 |
My name is Amira Ishak and I am a member of the Province of Egypt. I was born in Beni-Ebeid, Minia, Egypt on 23 June, 1975. I am the fifth of 7 brothers and 3 sisters. My parents had deep faith and were hard workers. When I was about 7 years old a sister from another congregation visited our house and asked my father if he had considered having one of his children become a sister. I can’t remember his response but I do remember that her question had a profound impact on me. Years later in secondary school when the idea of religious life was appealing to me, I remembered the sister’s question to my father.
|
As a child I was a student in our village school where Sacred Heart Sisters worked in administration and teaching. I was drawn by their zeal and spirit of generosity and love. They were always welcoming and creative in their teaching. As my desire to become a religious deepened, I spoke with my father who was a good friend of the RSCJ. He was very positive in his response and encouraged me to speak with the sisters. In time, my mother also accepted my decision to join the Society of the Sacred Heart. I began meeting with the vocation director and a group of other students interested in religious life.
|
On 1 September, 1996 I became a candidate in the Society in Ismalleya in Northern Egypt. I also made my noviceship in the same area. I had the joy of making my first vows on 26 November, 2000 in Beni-Ebeid in the presence of family and friends as well as the RSCJ.
One of the reasons why I continue to be drawn to religious life is that it enables me to develop my relationship with God and others in the context of prayer which for me includes daily Eucharist as well as individual and communal prayer.
|
 |
After first vows I taught first grade for three years at our school in Abou-Korkas in Central Egypt. Then I moved to Cairo where I studied Economics at Ayen Shams and taught Religion to primary students. Last year, before going to Malta in November 2008, I studied Education at the same university in Cairo.
My experience in Malta was very life-giving. The ambience in the community was excellent. Even though there was a difference in our ages, I felt very free to enter into the lives of our sisters and communicated easily with them. The three members of my community were also available to help me learn English.
 |
Because Malta is a Christian country I was able to participate in many cultural celebrations which are always connected to religious feasts.
In my country we are very limited in expressing our Christianity publicly. Although we celebrate the major feasts within our communities we cannot do so with the majority of the Egyptian people. The streets cannot be decorated as they were in Malta where we seemed to have religious celebrations almost every week!
|
|
Presently I am continuing my international experience in the Uganda/Kenya Province. Besides visiting many of the communities I will be teaching in the Laini Saba School in the Kibera Slum in Nairobi, Kenya, where Margaret Mawrili, RSCJ is principal. I have been in the Uganda/Kenya province for only 10 days. I am impressed by the welcoming spirit of the RSCJ and the beauty of the two countries. I look forward to being here for the next two months and working with the children in Nairobi.
I greatly value the internationality of the Society and the many opportunities to meet RSCJ from other cultures. As I move toward final profession in the Society I continue to say with Mary: “I am the servant of God. Be it done to me according to your Word.” (Lk.1:38)
|
 |
Amira Ishak rscj
Province of Egypt
Read other RSCJ profiles...
