An Unforgettable Day

A MSOLA novice from Burkina Faso, I was particularly happy to live this important event for our Congregation and for the Church-Family in Burkina Faso.

I felt surprised and honored to wear the habit of our sisters of olden times and to ride a horse; in this way I represented one of those eight sisters who one day had accepted to leave everything and, at the risk of their life, came all the way, in the name of the Congregation, to continue Christ’s Mission in Burkina.

December 17th 2011 will always be an unforgettable date for me because it was so extraordinary: from 6.30 am our older sisters were available to help us dress in the former habit. I chose the name of Elise, one of the first eight sisters.

The different parts of the para-liturgy really touched me:
We listened to the letter of Monseigneur Lemaître asking for the help of the MSOLA in the mission among the Mossi.
In the presence of the archbishop of Koupela, Mgr Séraphin Rouamba, of priests, sisters and a big crowd of people the procession advanced to the sound of drums in remembrance of the arrival of our first sisters.

During the Eucharist, I was proud to listen to the chant of the novices of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (SIC) who sang the history of the arrival of the MSOLA and the beginnings of the Church in Burkina Faso.

The comparison that the archbishop made in his homily struck me: he said the MSOLA had the same attitude as John the Baptist. They accepted to move to the background so that the local Church could take the necessary space to expand and grow.

Natalie Sedogo Wendata, Burkina Faso, 2nd year novice

A Treasure in My Heart

December 3rd 1912: our first sisters arrived in Ouagadougou. Eight White Sisters, full of courage, faith and trust in Jesus. Just for the love of Christ, they had decided to leave everything in order to announce the Gospel to those who do not know yet Jesus Christ!

What does that mean for me today?
I left Poland in 2010 and arrived in Bobo-Dioulasso to continue my religious formation in the novitiate. I can tell you that most of my friends told me I was crazy when I decided to go to Africa. And they asked why go to a place where there is so much poverty? What are you looking for? In Poland you have everything: money, a career as a musician… you can imagine what kind of thoughts came to my mind! And yet, today I know that I left everything for Christ, because the desire of God keeps stirring within me! Although sometimes I do not understand what He is doing with me, I desire to follow Him like our first sisters who were no extraordinary people except for their desire to go and bring the Good News.

December 17th 2011: five sisters and three novices on horseback take the road towards the Cathedral. From far, I could see the huge crowd waiting for us… I was touched, felt an immense joy; I wanted to experience the same feelings as our sisters 100 years ago, their spirit of faith and prayer, as well as the sound of the drums and the dust…

I will keep this event like a treasure in my heart. Having reached the Cathedral, we celebrated the Eucharist during which our sister from Burkina Faso, Valérie Kaboré, pronouced her final vows. Our Congregation is alive and the Mission continues!

 Kamila Gaworska, Poland, 2nd year novice

An Extraordinary Journey

The sisters asked me to be among the eight who would represent our first eight sisters in Burkina, to dress in the former habit and to ride on a horse. I said a big and spontaneous YES! The idea of it gave me so much joy! I had some fears as well about the horse; never in my life had I climbed on a horse.

I prepared my heart as I prepared some posters together with Gisela Harth. During the days of preparation, I had the chance to review the history of our presence in Burkina, follow the steps of the first sisters and of hundreds of other sisters who walked with the people in this country during the 100 years that followed and where I am now. It is marvelous to see all that the Lord did through our Congregation in this country.

The night before the big day, Finita read to us the letter from Monseigneur Lemaître addressed to Mother Marie-Salome in which he asked her to send eight sisters for the mission among the « Mossi » people. And we also listened to the sisters’ extraordinary journey to reach here.

We descended from the horses, each one in turn. As our feet touched the ground, the people would acclaim us with shouts of joy and clapping of hands to welcome us. At the entrance to the Cathedral, the Bishop was waiting for us with a huge crowd of people. Representing the chief, the Moogo Naaba, of 100 years ago, he offered to each one of us the « Zom koom », the welcoming water!

On this day, our sister Valérie Kaboré pronounced her final vows; the Eucharist was animated by the French speaking choir of the Cathedral and by the Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SIC). It was a beautiful celebration full of memories and emotions. Without doubt our sisters in heaven were watching!

The moment of the final commitment of Valérie touched me deeply and moved me; to see her prostrated on the ground expressing symbolically her trust and total abandonment to God; and she said “Yes” forever.

The general superiors of the three congregations initiated by our sisters were present. Our sisters really did a lot for the local Church and for the development of the country.

In his homily, the bishop quoted from our Constitutions, n˚ 56: “We live together without having chosen one another. It is our love for Christ and for Africa which unites us in a common vocation.” This reality became alive in the evening when we were assembled as community, brought together without having chosen one another : of all age groups, languages, cultures, 11 different nationalities, in a mood of celebration and joy, friendship and thanksgiving, singing and feasting together the wonders of the Lord.

The next day, the celebration continued in Valerie’s home parish, ”Christ Roi de Pissy” and with her family. According to local tradition, when married women leave to join the house of their husband, the women of the village come, dancing and singing and offering gifts like cooking pots, kitchen utensils, brooms… for the new bride… in this case Valerie who pronounced her final vows.

M. Neli Hernandez , Mexico, 2nd year novice