By Mabvuto Kalawa, Correspondent, Malawi Freedom Network
Sister Jackline Chewa of St. Francis of Assisi Missionary has had a chat with Malawi Freedom Network correspondent Mabvuto Kalawa at their Nathenje convent.
Mabvuto Kalawa: Good morning, Sister, I’m glad to have a chance to chat with you. Are you comfortable? Can you introduce yourself?
Sister Jackline Chewa: Thank you very much for coming to the convent to chat with me. Feel free. I’m Sister Jackline Chewa from Copperbelt in Zambia. We were born eight children in our family, and I’m the third born. Unfortunately, one died, a sister, so now we’re seven.
Mabvuto Kalawa: Can you briefly say about your educational and professional qualifications background?
Sister Jackline Chewa: I went through all the systems of education, that’s primary and secondary schools in my home area. Professionally, I’m an educator specializing in early childhood development, religious administration, and counseling.
Mabvuto Kalawa: When did you start your journey to sisterhood?
Sister Jackline Chewa: I started in 1997 on January 13th, then I entered noviciate in 1999, on January 6th, 2001, I did my first vows, and in 2008, I did my final vows.
Mabvuto Kalawa: Who aspired you to join a religious congregation, especially Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi?
Sister Jackline Chewa: In fact, it was my father who really wanted me to be a sister because he was also at a seminary, and he wanted to be a priest. Also, there was a time when a certain sister from the Dominican congregation visited us during one of the vocational talks on religious life. I was also reading books about St. Francis, about the way he was living his life, so I wanted to be like him. Also, priests from my parish aspired me.
Mabvuto Kalawa: Are you now very happy with the religious life?
Sister Jackline Chewa: Very happy indeed, and I don’t regret joining this congregation because I’m able to serve people of all walks, especially the most vulnerable, who are children, women, and the elderly, in both spiritual life and economically.
Mabvuto Kalawa: In any organization, there are challenges and successes. Can you tell me what are your challenges and successes?
Sister Jackline Chewa: I have come through them, especially on challenges, because I faced oppositions from both my parents, especially my mother, who was a teacher, so she wanted me to be like her and get married to have children. Another challenge was that my elder brother was also not happy with my decision; she wanted me to be a nurse. On society, again, there were also a lot of discouragements from my fellow girl agemates. On successes, there are a lot of them, like I have achieved my objectives of serving God, and also, I have met a lot of people whom I could not have met if I didn’t join the religious life, like yourself, you’re interviewing me because I’m a nun.
Mabvuto Kalawa: How did you overcome these challenges?
Sister Jackline Chewa: I was praying to God for me to achieve my goal, and with encouragement from my father, I’m now here.
Mabvuto Kalawa: You’re now leaving Nathenje, are you worried to leave the parish, or are you happy?
Sister Jackline Chewa: I’m worried because I’m leaving the parish because the parish has very happy people who are ready to learn, the communities are development-conscious and friendly. I didn’t know Chichewa; I learned it from here, so I will miss them, but all the same, I vowed to serve God, and I need to go and serve others also. It’s painful to leave a place where I’ve been staying for two years; it was my home, and I’ll miss my relatives.
Mabvuto Kalawa: Actually, from here, where are you going?
Sister Jackline Chewa: I’m going for studies, but still, I’ll be serving God. I’ll study social work, counseling, and psychology.
Mabvuto Kalawa: What can you say to girls who want to join your congregation?
Sister Jackline Chewa: I’ll tell them not to look back but be focused, always pray to God, and get advice from other people like priests, sisters, and even church elders. Be visionary leaders, and don’t be busy with modern technology, as we are in the modern world, but use the technology in serving God.
Mabvuto Kalawa: Any final word, Sister?
Sister Jackline Chewa: Yes, but not many, I’m thanking my fellow sisters, priests here, all catechists, and faithful Christians themselves for assisting me in all my work. I’m here because of them; I’m very grateful to them. Only God to bless them. And lastly, yourself, for having this interview, I encourage you to do it to others also.
Mabvuto Kalawa: Thank you, Sister, for taking your time. God bless.
