A Comboni sister from Uganda talks about her missionary experience and her vocation journey.

My name is Sister Philister Tabu and I am from the Arua Diocese in Uganda. My home parish is the Holy Rosary in Logiri. I come from a family of nine children. I attended Logiri Girls’ Senior Secondary School for four years, after which I joined the Paidha PTC Kyambogo branch to undertake a Grade 3 teacher training course.

At the age of seven, I joined the liturgical dance group and later the parish choir. I remember one day, when I was in P.2, coming back from school and telling my mum to take me to the place where the nuns lived, because the teacher had spoken about Catholic priests and nuns that day. I didn’t know what a nun looked like because there weren’t any in our parish.

My mum promised to take me to Ediofe Cathedral, where the nuns lived. One day, I told her that I didn’t need to study, explaining that St Peter hadn’t studied but had become pope. I was ready to join the sisters. She responded wisely, saying, “Tabu, you need to learn how to read and write so that you will be able to handle the Bible.” I obeyed her. After completing P7, I told her that I was ready to go and join the sisters. She told me again that this was not enough and that I needed to study more.

Seriously, though, she told me that I would have to find the sisters myself. When I started secondary school, I met the Enclosure Sisters. However, when I learnt about their way of life, I lost interest and decided that I would rather get married. However, when I met the Comboni sisters, heard them speak about St Daniel Comboni, their work, and how he loved the Africans, I exclaimed, “That’s where I belong!” I wrote to them immediately and received a positive response.

I became an aspirant in 2011. In 2017, I joined the pre-postulancy programme in Arua with the other aspirants, accompanied by a vocation director. We were then sent to Nairobi, where I stayed for two years before returning to Uganda to continue my training at the novitiate. On 14 September 2021, I took my first vows at the Namugongo Retreat Centre. I was assigned to work at the Retreat Centre while I waited for my Mexican visa. 

Our mission in Mexico focuses on the Afro-Mexican community, who are descended from slaves taken to the Americas. Many of them settled in the coastal regions of the Pacific Ocean. I have dedicated my time to the youth apostolate, providing Christian education and leadership training, and raising their awareness of their importance and roles in the Church.

 I organise youth camps and retreats where we discuss issues affecting young people today. I also work with the diocesan youth apostolate team to plan all the diocesan youth activities. Additionally, I collaborate with the association of religious in the diocese on both vocation and missionary animation.

Apart from working with the youth apostolate, I am also responsible for three chapels. Every Sunday, I celebrate the liturgy with the people and help them to receive the Blessed Sacrament in the absence of a priest. As the small Christian communities are still growing, I share the Word of God with them ahead of Sunday. 

 I believe that every mission has its challenges. However, I feel accepted by the people, and I have realised that if you love people, they will love you in return.