The birth of a congregation
Since the beginning of Christianity people have formed communities to live and pray together, to follow in Jesus Christ steps. Faithful communities organised themselves in orders and congregations to promote the good news and to respond to a particular charism (from the Greek word charis, meaning “grace” or “free gift”) that, as the Holy Spirit, inspired the founder with the identity and mission of the congregation. Some orders may last for centuries, some disappear, others are created. The perennial renewal of the Holy Spirit in each generation asks all of us to confront the challenges of our times with an open heart and to respond with bravery and compassion. The 19th century (the years 1800) were very uncertain and insecure, in Europe and abroad, with revolutions and social upheaval and in those times many Christians were inspired to create communities to assist the victims of war, famine and…
“Dearest Father Lavigerie” a letter from Alice
Dearest Father Lavigerie, It is now 134 years since you joined the Father whom you loved and served so dearly. I am writing this note to give you news of the mission in Algeria and also of your daughters in the community at Hydra. It is with joy that I reaffirm to you that we have kept alive the flame and zeal of the missionary charism that you bequeathed to us. Over the years, Mother Marie Salomé and all the generations of White Sisters who have taken up the torch of your dream have kept the lamp burning and have faithfully passed it on to us. Today, in turn, we continue this mission in communion within the Archdiocese of Algiers, of which you were the shepherd with a loving and devoted heart. As you have always advised us, we allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit and…
Dilexi te and Cardinal Lavigerie
A reflection from Sister Mia Dombrecht, Nouakchott Community To prepare this article, I went to the Atlantic coast to reflect and pray. Believe it or not, at the beginning of my first prayer time, a flight of five pelicans passed before my eyes in the sky…this symbol that Cardinal Lavigerie himself chose to express what became for him “his way of conceiving life, his way of living it” (Dilexi te 1), no. 120): CARITAS. Indeed, Lavigerie, having chosen this episcopal motto, made it a reality in his life choices and made “Christian love penetrate the most hidden corners of society.” (DT no. 120). As Bishop of Nancy, he had a particular concern for the poor of his diocese. “In a rectory where he was dining, he noticed that a splendid feast was being prepared… This was contrary to the diocesan regulations which stipulated that only three different…
30th April Patronal feast of Our Lady of Africa
Cardinal Lavigerie reminds us that “he could never do any good without the intercession and the special protection of the Blessed Virgin from whom he often felt the effects in an extraordinary way. He believed that the missionaries of Algiers would never do anything except through her assistance.” (Lavigerie to his missionaries, p. 101) On this day we celebrate the presence of Our Lady of Africa in our apostolate, in our mission, in our congregation. This year, we want to remember her through the visit of Pope Leo to the Basilica in Algiers, with a series of photos taken from the video of his visit in April 2026.
Pope Leo XIV in Algeria as a Messenger of Peace
Algerian faithfuls This post is an extract from Vatican news Link to the article Pope Leo XIV made an Apostolic visit to Algeria on Monday April 13th. In the following interview, Fr. Vincent Kyererezi, a member of the Missionaries of Africa and Vicar General of the diocese of Laghouat-Ghardaïa, explains the importance of the visit and the role of the Church in the predominantly Muslim Algerian society. How big is the catholic community in Algeria and in the diocese of Laghouat-Ghardaïa where you serve? The Catholic community in Algeria is estimated at 8900 faithfuls. The diocese of Laghoaut-Ghardaïa where I serve as Vicar General has about 2,240 Christians, served by 14 priests, including the bishop, 19 nuns, and 5 religious brothers. We generally serve in a “Church of encounter and dialogue with Muslims” that endeavors to foster fraternity, mutual understanding and harmonious co-existence with one another. The Catholic Church has four dioceses:…
Past and present, for the future!
Srs. Marie-Ange Ndayishimiye, Lucile Habimana, Margareth Kibola, Olive Nihorimbere, Mia Dombrecht. Next to Msgr Victor Ndione, and the Bishop emeritus Msgr Martin Happe M.Afr. In the 1970s, the wife of the first President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mrs Ould Dadah, had expressed to the Bishop at the time, Mgr De Chevigny, her desire to have catholic sisters who could work with Mauritanian women. Our Congregation responded positively to this request, as being women with women in a multicultural country is in line with the apostolic priorities of our Congregation. Sr Jeanne Guérid was the first missionary sister of Our Lady of Africa to arrive in Nouakchott in November 1975. This October, we wished to celebrate with our parish our 50 years in Mauritania and combined these celebrations with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Cardinal Lavigerie. On Thursday 23 October, we led the adoration service at…
The heart still beats… a memorable day in Ouarzazate
Our Sisters in Ouarzazate, 3rd on the left Sr. Rehema and in the centre Sr. Hélène, among the faithful who came to celebrate together the Eucharist The Community of Ouarzazate, Morocco, share a memorable day There are days that leave an indelible mark on the soul, like a light that continues to shine for a long time. Sunday, October 26, was one of those days. In a context that does not allow us to hold open public activities or celebrations, we chose to mark the closing of the Jubilee Year of our Founder, Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, with what unites us most: a Eucharistic celebration imbued with recollection and fervour. A moment where every gesture and word counts. The preparations were simple but made with much love. A few prayers, a short message about our Founder and prayer intentions filled with hope. We also chose hymns in different…
A message in time…
the sons and daughters of Cardinal Lavigerie listen with an open heart (Cathedral of Bayonne) Sr. Franceline Hien, coordinator of the JPIC-ED/MSOLA Network, feels the celebration of the bicentenary of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie (1825-2025) allowed us to revisit and reclaim his prophetic figure, dedicated to justice, peace, and human dignity. On this occasion she imagines a message from Cardinal Lavigerie to his sons and daughters. Let us listen to his message: On the day after the close of the year celebrating the 200th anniversary of my birth and my 133rd birthday in heaven, I have a very important message for you: My sons and daughters, with the celebration of my birthday, a unique opportunity arose in which you renewed your zeal and passion for the African world. I say to you once again: You are heirs to a prophetic struggle against slavery, to a fight against all…
Closing of the Bicentenary in Burundi
By Sister Maite Oiartzun Nshimirimana of Gitega community in Burundi How can we thank the Lord for all the blessings received during the jubilee year of the 200th anniversary of the birth of our dear founder Lavigerie? Let us keep alive the memory of all the graces received and keep in our hearts the memories of his wonders. Thanks to Lavigerie’s YES and his generous response to the Lord’s call to evangelise Africa, he founded the Missionaries of Africa and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to the African peoples. In Burundi, on 22 November 2025, we celebrated the closing with a thanksgiving Eucharist in our parish of Mucunguzi. The group included the Archbishop of Gitega, Monsignor Bonaventure Habimana, president of the Episcopal Conference of Burundi, Bishop Monsignor George of the Diocese of Ngozi and Bishop Leonidas…
Happy Birthday Mother Marie-Salome
On the 3rd of March 1847, in Guissény, France, was born little Marie-Renée Roudaut, the sixth child in a family of farmers. Who could have imagined that she would grow to become the Venerable Mother Marie-Salomé, first superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa? At eleven years of age she made her First Communion. “What did you ask Jesus for?” somebody had asked, she answered: I asked God to make me a saint by doing whatever He wills.” She made her first profession on the 6th of July 1873 in the Saint Charles motherhouse in Algiers, where she died peacefully in 1930 at the age of 83 years. During her long life in Algeria she dedicated herself to the will of God, praying and working tirelessly for the congregation to survive and thrive. This day it is indeed a happy happy birthday that…