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Name: MECHTILDE, 'Nameya' (Rev. Mother)
Nee: Catherine Werkley
Birth Date: 6.2.1875 Netherlands
Death Date: 4.5.1950 Bwanda, Uganda
First Date: 1899
Profession: Member of first party of 6 nuns for the Uganda Mission from the order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Africa
Area: Buddu
Book Reference: North
General Information:
https://bannabikirasisters.org/index.php/about-us/our-history Mother Mechtilde was born 6th February 1875 in Holland in The Netherlands and was baptised Catherine. Her parents were John and Mrs Verkley. At the age of 8 her mother died and her eldest sister, Jane, assumed the responsibility of a mother. Catherine was gentle, kind, hard working and obedient child.
Although her family resisted her idea of becoming a missionary in Africa, Catherine after reading the stories of the White Fathers and that of the Uganda Martyrs she proclaimed: “My decision to go to Africa is not from the desire to show off and to receive praise from people. No! My aim is to dedicate myself totally to God in Religious Congregation which will enable me to do so.” Eventually, Catherine was allowed by her family to join the White Sisters in 1894.
Coincidently when Archbishop Streicher went to North Africa to ask for helpers from the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Africa, Catherine, by then called Mechtilde was among the 6 White Sisters who came to Uganda 18th October 1899.
Bishop Streicher decided to select about 20 candidates with whom to start the formation of the Bannabikira Congregation but Mother Mechtilde said that the number was too big for a new beginning. Hence in 1908 eleven young women were called to start the initial formation for religious life. Mother Mechitilde was the Novice Mistress assisted by Sisters Dorothy and Estella.
When Mother Mechtilde died 1950 the Congregation had 600 members. Now we are 730 in 73 convents located in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.