From our Sr. Fides Mbabarepore
On February 10, the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Ouagadougou celebrated their jubilee of 100 years of existence in the cathedral of Ouagadougou. This celebration closed several activities that the SICOs had carried out over 3 years of preparations and especially during the entire week preceding this wonderful celebration.
The SICO, the first indigenous religious congregation in Burkina Faso, founded in 1924 by Monsignor Joanny Thévenoud (M. Afr-White Father) and formed by the MSOLA-White Sisters, including Sr. Delphine Aubazac who today is considered by SICO as co-founder of their institute.
As Lavigérie’s family, we are proud to see the growth of this congregation which sends its members to Burkina Faso and to 6 other African countries: Algeria, Benin, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, and Togo and to 2 European countries (Italy and France). This was repeated several times by the Superior General, Mother Pauline Sawadogo, that they find themselves today living what their grandfather Cardinal Lavigérie wanted for his missionaries: the legacy of Monsignor Joanny Thevenoud and Sr Delphine as well as of many other missionaries.
By listening to their spirituality which is lived in several of their works, I strongly recognize the words of our founder: “The lasting Work will be accomplished by Africans themselves who have become Christians and Apostles”.
Another reason to give thanks to God is that through the speeches and gestures, the local Church of Burkina Faso in general and in particular the SICOs, recognize the work done by the Lavigerian family, which is why our two superior generals (that of the Missionaries of Africa and that of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa) were decorated by the Burkinabè State on February 8, 2024, an activity organized two days before the great day of the Centenary.
The MSOLAs who were in Ouaga went to the community of the General House of SICO the day before this celebration to greet them and congratulate them for the multiple graces received over these 100 years. It was an opportunity to demonstrate our family ties. The Missionaries of Africa did the same thing in another way by inviting the general council of the SICO and the MSOLAs for a prayer and a meal the following evening of the centenary day. You had to see the joy of Mother Pauline Sawadogo surrounded by Father Stan Lubungo and Sr. Agnès Nakiguli representing our superior general Sr. Angela Kapitingana!
How good it is to be a Family!
The apostolic nuncio wished the SICOs and everyone present to keep Christ as their point of departure and arrival and that the Good News that they are called to bear be alive first in them and in all of us who were there! For him, this is possible by keeping our soul awake through our daily Alliance prayer, which helps us to review whether we remain faithful to the call of Christ and the vision of the Founder.
It was a beautiful celebration, well organized, hosted by SICO members with traditional and modern instruments. We were in awe of their gifts and talents!
May Mary, Our Lady of Africa, the Immaculate Conception continue to accompany them to experience other years of Grace! May our ancestors in the Lavigerian family intercede for all of us to continue the mission entrusted to us.
