Prayer to Our Lady of Africa
Our Lady of Africa, mother of the human family, Be mindful of your African children, at home or dispersed on other continents. You who are full of grace, look upon all those who do not know Jesus, the Son sent by the Father. May his light draw them and make them receptive to the gift of Faith. You, who are one with Christ In suffering and in glory, Be mindful of those assailed by trials, That they may discover His liberating Passover, and live by it in hope. You who turned to Jesus When the wine of joy ran out Be mindful of peoples in distress, That justice and peace may prevail In a united world where Charity reigns. You who, in the midst of the Apostles, Received the breath of the Spirit Be mindful of the apostles of today. May they announce the Word with assurance And proclaim it…
Why not Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa?
A double invitation of the Lord resounds in my life: “Follow me” and “Go forth from your country, to the land I will show you.” This call gives me joy and dynamism. I would like to respond to it by joining other young people who like me, choose to give their lives to Christ for his Mission. The call to become a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa may be heard in many ways. Perhaps a Gospel passage invites me to proclaim Jesus Christ beyond all borders, a deep desire to give my life to Jesus, an attraction for Muslim-Christian dialogue, the desire to fight against all kinds of injustice, a commitment to the poor, immigrants in my own country, I can also be attracted by Africa for a long time. Openness to others is important to me because it enriches my way of seeing…
Migrants in the Algerian desert
Already two weeks ago I wanted to write something about a particular adventure – an adventure about migration; an adventure about human encounter. It is still possible to have beautiful encounters, free encounters, transforming encounters. Ghardaia, November 2013, the first hints of rain, little drizzles in the evening. The day is sunny and fresh, otherwise cold! The small desert offers its stones to the sun’s rays as if to suck the heat and keep it for the nights, already difficult to bear without shelter. The Algerian cities have been visited for the past year by unusual people, women and children from the south, begging by day, disappearing at night. At first like the war-refugees from Mali, then recognized as Nigerians, their presence questioned, sometimes disturbing, often leading to compassion. Algerian Associations mobilize quickly to bring them food, especially when cold attacks these scantily clad people. Some newspapers write about them.…