A very beautiful atmosphere of joy and solidarity marked this celebration. Everyone took the success of this party to heart as if it were their own family. Sr. Marie at the centre
From Sr. Marie Kanyoni Bangaya Ndusha, Bamako, Mali
The day chosen to celebrate my Jubilee was 04/14/24 because this year, 03/27 (the date of my first vows) fell on the Monday of Holy Week.
The second Sunday of Easter being Mercy Sunday, there were many activities planned at the parish; so only Sunday 14 remained. Once the date was set, the community (Sr. Vicky and I) saw how to organize the celebration before submitting the proposal to the council office of our Christian community.
A week before the feast, Sr. Vicky and I were worried. But, three days before the planned date, I was pleasantly surprised to see the entire Christian community in motion for the celebration. Several meetings were held for the organization: women, youth, the choir… The president of the community even said: “We do not want to be ashamed in front of our guests.” I really felt like family.
A very beautiful atmosphere of joy and solidarity marked this celebration. Everyone took the success of this party to heart as if it were their own family.
Our three sisters Margaret Kibola, Sabine Dakouo and Vickness Muleya came from Burkina on Friday to increase the number of sisters and to support us. As soon as they arrived, they put their hands to work despite the fatigue of the trip. The day before, the Catholic women started cooking so as not to delay the guests because the meal was scheduled for 12:30 p.m. A very beautiful atmosphere of joy and solidarity marked this celebration. When women saw that something was missing, they immediately did everything to fill the gap discreetly. Everyone took the success of this party to heart as if it were their own family.
Our brothers the Missionaries of Africa came in large numbers. I was very happy to be surrounded by my sisters and brothers from different countries in the sub-region. They were there for a Provincial Council which was to be held in Bamako. Unfortunately, our dear brother Patient Shombo died on 07/04/24, before the start of the provincial council. As a result, the Council was postponed until the following week, which explains the good number of missionaries from Africa present among us. We were very happy to celebrate the Jubilee but at the same time sad at the departure of Brother Patient.
The young people in the community were great: after the feast, in the blink of an eye, they put everything back in order. The bags which decorated the courtyard were cleaned by a stagiaire MAfr. helped by another young person, so that in the evening everything was back to normal.
I learned that when you leave your country, your family and your friends to go to a mission country, you find a country, a family and friends…
“You are my shepherd, O Lord, nothing shall I want where you lead me, you have been my comfort…” (Psalm 23).
I would like to point out that I made my first vows on March 27, 1999 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, my first mission country. There were five of us: Bernadette Nshimirimana, Laetitia Garduño, Mia Dombrecht, Rosa Isela Vargas Zavala and myself. There are three of us left and the other two got married.
