Are we ready? Advent is coming
In preparation for the Messiah’s coming, let us “make straight his paths” as Isaias the prophet bids us. That is to say, let us go to God with an upright intention and seek Him alone with the sole desire of pleasing Him. (Mother Mary Salomé Thoughts 623. 3) The season of Advent is a time of expectation, when we prepare our home and our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. The word Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”. Advent is a season of hope, a time to nurture peace and experience joy in anticipation for the love that is made incarnate with the birth of Jesus. This year, Advent begins on Sunday, November 30, 2025. Each Sunday of the season traditionally spotlights a key theme, hope, peace, joy, and love, to invite reflection, prayer, and expectant celebration. The traditional…
Journeying Together in Mission and Transformation
From our sister Maamalifar M. Poreku, MSOLA “Come, let us set out together on this journey of faith and transformation.” “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord… that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” (Is 2:3) Walking Together in Faith and Mission Rooted in the spirit of synodality and the missionary charism of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA), this theme is an invitation to embrace a shared journey of renewal. It encourages each of us to rediscover our apostolic life as a space where personal conversion and communal transformation meet. Through our diverse apostolates, we listen deeply—to one another, to the cries of the world, and to the gentle voice of the Spirit. Together, we discern how Christ continues to transform us for mission. Near or far, all are invited to walk…
Mission in Mauritania: Teaching French and Sowing Hope in Teichott
From our sister Mia Dombrecht, MSOLA in Mauritania A Call to the Heart of Mauritania I love looking at the map of Mauritania, an Islamic Republic, this vast country that welcomes us between the desert and the ocean. On this map, the small religious communities present in Nouakchott and in the interior of the country seem so tiny… I often ask myself: How can we reach these distant Muslim families, who sometimes do not even know that other religions exist, and help them taste the joy of the Kingdom of God already present among us? Teichott, a Village Between Sea and Desert Teichott is a small traditional fishing village, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mauritanian desert. It is one of nine Imraguen villages located along the coast between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. This area is part of the Banc d’Arguin National Park, a UNESCO…
The Jubilee of the Poor
The Jubilee of the Poor will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, which is also the ninth World Day of the Poor that is celebrated every year. The Jubilee of the Poor is not only an opportunity to recommit to the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, but also an invitation to take one step further into the challenge of living in true solidarity with the poor, something Pope Francis explains means combatting the structural causes of poverty, inequality, the lack of work, land, and housing, the denial of social and labor rights. It means confronting the destructive effects of the empire of money…Solidarity, understood in its most profound meaning, is a way of making history” (Fratelli Tutti no. 116) Inspirational Gospel “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has…
Mental well-being: fostering a joyful and healthy religious life
By Sr. Linah Siabana, Ukusijoni community, Uganda Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, fundamentally influencing how we think, feel, and act. It plays a crucial role in our ability to handle stress, build and maintain relationships, and make well-informed choices. For the sisters in the MSOLA family, maintaining robust mental health is vital not only for our personal well-being but also for effectively supporting the spiritual mission we undertake and fulfilling our responsibilities within the community. A healthy mind not only fosters compassion and empathy but also improves our ability to connect more deeply with those we serve, enriching the overall religious experience for both the sisters and the society. Neglecting mental health, on the other hand, can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression, and can significantly impair an individual’s ability to fulfill their religious obligations and engage meaningfully with others around them.…
Be Initiators! 125 Years of White Sisters in Uganda
Shared by Sr. Magdalena Orczykowska, Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa on mission in Adjumani, West Nile This year marks a special moment: we close the Jubilee celebrating 125 years since the arrival of the White Sisters in Uganda, and at the same time commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, their founder. It is a time to look back with gratitude and forward with renewed zeal—inspired by Lavigerie’s call to his missionaries to “be initiators” as they brought the Gospel to sub-Saharan Africa. The Diary of the Sisters brings us to that historic moment of arrival: On Wednesday, October 18, 1899, around 1 p.m., we climbed the Rubaga Hill. The people were lined up in orderly fashion before the cathedral. When the Apostolic Vicar appeared, everyone showed great joy by cries and clapping, and they did the same when the sisters…
Pilgrims of Hope, journeying in Faith in Malawi
By Sr. Georgette Ouedraogo, Lilongwe community, Malawi In this jubilee year, as pilgrims of hope, the Church of Malawi has demonstrated his commitment to bring hope to the Christians and guide them to receive and share hope with others. To realize this, a series of congresses at national level are taking place in the Church. The Children’s Congress Children are bearers of hope and children are givers of hope to the church, to the nation and to the whole world. The Church in Malawi has understood that and on this journey of hope no one is left out. A National Children`s Congress was organized, the first one in history, and indeed it took place in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe (at Don Bosco Parish) from the 30th July to 04th of August. The congress was honored by a resident from the Islamic community who, pleased that children…
Dames d’Afrique – A Documentary on the White Sisters
From the tv channel KTO, Sister Gisela and others share stories and memories in a moving documentary For more than 150 years, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, known as the White Sisters, have devoted their lives to working on the African continent. Founded in 1869 by Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, this women’s congregation has left an indelible mark on 15 African countries. By devoting themselves to the education, health and dignity of women, they have marked the history of the continent. Without ever compromising their faith, they adapted to local customs by listening to those in their care. Their social and religious legacy continues today, as evidenced by the vocations that have emerged from their mission countries. Combining historical archives, interviews with specialists and testimonials, director Sebastien Cassen has painted a nuanced and authentic portrait of these courageous women and their unconditional dedication. A KTO/SAISON CINQ co-production,…
Leo XIV, makes a special appeal for World Mission Day
We share the Pope Video for World Mission Day 2025 The Pope to every single parish: Thank you for everything you will do to help me help missionaries throughout the world’ Dear Brothers and Sisters, On World Mission Sunday every year, the whole Church prays, united, particularly for missionaries and the fruitfulness of their apostolic labors. When I served as a missionary priest and bishop in Peru, I saw first-hand how the faith, the prayer and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities. I urge every Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday. Your prayers, your support will help spread the Gospel, provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories. This October 19th, as we reflect together on our baptismal…
Jubilee for Refugees in Northern Uganda
By Sr. Magdalena Orczykowska, MSOLA In communion with the whole Church, the Diocese of Arua joined in celebrating the Jubilee Year with a special focus on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees under the theme: “Pilgrims of Hope – a hope that never disappoints.” The celebration took place in Maaji Refugee Settlement, which is under the pastoral care of the Missionaries of Africa and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. Preparing the Jubilee Preparation for this great day began long in advance. A team of missionaries, together with Christian communities within the settlement, followed the guidelines of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to ensure the celebration would reflect the spirit of the Jubilee of Migrants and Refugees. The aim was to deepen awareness, strengthen faith, and renew hope among the displaced communities. The Celebration The climax of the event came on October…