A child’s prayer
From Sister Clémentine Mukampabuka in Oran, Algeria In my catechism class, there are around twenty children, aged 6 to 12. For the most part, these are children born in Algeria to parents in an irregular migration situation. For catechism, the most advanced join the youngest to form a single class. During a session, I offer them the opportunity to pray out loud. One of the prayers caught my attention: Lord, I ask you to release my dad from prison and give him a lot of money to come home to us!” A concrete prayer: I recognized this child. He is only 7 years old. He was born in Algeria to a Nigerian and a Cameroonian. I ask myself Where is home for him?” I visited his father in prison. I can list many things that I recognize; whatever, the Lord knows him. He answers our prayers, especially those…
MSOLA on the road to Integral Ecology: Gitega experience
Sr. Maite Oiartzun and Fr. Bernard Lesay, MAfr. By Sr. Maite Oiartzun, Gitega Community, Burundi I’m delighted to share with you that in Gitega (Burundi) we continue the project to plant Artemisia, a medicinal plant to prevent and cure malaria. I’m working in collaboration with Fr. Bernard Lesay, MAfr., agronomists and farmers in Gitega. I’m also part of a network called “La Maison de l’Artemisia” www.maison-artemisia.org which runs awareness-raising workshops in 28 African countries. In Gitega, I’m involved with the “Ecole Sociale” and the “Ecole d’Art”, where the students are boarders. The entire education community is involved, and they’ve given us plots of land to cultivate. Every school year, together with the students and teachers, we plant the Artemisia plants prepared by the farmers. In 4 months, we harvest plenty of Artemisia for the whole year. Students and teachers take the tea 3 times a week to boost the…
Gathering the fruits of our pilgrimage of Juniorate
Pilgrimage in the footsteps of Cardinal Lavigerie: Sr. Magdalena Orczykowska, Sr. Julia Alonso Martinez (animator), Sr. Iwona Cholewińska, Sr. Kandongo Kibole Yollande, Sr. Marietha Asimwe Joakim Rupia At the end of the Juniorate our sisters share their experience: At the end of this important and very profound journey, which is the beginning of another one, with Mary and with all of you who have been with me physically and spiritually, who have encouraged me and supported me on this journey of transformation, I turn to God as I say: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness. The Mighty one has done great things for me, holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age.” I am grateful to the Congregation which gave me this opportunity to grow, to…
Post-Capitular Chapter in Köln, Germany
The participants in the Europe post-capitular chapter in Köln, Germany. Sr. Gosia Popławska of the General Council was present as well as the two leaders; Sr. Jeanne d’Arc Ouattara of the General Council and Sr. Marcelline Nemeyitora, new leader for Europe participated on Zoom. It was a great joy for all of us, coming from so many different parts of Europe (Spain, Italy, Poland, Germany, England, France) to meet in the beautiful setting of the diocesan centre in Siegburg, just outside of Köln, to experience this special time of the post-capitular chapter. After a good night’s rest, we began the meeting with a time of recollection. We were invited to allow ourselves to be transformed, to rise to new life (Ez 37:1-14: The dry bones) and to trust, even in the midst of the storm by fearlessly facing and accepting our vulnerabilities (Mk 4:35-41: the storm calmed). The…
Indeed, nothing is impossible with God!
The participants in the ECA post-capitular chapter in Kampala, Uganda with the Sisters of the General Council, Sr. Jeanne d’Arc Ouattara and Sr. Gosia Popławska, the general bursar Sr. Marie-Alice Terrattaz and the facilitators, Sr. Selina Wavinya, Sister of Mercy, and Fr. Yago Abeledo M.Afr. From Sr. Anna Apolinary Massawe, from the chapter venue Our ECA post-capitular chapter took place in Lourdel House in Kampala, Uganda, from 27th October to 2nd November 2023. This event brought together sisters from the different communities and our Entity and Congregation leaders. Encountering one another as sisters of the same family was enriching and life giving. During the opening mass Fr. Richard Nnyombi, M.Afr., reminded us that we were gathered together to look with gratitude into the way we lived our mission in the past years and to look forward into the future with courage. He also said that we might have been…
A young sister delegate to the NOUA Post-Chapter
From Sr. Xaverine Mukansinga, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso It is with gratitude that I write this text to share my experience of the post-chapter of the North and West Africa Entity (NOUA) from November 26 to December 3, 2023. I had the chance to participate as a delegate of the sisters of temporary vows. It was a very good experience for me. It was with deep joy and enthusiasm that I began the chapter among my older sisters. We were like sisters animated by a spirit of unity and the joy of meeting one another. A feeling of pride in being a MSOLA increased in my heart. The chapter took place in Ouagadougou in the John Paul II Spiritual Center. All NOUA communities were represented. We were 32 people including two members of the General Council: Sr. Angela Kapitingana and Sr. Leticia Garduño Mejia; the spiritual father of the chapter,…
Prospérine’s visit to Hasselt
From our sister Tina Anthonissen in Hasselt I’ve been looking forward to these few hours of Prospérine’s visit! I was able to make the most of them on 15 January 2024 thanks to the fact that Prospérine had taken part in the post-chapter in Brussels. She extended her stay in Belgium a little to visit me, and I’m very grateful to her for that. She brought me a repertoire reminding me of all the marvels that God had made us responsible for together in the Congo, and thanks to which the young people of the K.A. movement had been able to take many beautiful things. I advised her to keep going don’t stop!” because she’s still young. She must keep up her courage and always continue to hope and take initiatives. As in the symbol of the Capitular Acts, the tree so well drawn, we must be the roots (Monseigneur…
News from Morocco
Sr. Rehema Toiwoki Kimesera (left) and Sr. Maria Carmen Ocón Moreno next to her with their classmates in Rabat, Morocco. At the centre Mrs Amina A letter from our sisters Rehema Toiwoki Kimesera and Maria Carmen Ocón Moreno in Morocco Dear sisters, We finally found a bit of time to share with you some news since our arrival in Rabat. Rehema arrived on 21st January coming from Tanzania. It was a stressful trip as she had to wait until the last minute at Dar-es-Salaam’s airport before they allowed her to board, wondering why she was to go to Morocco. Her arrival in Rabat was good, only that due to a misunderstanding of the hour of her arrival she was stranded for three hours before the sister picked her up. Maria Carmen arrived on 22nd coming from Spain. She took a ship from Tarifa to Tanger and the train…
Silver Jubilee at the Delwende Center
From our sister Vickness Muleya in the community in St Julien Ouagadougou Cathedral One day, I went to the African Press to ask for information. At reception, I asked to see the priest, responsible for the African Press. Arriving at the office, when he saw me, he said: This is how good God is! It was you I was looking for, but now you found me!” This is how a beautiful Thanksgiving experience began for the silver jubilee of Father Mathurin Ouangrawa at the Delwende Center! Father Mathurin Ouangrawa, director of the African Press, chose the Delwende Center to celebrate his Silver Jubilee of Priesthood. His motivation being: “to bring joy to the residents of the Delwende Center by sharing my joy with them.” He also insisted that, “it was also to bring many other people to discover the Center and to put their hands in the reality…
World Youth Days in Senegal
From sisters Elyse and Olive of the community in Nouakchott, Mauritania From January 26 to 28, 2024, World Youth Days in Senegal were held around the theme Those who hope in the Lord walk without tiring.” Isaiah 40.31. Thousands of young Catholics from the various dioceses of Senegal and other countries in the sub-region participated in this event. Our diocese of Nouakchott was officially invited to participate in this very important event. Thirty people from our diocese responded to this invitation. Our sisters Elyse and Olive left with the parishioners. They share with us their joys experienced during this meeting: What a joy to participate in this meeting of young people in Senegal! Meeting others is one of the values of our congregation. Openness, interculturality, dialogue are values that we experienced, first with the group of people coming from Nouakchott and then with the young people coming from…