My name is Kaluuba Margret Precious. Aged 22years. A Ugandan and the last born of six. I am a pre-postulant now with the daughters of St Paul.
I first contacted the daughters of the St Paul in 2023 and we have journeyed together to this day. My experience with them has been an eye opener which is why I’m a bit excited to write this document to share it with you, the reader.
I sum up my experience in a small quotation from the book: The Community of the Thirteen by Ahoua Raymond. It says: “the disciples, coming from different places, bring to the heart of the community of the 13 their individual histories, which together make up their regional and personal culture. Thus, a melting pot emerges from which a new culture is forged, above all a religious one.”
My personal breakdown of the quotation.
We as aspirants and young people come as disciples of the master from different places like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, and South Sudan to the congregation of the daughters of St Paul. We come along with our differences such as the cultures of our respective countries, tribes and families, each with their own personalities, temperaments, and way of doing things. These define us as individuals, but when we reach the community, we’re to stay as a family. One in everything. Prayer, way of doing things, character and all. The community, our formators that journey with us at the different stages of formation and our companions are the melting pot where all the differences melt and a whole new culture, a team is forged. All with the same desire of becoming servants of the Master and the people, a religious sister.
My experience.
I started my experience with the first stage which is aspirancy. It was 3months. I came with my uniqueness as a person. I was in a group of five companions and we had one formator, which made us a community of seven.
The melting pot emerged. My differences were neutralized, some were appreciated, and others were completely melted away. I became a whole new person – my mum is my witness. After only three months, I had learned to value myself and know my worth, to be myself and know what is best for me at a particular time. It was a whole lot of great growth. I left a better person than I had gone.
I thank God I was admitted to pre-postulancy, which is the next stage after aspirancy. I have been here for a month now. I have discovered I can do several things that I never thought I could do initially. I have learned the aspect of letting go, appreciating and loving myself and my companions. Above all, I have learned to pray and to live a meaningful life.
I appreciate the congregation of the daughters of St. Paul, for giving me the chance to have such a beautiful and building experience with them. Because, as I ponder, “who am I and what is my family that the Lord has brought me this far?” I am therefore determined to use my talents, gifts and everything to serve the one Divine Master, Jesus Christ here among the daughters of St Paul.