“Remain in me… and you will bear much fruit.” (Jn 15:5)
It is with hearts full of gratitude that we come to share what we have experienced since the beginning of our Juniorate. As you know, we arrived from our various mission countries of Burundi, Malawi, Uganda and Chad. We thank the General Council for offering us this grace-filled opportunity and the two sisters who accompanied us during this time.
Our symbol was a calabash, in the hands of God who owns it. The calabash serves as an instrument which has multiple tasks. It is open to receive and to give. It represents and expresses what we have chosen to be and live during this very important time in our journey as Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa.
The sharing below will give you an overview of what has enriched us in re-reading our experiences for fuller life.
Our older sisters who came for the Transition Session and Senior sisters shared with us their missionary experiences. We also met through Skype and other messages. Such zeal and dynamism! Thank you dear sisters; our sense of belonging to the congregation has been strengthened by your testimonies of missionary life. You challenge us and you encourage us!
As we deepened the different topics with the help of our sisters and various speakers from outside the Congregation, we were encouraged as consecrated women apostles and sent as Congregation to be “Bearers of Hope.”
In line with our consecration we had the joy to deepen the vows of obedience, poverty and chastity which have enlightened, challenged and encouraged us to go forward with the Lord and with our sisters.
It was a joy for us to have discovered our archives. Everything is carefully preserved to help us immerse ourselves in our heritage. It was an invitation for us to make our contribution to the continuity.
What a gift to make the pilgrimage in the footsteps of our founder Cardinal Lavigerie. This has revitalized us in our vocation. Being in Rome, at the centre of Christianity, we had the profound joy of visiting and praying at the various holy places. This has increased our faith and encourages us in our own journey following Christ just as he did.
It is with gratitude that we say THANK YOU for your prayers, testimony and messages which have been with us since the beginning of our Juniorate. May Mary, Our Lady of Africa accompany us in this jubilee year of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of our Congregation and obtain for us the graces we need to continue to be bearers of hope!
Sisters Marcelline, Nathalie, Fides, Georgette, and Bernadette
