MY FIRST LOVE: LUBANGO

I, Beatriz, a second-year novice with the Congregation of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary, have been fulfilling my duties in Lubango, serving in the community, the school, and St. Joseph’s Church.

Just as our founders left their homeland and everything behind for the land of Maldonado, I too left Viana for Lubango to put into practice what I learned during my novitiate formation, despite the weariness of the journey and other challenges I have encountered.

When I arrived at the postulancy community on September 17, 2025, the sisters welcomed me with songs and words of encouragement, and from that moment on, I felt loved and welcomed. I also felt a sense of collaboration and harmony with the other sisters.

During my internship, I tried to live my experience with dedication and a spirit of service to the community, striving to carry out the tasks entrusted to me with care, love, and patience, despite my occasional shortcomings. I also learned to live humility and fraternity in my daily life, paying attention to my sisters and seeking to help as Mother Ascension Nicol did in her community. Just as our founders’ primary concern was the education of women and children, I also followed this concern by participating in the children’s education, teaching French, and trying to teach with patience, humility, and responsibility. However, it wasn’t easy. I faced many challenges, such as the children’s whims and noise, which are normal, because we are aware that learning a new language like French, with so many languages already spoken, is complicated. The proof is that I myself went through this kind of situation with the Portuguese language, as I am Congolese.

During that same period, I also participated in the evangelization of the faithful of Lubango, especially at the Chapel of Saint Joseph, where I worked with different groups, particularly young people and teenagers who have Saint Charles Luanga as their patron saint. I assisted with the liturgy at weekly and Sunday Masses and with many other chapel activities. It wasn’t easy, especially with young people my own age; it required a lot of patience, perseverance, and a missionary spirit, but that’s what mission is all about.

Finally, learning about our charism, which is: “To evangelize the poor in those missionary situations where the Church needs us most,” learning about the past of our founders, and the experiences and realities I’ve lived in my first love, Lubango—in the rain, in the sun, among the stones, in the mountains, speaking unfamiliar native languages, and also sharing joys, happiness, and experiences—all of this helped me draw closer to Jesus and continue the work and project our founders envisioned. It helped me contemplate God’s wonders through these rocks and mountains, to give greater meaning to my life as a Christian and as a novice in formation, to grow and strengthen my faith, both in the community’s and my personal prayer life, and in the faith of my brothers and sisters.

For this reason, I thank the Sisters of the Viana community for the opportunity they have given me to take another step in my formation, and I also thank the Sisters of the Ramón Zubieta community for their welcome and guidance during my internship, and all those who helped me along this path.

Novice Zobo Beatrice Gisele

Father Ramón Zubieta Community, Patron of the Postulanc