“Thank you for loving us! Thank you for learning luganda!”
Give thanks in all circumstances – the spirit of gratitude of the Baganda people Rejoice always; pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances: For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5, 16-18) Hearing these words of Saint Paul on the third Sunday of Advent, I could not help but think with admiration of the Baganda people, among whom I have the grace to live and serve. As soon as I started to learn the local language, luganda and with it, the culture of the milieu, I was struck by that wonderful spirit of gratitude that dominates almost all the conversations in luganda. First, in any of the greetings we cannot fail to thank for the work done, whatever it is. After we finish eating, we thank the person who prepared the meal and in response we hear: “Thanks for eating!” Because there are those…
An old leper man: “Thank you so much, may God bless you abundantly!”
Jamani sista waambie: “Asanteni sana, Mungu awabariki!” Please sister, tell them: “Thank you so much, may God bless you abundantly!” Dear readers, people of good will and all those who have been working very hard to raise money for lepers, greetings! The above words of gratitude was said to me by an old leper man, during my visit to their Camp in Bukumbi Mwanza, Tanzania 17th May 2017. I thus feel restless to keep them to myself as they were really said and meant for you. The background: At the beginning of January 2017, our community of Lublin – Poland, received some money from the Capuchin Fathers of Pociekajka. Just as they have been doing, the Fathers/brothers gathered that money around the leper’s day and passed it on to us. The idea was to send that money to those in need and this time, we decided to give it…
Un unsung HERO: “MSOLA”
The story tells how MSOLA – Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa- keeps close to her heart the cause of the woman in the world; she wants to make a difference in the life of the one who brings to life; the one who carries life in a secret place and brings it as a gift to this world; male and female; slave and task master; rich and poor, king and prince. MSOLA cares for humanity because the woman she cares for is at the center of human life. On her mission to serve the woman, MSOLA knows no boundaries. The mountains so high, the ocean so deep, the wilderness so dense would not prevent her from responding to the cry of a woman in despair. In this amazing story, our unsung HERO “MSOLA” has brought a special touch to the lives of vulnerable mothers and their babies in…
The Juniorate 2017 is started
Preparation for the final vows with sisters Vickness Muleya, Marie-Ange Ndayishimiye, Franceline Hien, Linah Siabana,Thérèse Namakoma Nyarukanyi and animators sisters Ingrid Hager and Hélène Mbuyamba The Well is a symbol for Community. It is often located at the center of the Community where everyone has access. From the Well, the community draws water, which sustains its life. In the olden days, the Well represented all the social resources of the community that were necessary to endure and thrive. This well for us represents the word of God, which invites us to listen to Jesus speaking, through events, formators, facilitators and many other people we encounter. It represents all that we are going to live during this period of this juniorate; all that allows us to rediscover and nurture the source of life within us. This well challenges us to live the values of openness (receiving and giving) to life…
The ‘inner peripheries’, do you know them?
A real village! Nearly 30 years ago, the contextual realities brought the MSOLA into a 12-story building owned by the Sisters of Providence of Canada: a real village! At present there are 200 sisters aged 80 and over who come from different congregations, 16 women’s congregations and one male. They are found everywhere: chapel, corridors, cafeteria, infirmary, outdoor field. Hence the name Carrefour Providence. The majority live this situation with a courageous sense of adaptation, a lot of friendliness and openness, while declaring “We are no longer home.” Yes, it is the reality that must be admitted. The sisters of the various congregations share certain paid and unpaid tasks, helping to ensure the proper functioning of the residence with the 200 or so secular employees who provide essential services. The Providence Pavilion, a periphery inside the village: The infirmary is called Pavillon Providence and is spread over nine floors.…
The 2017 General Chapter, 15-22 July
22th July: The Closing of the 2017 General Chapter. Sr Franceline Hien et Sr Marie-Ange Ndayishimiye ont présenté une saynète : une allumette et une bougie ne peuvent remplir leur mission qu’en se mettant ensemble. L’allumette allume la bougie et les deux donnent lumière en se consumant. The Eucharist: 21th July: This morning’s hymn was: : “Great things happen when God mixes with us”. The capitulants study the draft of the final document… 20 th July: The peripheries were the theme of Morning Prayer. The paper hearts were collected in a basket. On them the Sisters had written a periphery to which they felt called today. Each one picked a heart and carried that periphery with the other. 19th July: ‘Go, I am sending you out!’ The road is traced before us. Each one fixes the paper with the call that…
The 2017 General Chapter, 8-15 July
15 July : A new General Council : The new General Council: Sr Juliana Karomba, Tanzania Sr Carmen Sammut, Malte,Superior General Sr Mapendo Masirika Annonciata, D.R.. Congo Sr Maria del Carmen Ocón Moreno, Spain 13th July: Sr Carmen Sammut, elected for a second mandate, as Superior General. We give thanks to God ! Let us pray for her ! Sr Carmen Sammut’s homily – April 30, 2016 Sr Carmen Sammut, Synod on the Family, week 3 Sr Carmen Sammut, Synod on the Family, week 2 Interview with Sr Carmen Sammut Sister Carmen Sammut, Synod on the Family URGENT appeal for the EARTH of Sister Carmen Sammut 12th July: Prepared for a day of election: The decoration in the Chapel with Our Lady of Africa and Mother Marie Salome. Let us pray with Our Lady of Africa and with All the Saints of Africa 11th July : The Source…
The 2017 General Chapter, day after day, 1-7 July
7th July: Pictures: Sr. Franceline Hien drumming Dance from Burundi Dance from Ghana Thanking Ms Marina van Dalen Canada « Aaalouette, je te plumerai » Singing the Refrain : « Aaalouette, je te plumerai » Example of a ‘wordle’ with the hymn “Si le Pere vous appelle” Cardinal Peter Turkson (his text was quoted during morning prayer) 6th July: ‘The peripheries’ was the topic chosen for the prayer with a text from Sr Mary Sujita SND, The context of our mission today– the peripheries of our globalized world. The linguistic groups: 4th July: Mark 6, 30-43 (look at pictures) Report of Sr Daphne Alphonso,the Treasurer General and assorted sharing : Sisters in Temporary Vows, Sr Franceline Hien and Sr Marie-Ange Ndayishimiye. Madame Marina van Dalen, Coordinator of the Netherlands. Video Message from Càrol Garcia Murillo, MSOLA associate member. Sr. Elisabeth Biela and Sr. Valérie Kaboré presented the work of…
Message of Cardinal Fernando Filoni
Message of His Eminence Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples to the Participants of the XXV° General Chapter of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (Jul 1-13, 2017) To the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa gathered for the XXV° General Chapter – Rome I am most happy to warmly greet you Mother Carmela Sammut, Superior General, and all of the Sisters participating in your XXV° General Chapter, which is a particularly graced moment in the life of your religious community. General Chapters gather Sisters from many different countries and diverse cultures to listen and to share with one another, attentive to the voice of the Spirit that brings to life the memory of your Founders. In this context you are called to confront with all of the richness and diversity…
