|
 She has been dressing like this since 2002 when she began intensive training as a catholic sister. She says this attire is symbolic and the veil is a sign that she is a professed sister. She says it represents chastity - that she will remain without marriage or children. “We are the eschatological sign to the world, exemplary in terms of moral behaviour,” explains Wadikgosi. She says the clothes represent poverty and humility. “By being a sister, one rejects the riches of the world and focuses only a holy life, she explains. Although the colour of the clothes never changes, Wadikgosi says a sister receives five dresses. Her life revolves around the church and prayer. She says her daily routine starts at 5.25am with the holy rosary. This is a special prayer, which is performed as one “plays” with beads. This prayer is then followed by breviary, a type of church service, which is then followed by holy mass - described in catholic terms as the highest form of prayer. “This is the breaking of bread and drinking of wine, symbolic of the body of Christ and his blood, it ends at 6.30am,” she explains. She also has one hour of meditation during the day. The next programme starts at 6.00pm with an evening prayer - breviary. This is Wadikgosi’s daily routine.
As a sister, she lives in the church compound with a “family” of eight sisters. Wadikgosi lives for her church and God and does not care about material gains. As a sister, she will die without any property to her name. “I have never admired a family life, so I’m not disturbed by other temptations. I always dreamt of being a sister since I was a child. I was a brilliant girl in my classes and went on to pass my ‘O’ level with flying colours,” Wadikgosi explains. As a sister who has already taken her vows and “married” to Christ, Wadikgosi says she is the property of the church although she can choose to visit her parents.
Currently, she is studying Humanities at the University of Botswana and after completing her course, the church will secure a job for her. However, as a Catholic sister, she will not touch her salary. She says the money will go to the church, which will then decide to give her a living allowance. “We stay with other sisters here who work as nurses, social workers or teachers and we enjoy this lifestyle.” Although it is permissible in the church to revert to another lifestyle, Wadikgosi believes that she has found a permanent home in the church. In fact she says her life is not boring. She can go out and watch choral music and drama. In sports, Wadikgosi says she and others are fervent supporters of the national football team - the zebras. “We are just crazy about the team, we cheer and make a lot of noise whenever they are playing on television.” Wadikgosi says contrary to some beliefs, they are free to watch television. “Most of us like the news channels, but others like watching soapies. As for me, I know a lot about football. I am very up to date about the events in the Zebras’ camp”. Although she looks comfortable with where she is today, Wadikgosi says it has not been an easy road to sisterhood. She confesses that because of the challenges involved, some people have pulled out of the vocation to go and serve the Lord in other capacities.
This sixth born child in a family of seven confesses that she loves her family so much although she cannot see them as often as she would have loved to. She draws comfort in the fact that at this stage of sisterhood, she is not totally barred from seeing her relatives like it used to be the case when she was still a trainee-sister, a stage in catholic congregation known as the postulant. The 24-year-old recalls that back in 2002 when she started the road to sisterhood, things were not easy. There was a time when her close cousin passed away and she wished she could go and pay her last respects to him. However, she could not because at that stage, they were not allowed to interact with members of the public until they had completed their one year of the “Novitiate-canonical year. “This period of training means complete detachment from the public,” she explains. Things loosened up after completing the Novitiate as they were then expected to go and put into practice what they had learnt during their initiation.
Although she cannot own any property because of her commitment as a sister, Wadikgosi says her dream is to attain a Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) in education. “I love education very much. I also had a soft spot for law when I was growing up,” she says.
|
