Sister Tenta Maritino SGS renewed her temporary vows in Sydney in April this year as she continues her journey of formation and discernment with the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
By Debra Vermeer
Tenta originally came to know of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan through their ministries in her home country of Kiribati and made her First Profession in 2018. This month, she renewed her vows for a further 12 months in a ritual within Evening Prayer at the Congregation’s Merrylands community in New South Wales where she has been living since September 2025.
Congregational Leader Sister Catherine McCahill SGS was present for the occasion, along with Sister Michelle Reid SGS, a member of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Council and the Contact Councillor for Kiribati.
“It was very simple and very nice,” Tenta said.
After making her First Profession of vows, Tenta returned to Kiribati where she continued her formation, while taking part in the Sisters’ ministries in the Pacific island nation. She also undertook studies for an Early Childhood teaching degree and has renewed her vows during those years.
Since returning to Sydney, she has been kept busy with studies for her religious formation, while also completing the Clinical Pastoral Education introductory course for providing pastoral care in settings such as hospitals.
“I really enjoyed that,” she said. “I learnt much about pastoral care in that course.”
Much of Tenta’s formation at this stage involves immersion in the community and prayer life of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
“I’m learning a lot about religious life from the Good Samaritan Sisters,” she said.
“I’m learning about community life and prayer life and also ministry. And I’m learning more about the Good Samaritan charism and how to live that charism, for example, in hospitality to others and how to show compassion to others.
“I experienced those things also in Kiribati, through our ministries that I was part of there, but I am learning in a new way here, also.”
Sister Veronica McDougall SGS, who is part of the Merrylands community, is one of those accompanying Tenta on her formation journey.
She said that in addition to teaching Tenta different subjects such as Theology, Scripture and English, it was a privilege to share daily life with her.
“Tenta joins us in community prayer every day, of course, and takes part in community meetings and cooking. She loves cooking. She helps with cleaning and gardening and accompanies us in our activities in parish life, in visiting St Catherine’s Aged Care in Eastwood once a month and joining in the sing-a-longs for the residents – Tenta has a lovely voice. Basically, whatever we’re doing, most of the time, she’s doing it with us,” she said.
Sister Elizabeth Murray SGS, who also lives in the Merrylands community, said that religious life, made up of various personalities, cultures and backgrounds, requires a daily commitment to keep Christ at the centre of things.
“We are seekers of God, and I think we see that in Tenta,” she said. “She truly seeks God, which is great, and we express that in community through our prayer together, which she is very much part of, and which is so much a part of our daily life.
“And there is the sharing of meals which is very important and all aspects of our life, even getting down to things like the washing up. She’s very generous in giving herself to the jobs of the community.
“There’s nothing like community life to get the edges off your shoulders and to provide ongoing mutual formation. Community life is a great formator and I see every evidence that she is trying to live that life.”
Veronica, Elizabeth and Tenta all agree that living interculturally also brings joys and challenges.
“Well, there’s adjusting that we all need to do because Tenta comes from a different culture and we need to bend towards that and include elements of that which are important to her and vice versa. But I’m sure she has to do more of that than us because she’s living in an Australian context,” Elizabeth said.
Veronica said that while there are cultural challenges along the way, there are also many opportunities to learn from one another.
“We’ve tried to expose Tenta to some cultural experiences here. Recently, we took her to the Opera House for a symphony concert, which was her first experience of that, and we went to a Christmas concert at the Sydney Recital Hall in December,” she said.
“We’ve also been helping her learn things about city life, such as navigating the transport system. But there are other cultural challenges for her, such as getting along in community with two older members of the Congregation, and being here on her own, in terms of being the only Sister from Kiribati living here at the moment.”
Tenta said that while she is a long way from her family and friends, she is enjoying her formation experience.
“I’ve found that prayer is a very special time for me, especially the community prayer together every morning and evening,” she said. “I also have personal prayer space for lectio, and I feel much more peaceful when I pray.
“I enjoy the culture here. Many things are different to our culture, like the food, the transport and the colder weather, but I have experienced it before, and I love experiencing all of that while I’m here.
“I find it very hospitable. I have really loved the friendship with the Sisters and the help they give me.”
