Radically following in the footsteps of Jesus, the congregation evangelizes by responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and addressing the needs of the less privileged and the poor. To live out its Vision Statement, the congregation strives with its apostolic love, to join in the work of redemption and the spread of His Kingdom. We perform our apostolic activities, which the Church has commissioned us to do in the spirit of our dedication. There are a variety of tasks assigned to us for the salvation of the world. Since 1989, the congregation has been called to be missionaries in other dioceses like Chimoio in Mozambique and Wheeling-Charleston in the United States of America. The SJI sisters have been giving formation to the Sisters of Our Lady of the Visitation in Quelimane, Mozambique and the mission has been accomplished successfully. In January 2004, the congregation sent again its sisters to the Diocese of Chimoio in Mozambique for Missionary work and the mission is proving to be a success. There are also SJI sisters who are working in the Archdioceses of Harare and Bulawayo under different Commissions of the Bishops’ Conference both at regional and national levels.
Apart from formation work, we carry out to be fellow workers with God. We re-inforce the existing pastoral projects that address the needy people as well as starting other new projects responding to the signs of the times. A recently set up Alois Haene Memorial Trust was established to co-ordnate all the projects that have been initiated by the Sisters. Some of the recently established projects include the HIV/AIDS Counseling Center in Mkoba Township, which is one of the high-density suburbs in Gweru city. There are also other pastoral projects in both urban and rural areas to help the AIDS orphans in the parishes. The projects were established on both social and spiritual grounds as for providing a social safety net for the communities with the help of the SJI sisters. In pursuance of the goal for small business development and entrepreneurship support, the SJI sisters have also identified other critical areas and have now refocused on pastoral projects which range from dress making, farming and horticulture, conference and retreat center, counseling and hostels for the mentally handicapped children, youths skills training centers, orphanage and home based care centers, school of computers and secretarial studies, curios, production unit, all which need both financial and competent people to manage. The pastoral projects focus more on evangelization and poverty reduction. These activities are centrally administered at the Alois Haene Memorial Trust where the Projects Director and Project Co-ordinator are based serving the outreach of the 57 communities.
The SJI sisters are also involved in various apostolates like teaching, nursing, pastoral work, social work, etc. Some of the sisters are running some of the parishes without priests like at Chaka Parish, Madamombe Parish, St Michael’s Parish, etc., and also involved in various pastoral activities to help the poor through the auspices of the Catholic Church in Gweru, Masvingo and other dioceses where they work. These apostolates have been a response to the present context at grass root levels. Due to all the hardships being experienced by the people, the Memorial Trust endeavors to raise the dignity of our people especially women and children at grassroots level.
