A funeral Mass has been held for Sr. Virginia Tuonibe of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate at the Mother House of the SMI at Daffiama in the Wa Diocese on December 12, 2024
The Mass was presided over Most Rev. Francis Bomansaan, M.Afr Catholic Bishop of Wa and concelebrated by many Priests including the Parish Priest of Sawla, Domango Diocese, Rev. Fr. Martin Kuusangnayir, the nephew of the late Sr. Virginia, who gave the homily.
Sr. Virginia Tuonibe passed into eternity on November 20, 2024 at 94.
Fr. Kuusangnayir stated in his homily that death was a reality that one cannot run away from. “It is a passage to eternity painful though it may be, but that is how it is,” he said.
“We are celebrating a life that has been blessed by the almighty God. Sr. Virginia has lived her life well and God is calling her to the place of rest. The Sabbath rest is a symbol of the kingdom of God. That in God, the faithful shall fine rest forever,” he noted.
He added: “There will be no burden there, this is the experienced we believe that our dead relatives and friends are not lost. They are taking a rest with God. So the benefit of answering Jesus’ call is spiritual rest. It is a promise of inner peace, a place that we pray that Sr. Virginia gets into.”
Fr. Kuusangnayir indicated that, the followers of Jesus would continue to experience frustration, trials and suffering.
According to him, looking at the earthly life of Sr. Virginia, she was someone who appears always very cheerful and this does not mean she did not have problem, challenges, however, rather than focusing on her own challenges she was often ready to help out, to support the needy, to console and to brighten the feature of others.
She opened the door for her two other siblings to join the religious life of the same SMI congregation. She was able to draw people closer to God, he said, saying, she encouraged more young ones to join the priest and religious life.
Indicating that Sr. Virginia touched many lives and was a woman of prayer, Fr. Kuusangnayir therefore encouraged all to be more serious with their prayer life especially as Priests, Religious and lay faithful.
He also admonished us to do away with division in our communities, homes and our work places, because it doesn’t build but destroy. We should be united rather than divide.
The Superior General of the SMI, Sr. Christina Pogbeyir stated in her address that, she wished Sr. Virginia could have hit 100 years, but “God’s ways were not our ways.”
She also indicated that, “We celebrate a life of a sister who embodied the values of the Congregation for 69 years with fidelity and passion in mixed communities of priests and religious, international and indigenous, as well.”
She earlier welcomed Bishop Bomansaan, Priests and Religious from various Congregations, the family and the lay faithful who traveled far and near to sympathized with the SMI sisters.
Sr. Virginia, she was the first SMI Sisters’ Formator after the White Sisters, the first SMI pioneer Sister in Kumasi Spiritual Renewal Center as Retreat Preacher/Director/Councellor.
She was the first SMI pioneer staff member for the Ongoing Formation Centre- Cape Coast (ICF) and Wanye Spiritual Renewal Centre Wa.
She had served in many capacities after her first profession; as a professional teacher, Retreat Director/Preacher, Spiritual Director to many people including members of the SMI Congregation, a mentor and many other areas.
Sr. Pia Panpogee, a nurse from St. Theresa Hospital, Nandom thanked all sympathizers presence who came to mourn and sympathize with and pray for the SMI Congregation.
By Sr. Gloria Duongnaa, SMI (Sister Communicator)
