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ACCORDING to Vance Havner, “Life is not measured by length but by depth. Birthdays tell us how long we have been on the road, not how far we have travelled”. This piece is a “portrait of a leading lady”.
On February 26, pioneer, former and current students, teachers, parents and nuns assembled at the Catholic Cathedral in Harare for a memorial service to celebrate the life and works of Monte Cassino Girls’ High School’s co-founder – Reverend Sister Sturmia Josefa Denk of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood.
Born on September 25, 1938, in Germany, Sr Sturmia was translated to glory on October 3, 2010 in her home country.
Sr Sturmia’s five decade service in Zimbabwe started at Monte Cassino in Macheke, and ended at the school before her departure last year.
Archbishop Robert Ndlovu celebrated the Holy Mass with three other priests.
It was a service which was a mixture of sobre moments, reflective speeches, song, dance and feasting.
Fr Robert Igo a Benedictine monk who had known Sr Sturmia for the past 15 years gave a moving sermon based on scripture readings from Isaiah 25: 6-9; Romans 8: 31-35, 37-39 and John 5: 24-29.
What resonated was the beauty of celebrating the gift of contentment (1 Timothy 6: 6) and realising what the Lord Jesus said: “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20: 35).
Listening to Fr Igo, the writer was reminded about the death of Moses’ in the book of Genesis.
One preacher said it was as if Moses had forgotten that he should die until God had to remind him. It was a candid sermon with a powerful message where he admonished against pretence – “the wafa wanaka attitude”.
Fr Igo said the point of reference in Sr Sturmia’s life is the Word of God, for there is no real sadness in death.
When we die in Christ, there can be no more death but the hope of being at the Lamb’s banquet, for the banquet shows the human face of God’s love of mankind. . . There is no fear for we already are in heaven, and heaven is already our possession. Any wonder that Bishop TD Jakes says that “heaven is our only diploma”?
Said Fr Igo, “Sr Sturmia never looked for thanks. She simply did her duty.
“Nothing more, nothing less! She had firm principles: honesty and integrity.
“Despite her failing health, last year, I found her in the book store mending books – trying to save the school some funds and I said, ‘It is time to go, to prepare for the great journey – death’. We spoke for a long time but she said she was not afraid because she knew that she had eternal life and that she will have a great banquet with Jesus Christ . . .”
According to an obituary read out by Sr Martina Gwavava: “Sr Sturmia arrived in Zimbabwe on September 28, 1960 and became co-foundress of the secondary school at Monte Cassino together with Mother Wilfriedis Kippes.
“She devoted herself to Monte Cassino all her life teaching geography, history and botany.
“During school holidays, she mended library books and students’ textbooks. She (also) conducted weekly prayer groups, instructed a small choir and enriched the liturgy with new and modern hymns.
“By 2010 however, her health condition had become very poor and she took leave of Monte Cassino on May 25, 2010.
“She bore her suffering with strength and courage; in spite of a lot of pain. Sr Sturmia died on the first Sunday in October when in Germany (they) celebrate the annual harvest festival. The Lord of the harvest accepted her final offering of life, so rich in missionary zeal and commitment into His realm of light and love”.
Her colleagues and students said, “We do not want to mourn that we have lost her; instead we are grateful that we have had her, and still own her. Those who went home to the Lord remain in the community of God’s family, and only went there before us”.
As I am currently reading Mark Crow’s “Secrets of the Second Mile: How to Overcome Life’s Obstacles ad Live in Victory”, I see a lot that resembles Sr Sturmia (for I am her former student). In the foreword, Bill Wilson says, “the two hardest things in life are starting and finishing”.
In my view Sr Sturmia overcame both. She was a history maker, co-founding a girls’ high school that remains the pride of the nation.
She finished what she started, stuck to the task no matter what, completing the job that God had given her. It was also how she finished it that counts, for she had laid a firm foundation for the education of Zimbabwe’s girl child.
The Ordinary and Advanced Level classes of 2010 had 99 percent and 100 percent pass rates respectively. The head girl and her deputy had 18 points at A-Level.
Sr Sturmia went the second mile with a plate full of responsibilities: teaching, managing and training women leaders.
She raised the profile of the girl child in Zimbabwe through her commitment, hard work and dedication.
Just like the leading ladies in the Bible, Sr Sturmia was a victorious Christian woman with many lessons about faith and works to drawn from.
May her dearly departed soul rest in eternal peace until we meet at the Lamb’s marriage supper (Revelation 19: 9).
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Forthcoming EventsEvent: Alfa Ladies: Prayer and fasting “Camp Nzara”
Dates: March 4 – 6
Theme: Wrestling in Prayer (Ephesians 6: 10 – 12)
Speakers: Overseer C Chiyangwa, Pastor L Gatsi and Mai Zinyemba
Venue: AMFICC, Waterfalls
Contact: 0712 972 21; 0772 370 564
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Event: Spiritual Conference – AFM Harare South Province
Dates: March 4 – 6
Venue: Harare City Sports Centre
Theme: Called to inherit a blessing (Gen 12: 2, 1 Pet 3: 9, Eph 1: 3)
Contact: 04-771283/759165
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Event: Zoe Life Changing Ministries Big Sunday
Date: 6 March, 2011
Venue: State Lottery Hall
Time: 8 am to 12 noon
Hosts/Speakers: Apostles Florence & Langton Kanyati
Contact: 0778069036/0772920485
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Event: National Women’s Conference
Dates: March 10-12
Theme: Arise and Shine: Beauty Restored, Destiny Fulfilled
Venue: Celebration Centre, Borrowdale
Host: Pastor Bonnie Deuschle
Speakers: Local and international
Contact: 0777 368 903; 0777 368 904
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Event: Night of Bliss with Pastor Chris
Date: March 11
Venue: Soccer City Complex, FB Stadium, J’burg, RSA
Time: 6 pm till dawn
Contact:www.nightofblisssouthafrica.co.za http://www.nightofblisssouthafrica.co.za
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Event: The manna feast all night prayer
Date: March 11
Venue: Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex
Time:9 pm to dawn
Speakers: Prophet Passion, Apostle B Java and Apostle R Chipoyera
Contact: 0775444969/0773168474
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Event: Music extravaganza featuring Elizabeth Chinouriri, Leah Banda, Stand Accapella Crew and many more.
Host: Rev C Chidimuro
Venue: Hatfield Worship Centre, Cnr Elgin and Kilwinning Rd, Hatfield
Date: March 27
Time: 10am to 1pm
Contact: 0773 296 818/0772 674 850
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Event: Call to worship Zimbabwe 2011
Date: April 1
Theme: Shekinah glory
Venue: ICC Rainbow Towers
Time: 5:30 pm
Contact: 0772275782/0772701939
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Event: Worship with Donnie McCurkin
Date: April 2
Venue: Glamis Stadium, Show Grounds
Time: 2 pm
Contact: 0772275782/0772701939
To God is the glory, forever and ever! Amen!
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