Amid prayers, thanksgiving, and joyful celebration, the Collegio Mater Ecclesiae in Rome on May 30, 2026, bade farewell to fifteen Religious Sisters from different Congregations and countries who are close to completing advanced studies in Missiology, Biblical Theology, and Canon Law.
Gathered around the Eucharistic table and strengthened by words of encouragement from Church leaders and formators, the Sisters were officially sent forth to continue Christ’s mission in their respective local Churches and communities across the world.
The atmosphere at the Collegio Mater Ecclesiae was filled with gratitude, joy, and hope as the college community gathered for the annual Send-Off Mass and farewell reception. As has become a cherished tradition of the college, Sisters sent by their Congregations from various parts of the world to pursue higher studies in Rome are formally celebrated before returning to their countries and fields of apostolate.
This year’s event brought together Religious Sisters, Priests, friends, benefactors, and members of the wider ecclesial community to accompany the graduates with prayers and best wishes as they prepare to embark on a new chapter of missionary service.
The Holy Mass was presided over by His Excellency Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, and concelebrated by several Priests. The Eucharistic celebration was marked by thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness throughout the sisters’ years of formation and by prayers for their future missionary endeavours.
In her welcome address, Sr. Genowefa Kudlik, SSPC, Director of the Collegio Mater Ecclesiae and a member of the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver (SSPC), reflected on the reality of Christian life as a journey of encounters and separations. She noted that every new beginning involves a form of departure, yet each departure opens the way for new encounters and opportunities for growth.
Addressing the fifteen sisters, she expressed heartfelt gratitude for their presence in the college community and encouraged them to treasure all they had received during their years of study and formation. Sr. Genowefa also warmly welcomed the chief celebrant, thanking him for his constant closeness and fatherly support to the college. She acknowledged the presence of priests, religious men and women, friends, and benefactors whose support had contributed significantly to the sisters’ academic and spiritual journey.
Speaking directly to the graduating Sisters, she reminded them that the mission awaiting them would not always be easy. Nevertheless, she encouraged them to remain faithful disciples of Christ, trusting that the Lord who called them would continue to guide and strengthen them.
She invited them to draw inspiration from the Holy Spirit and to become joyful witnesses of the Gospel wherever they would be sent.
In his homily, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu reflected on the Gospel account of the mission of the seventy-two disciples. He emphasised that evangelisation is fundamentally God’s work and that missionaries are sent to participate in Christ’s own mission.
Drawing attention to Jesus’ instruction to send the disciples two by two, he highlighted the importance of fraternity, collaboration, communion, and mutual support in missionary life.
The Archbishop reminded the Sisters that prayer remains the first and most essential element of evangelisation. Before being sent out, the disciples were instructed to pray to the Lord of the harvest. He encouraged the sisters never to allow academic achievements or pastoral responsibilities to replace their dependence on God through prayer.
Reflecting on the obedience of Christ and the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he stressed that authentic missionary discipleship consists in seeking and fulfilling the will of God.
Just as Jesus came not to do His own will, but the will of the Father, and Mary responded generously to God’s call, so too are missionaries called to embrace God’s plan with humility and trust, he indicated.
The Archbishop also reminded the sisters that their mission is not about personal success or recognition but about remaining faithful to the Lord who has called and sent them. What matters most, he said, is that their names are written in heaven and that they remain steadfast in living the Gospel.
Following the Mass, words of encouragement were offered to the sisters as they prepared to return to their respective countries and congregations.
They were urged to become agents of transformation, putting into practice the knowledge, skills, and experiences acquired during their years of study in Rome for the growth and development of their communities and local Churches.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating Sisters, Sr. Callen Kerubo Nyangena, of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, greeted with the words, peace be with you. Inspired by the words of Christ, “Peace I leave with you; the peace I give to you” (John 14:27), we chose peace as the theme of our missionary formation, recognising its urgent need in today’s world.
Sr. Callen expressed heartfelt gratitude to God for His guidance throughout their formation journey. She also thanked the college administration, professors, benefactors, and fellow sisters for their support and accompaniment.
Encouraging her companions, she reminded them that the true value of their education would be seen in their willingness to serve generously and apply what they had learned for the good of their congregations and the people entrusted to their care.
The testimonies shared by the graduating sisters revealed that their years in Rome were far more than an academic experience; they were a profound journey of human, spiritual, and missionary formation. For them, it is a journey of Formation, Growth, and Mission. 
Many of the Sisters described their stay in Rome as a unique opportunity to encounter the universality of the Church. Coming from different continents, cultures, and congregations, they discovered the beauty of diversity within the one family of God. Living in an international community helped them broaden their horizons, appreciate different cultures, and deepen their understanding of the Church’s global mission. As one sister reflected, “The world is different, yet at the same time it is the same; only the cultures are different.” For many, diversity became a great teacher and a source of enrichment throughout their years of study.
The Sisters also spoke of the joy of forming lasting friendships and experiencing genuine fraternity. Daily life at Mater Ecclesiae provided opportunities for prayer, community living, cultural exchange, and mutual support.
Through encounters with fellow students, professors, formators, and people from around the world, they experienced the richness of belonging to a universal Church united in faith and service.
Several Sisters highlighted the spiritual benefits of living in Rome. Pilgrimages to holy sites, participation in the liturgical life of the Church, regular access to the sacraments, and moments of personal and communal prayer strengthened their faith and deepened their relationship with Christ.
Many described these experiences as transformative, helping them move beyond studying theology merely as an academic discipline to living it as a path of discipleship and witness.
At the same time, the journey was not without challenges. The Sisters recalled the difficulties of adapting to a new culture, language, climate, food, and academic system. Some experienced homesickness, health challenges, and the demands of balancing studies with long daily commutes to the university.
One Sister remarked that there were days when she travelled for several hours to attend only a few hours of lectures. Yet these challenges became opportunities for growth, teaching patience, resilience, trust in God, and openness to others.
The sisters emphasised that the encouragement they received from the Church, their congregations, the Dicastery for Evangelisation, the Mater Ecclesiae community, professors, benefactors, and friends sustained them throughout their journey. Witnessing the care and concern shown by those responsible for their formation inspired them to persevere and respond generously to their vocation.
Reflecting on the impact of their studies, the sisters unanimously expressed gratitude for the academic formation they received, particularly in Missiology, Theology, Biblical Studies, and Canon Law. Their studies deepened their understanding of the Church’s missionary identity and the challenges facing evangelisation in the contemporary world. They gained a renewed appreciation for the need to proclaim the Gospel in ways that respond to the realities and needs of today’s society while remaining faithful to the Church’s mission.
Many also testified that their studies helped them rediscover the meaning of their religious vocation and missionary calling. They came to understand more deeply that mission is not simply an activity of the Church but a way of life rooted in ongoing conversion, service, and witness. Their formation encouraged them to view the world with greater openness, faith, compassion, and pastoral sensitivity.
Beyond intellectual formation, the Sisters acknowledged significant growth on the human and spiritual levels. Living in an international missionary college taught them responsibility, adaptability, intercultural dialogue, and community living. They spoke of becoming more mature, patient, and confident, while also developing a deeper love for the Church and a stronger apostolic zeal.
Several sisters expressed the conviction that the formation they received should continue to benefit not only missionaries but also the wider People of God. Some suggested that similar opportunities for missionary formation and ongoing education could be made available in different parts of the world to help pastoral agents respond effectively to the rapidly changing realities of contemporary society.
Above all, the sisters expressed profound gratitude. They thanked God for the gift of their vocation, their congregations for their trust, the Dicastery for Evangelisation for providing scholarships, the Mater Ecclesiae community for its hospitality and accompaniment, the professors for their guidance, the benefactors for their generosity, and all those who supported them throughout their journey.
Looking back on their years in Rome, the sisters described the experience as a precious gift that has shaped their minds, hearts, and missionary spirit. As they prepare to return to their countries and ministries, they carry with them not only academic qualifications but also a deeper love for the Church, a broader vision of mission, and a renewed commitment to proclaim the Gospel wherever the Lord may send them.
The celebration concluded with a festive reception characterised by fraternity, cultural sharing, joyful reunions, and heartfelt farewells. While the occasion marked the end of an important chapter in the lives of the fifteen sisters, it also marked the beginning of a new missionary journey.
As they return to their various countries and ministries, the community of Mater Ecclesiae entrusts them to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and prays that they may continue to be faithful witnesses of Christ, proclaiming the joy of the Gospel and serving God’s people with wisdom, compassion, and missionary zeal.
By Sr. Patricia Akoto, FST (Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana-CASCON-GH)
