History of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church

The Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church were born from the deep desire of our Founder, the late Rev. Bishop Caesar Asili, the first Bishop of Lira Diocese in Northern Uganda. As a priest and bishop, he longed to establish an Institute of women religious who would carry forward the missionary work of evangelization in Africa and wherever the need arose.
This desire was further enkindled in 1969 when Pope Paul VI visited Uganda and urged Africans to become missionaries to their fellow Africans. Inspired by this call, Bishop Asili founded the Institute with its Mother House in Lira Diocese. The Decree of Election was issued and promulgated on 8th December 1970.
Formation began with 14 novices under the guidance of the Founder and Sr. Rosalia, a Comboni Missionary Sister, later succeeded by Sr. Ignazia Surcis. On 1st January 1971, the first group began their initial formation, and by 20th January 1974, they made their first religious profession. From then on, the congregation grew steadily in number and spirit. Today, the Institute counts 399 professed Sisters and 55 young women in formation (Novitiate, Postulancy, and Aspirancy).
The Sisters live as missionaries of Christ — praying, meditating, studying, writing, working, recreating, and sacrificing with love in a manner worthy of God who called them. In 1978, after Sr. Ignazia’s departure, Bishop Asili appointed Sr. Elizabeth Mandera to lead the young Institute.
At present, the Sisters serve in 57 communities: 46 in Uganda and 11 abroad in Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Italy, and Canada. Their general aim is the Kingdom of God and the sanctification of members through the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Their specific aim is the missionary apostolate, expressed through catechesis, education, medical services, social communication, and social action.
Guided by Mary, our Model and Patron, the Charism of the Institute is to share Christ’s love for His people through the motherhood of Mary.

At the heart of this history and mission resounds our motto:
“Christ Must Reign.”