Bishop Blesses Home Of African Nun Serving Moundsville

MOUNDSVILLE -- The Most Rev. Mark Brennan, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Wednesday night blessed the home of a nun in Moundsville who serves far away from her native home in Africa.

Brennan blessed the new convent and home of Sister Agatha Munyaanyi, a member of the Sisters of the Child Jesus in Zimbabwe. Munyaanyi serves as secretary for St. Francis Xavier Parish. The home is located at 1528 East 9th St. in Moundsville.

The blessing signified the beginning of a collaboration between the Diocese, St. Francis Xavier Parish and the Sisters of the Child Jesus - who will assist in pastoral care and assistance of the parish in Marshall County.

"My prayer is that the sisters of Zimbabwe - in this place so far from their home - that they be missionaries and help other people find the Lord and follow him," Brennan said. There will be great benefit to those who do find him.

"We hope the sisters will have that kind of impact in this parish. From what I've heard so far, they've already found a niche."

Sister Agatha Munyaanyi termed the home at 1528 East 9th St. in Moundsville "in perfect condition," and added that she was "very pleased with it."

"I feel so happy," she said. "And there are wonderful neighbors. One neighbor asked me to use his tomatoes, so I consumed his tomatoes all summer."

She said she has lived in Moundsville since July 1, 2021. She moved into her new home on Aug. 27 of this year. Munyaanyi had been living in an apartment near St. Francis Catholic Church when the Diocese decided she should have an actual home to be "her convent." She lives there alone, but is hoping another sister will come live with her within the next year.

Three sisters from the Sisters of the Child Jesus were present for the blessing and open house Wednesday.

Munyaanyi explained she will be visiting the homebound in Moundsville for the church. A native of Zimbabwe, she came to America in 2007 as a student intent on studying biochemistry at Old Dominion University.

After graduation, she was hired by an engineering company in Charleston who advises other companies on such matters soil and air safety. Munyaanyi worked there for six years.

"Then after that I said no more technical jobs," she continued. "I want to do parish work.

"So I switched,I put my name on the Diocese website, and St. Francis Xavier picked me up. I'm so happy to be here and have a change of profession. I used to work in a lab for 25 years working with machines and specimens. Now I work with real human beings."

Munyaanyi described West Virginia as "the Switzerland of America."

"It's beautiful. I love the leaves," she said.

Father Priyesh Sebastian, administrator at St. Francis Xavier Parish, said the blessing of the convent Wednesday night marked "a moment of significance" for the parish. Munyaanyi joined Brennan in readings during the blessing service, then Brennan administered holy water throughout each room in the home.