One day, I saw Cardinal Lavigerie in a dream giving a lecture. I wondered what could be the meaning of my dream.
Well, this is how the dream was born in me to have an open day to make our Congregation better known and to respond to the call to open ourselves to the different forms of belonging.
This stayed with me for a long time before I told my sisters in community. One day during the community meeting, I shared it. So, we started to organize by writing an announcement that was read in all the masses at the cathedral in Ouagadougou.
When the day came, “our sister the rain” visited us to the point that those who came to the first three Masses quickly returned home without coming to our house. I then felt that it was up to me to go to them, to look for them. This is how I went out to call those who passed by our house and a good number came.
As there was also the fair of one of the choirs at the parish, I went there to invite those who were eating and drinking, to come and spend a little time with us. This is how more than sixty people answered the call. They came in small groups. We had a good time talking. We presented the history of the congregation and our works; we watched short films on Mother Marie-Salomé and the missionaries. Some people expressed their desire to continue to get to know us, others have asked to join the group of lay associates. We have taken note of all this. There was a good collaboration in the community that I really appreciated.
Personally, through this situation, I experienced a bit the scene of the parable of the nuptial feast where Jesus says: “The wedding feast is ready, but the guests were not worthy. So go out and invite to the wedding all those you can find.” (See Mt 22:1-10).
It is true that if we want to collaborate with others, it is up to us to take small steps and let God do the rest.
By Sr. Hélène KAVULA, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
