arm” of Sr. Kudexa in the CCR, expressed that Sister’s going has “broken my wing,” as she prayed that the Angels may lead her to her new place of assignment, and that God may grant her health and strength so that she may continue to bloom.
She, however, expressed the hope that there would still be future opportunities for meeting one another, whether within or outside the Vicariate.
Sr. Kudexa, who would be leaving the Afram Plains for good, expressed deep gratitude to the Holy Rosary Sisters for the love shown throughout her stay and for the magnanimous gesture shown to her, by inviting her over to celebrate her in their home.
To her, it was “a special evening” which she will not forget. “You have done well for me,” she thanked.
According to the Ghanaian-born SMMC, going away was not a celebration for her. “I have loved the mission here in Afram Plains and in the Vicariate,” she declared, adding that though a very tough and challenging mission it was, she was able to see through the challenges what the Lord “can push me to do in the face of challenges,” and that helped her to enjoy her mission amidst all.
“I accepted it as a mission territory,” Sr. Kudexa acknowledged, sharing the belief that “once you are missioned and you accept it wholeheartedly, and put yourself in it, God will be with you”, which she confessed was the belief that carried her all through her stay.
“I really enjoyed my mission here,” she confessed, and meeting the Holy Rosary Sisters, according to her added richness to her mission.
“It has been good working with you,” she affirmed, adding that it was that sense of collaboration, and making sure the Mission is fulfilled, exhibited by the MSHR, that drew her to be able to work collaboratively with them.
Sr. Kudexa admired the way the MSHR put themselves into the culture of the people, and made the effort to learn the language. To her, they are “missionaries to the core”.
She prayed that the mission of the Holy Rosary Sisters in Ghana may continue to bloom and be successful and fruitful; impact the lives of the people you touch every day, particularly these children that are under your care”.
It was also the prayerful wish of the SMMC that the works of the Missionary Sisters may continue to expand and they open more houses in Ghana, through which more and more people will be drawn to the Lord.
Sr. Francisca Kumevor, SMMC, the Community Superior of Ave Maria Community, Kwaekese, who had accompanied Sr. Cecilia for the meal expressed profound gratitude to the Holy Rosary Sisters, on behalf of her community and SMMC for the love shared.
“I will like to say a big thank you for this great honour done to Sr. Cecilia and for inviting me also to come and witness. We pray that the Lord may continue to keep us united to work in this area of the world, so that one day, when we are going, we will also have a story to tell. May God bless you all and grant us more health to work; the little we can do, we do it, to glorify His Name” she prayed.
Other activities featured during the evening meeting between the SMMC and MSHR included dance entertainment and the presentation of a simple but symbolic gift to Sr. Kudexa, as an appreciation for the gift she has been to the Sisters and the Church of Afram Plains at large.
Also present for the send forth meal were two aspirants to the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary: Dotse Precious and Immaculee Tagali.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Sister Communicator)
