The Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu

Yesterday, Sister Cecilia invited me to the celebration of her sisters' community feast. They were anticipating the Immaculate Conception, which falls on Monday. However, on Saturday the sisters could actually get together, so they did and invited some guests. I was glad to be included, although it made me miss my own community.

Cecilia usually wears blue--polo shirt or blouse and skirt with a white veil. However, yesterday the sisters, Cecilia included, were in white habits with blue trim. I'll try to find a picture and post it. It was pretty cool--not that I have ANY interest in personally adopting a habit. I can appreciate it in others without feeling any need to have the thing for myself.

I was taking the pictures, but not with my camera, so I don't actually have any of the pictures.

We started with mass in the university chapel at noon. I love the combination of music and liturgy that seem fairly traditional by Catholic standards until one sister after another lets out with a ululation--the high shrill sort of yodeling sound common in African singing and dancing--which, of course, is very traditional in African celebrations. It was just fun, reverent and still fun. It brings an incredible energy to the celebration.

Afterwords, there was lunch. The meal was great--no matooke--chicken, fish, rice, potatoes, pineapple, greens and chapattis. There was cake for dessert--the usual dry Ugandan cake--which looks beautiful, but tastes like it should have been eaten last week and a chocolate cake that I had baked that morning. I think people were surprised at how moist the cake tasted. Several people asked me if they could learn how to bake it. It's a really easy recipe. I found it when we had all kinds of sour milk and I was looking for recipes to use it up. This was one I found. The only confusing thing about it is that it mentions vanilla in the directions but not in the list of ingredients. I solved that by adding a teaspoon of vanilla. We like it so much I've made it several times. If people knew how easy it was, they would be less impressed.

The Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu have their motherhouse in Gulu, as would be expected. Gulu is in the north where much of the violence and war has been taking place. They had years when the war was all around them and a part of their lives. I've heard references to it, but not much detail. It seems to be a part of life that people would rather forget about, but it has had an influence nonetheless. The war is still going on, but the violence appears of have subsided for the time being.

Bry'Chell was invited, but she didn't want to hang out with a bunch of nuns. Oh well, she missed a good meal and great company. I did bring her a bottle of pop.