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…
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.…
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…
“Sister, Can I Have My Tree?”: Planting Hope in Northern Uganda
By Sr. Magdalena Orczykowska – Ukusijoni, Uganda In the sun bathed lands of Northern Uganda, the changing climate is no longer just a distant topic—it’s a daily reality. Dry seasons have become longer and hotter, trees are disappearing due to charcoal burning and construction needs, and the air grows dustier by the day. In this challenging context, a seed of hope was planted – both literally and figuratively. The idea was born during an online training for JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) animators, organized by the JPIC Commission of UISG and USG. Inspired and energized by the session, we felt called to act – starting with something small, yet deeply meaningful: trees. As a team of missionaries, we organized an awareness sessions and tree distribution campaign in the refugee settlements of Maaji and Agojo. Our goal was simple—to educate about the importance of trees and provide…
Together for Youth in Uganda: A Mission of Hope
From Sr. Julienne Bouda and Sr. Magdalena Orczykowska, in Ukusijoni, Uganda As we join the universal Church in celebrating the Youth Jubilee 2025, we rejoice in the gift of youth and their vital role in the life of the Church and society. In Uganda, young people are full of energy and potential, but many also face real challenges: poverty, limited access to education, and unemployment. As Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, we are deeply committed to the youth apostolate, especially among refugee populations, where the majority are young. We engage at various levels of youth ministry, offering mentorship, formation, and spiritual accompaniment. Often, we actively participate in youth events and gatherings across Uganda—not only to be present, but to walk closely with the young, listen to their stories, and help them discover their deepest desires and unique vocation. These events are precious moments to connect,…
The mission of being a student
From our Sister Eliane NZOYISABA, Bunamwaya, Uganda “Be all things to all people.” Inspired by this aspect of our spirituality, I want to share my experience of living the mission through studies and how it influenced the relationships with my classmates. Since February 2024, I am working toward a Certificate in Fashion Design at the Uganda Catholic Management and Training Institute in Rubaga, Uganda. Our class initially comprised twelve students, but unfortunately, two had to leave due to financial constraints. My classmates are young, unmarried girls, while other classes include a mix of boys, men, young women, and married ladies. The institute also welcomes religious sisters, easily recognized by their distinctive uniforms. As MSOLA, I live the “all to all” in my way of being and collaboration with the others in our studies. Our Constitutions (n.13) remind us that: “Wherever we are, our mission is ONE. Because we…
Being close to teenagers in Deli
On the occasion of the Jubilee of Teenagers, Sr. Nathalie Wendata Sedogo shares the work we do with young girls interested in our congregations. In our Missionary Vocation Animation, we are always in contact with teenagers. We organize meetings to share information and in Deli we have a group of young girls who meet regularly to discern their spiritual journey. We are delighted to have established once a month, a visit to the family of each young member of the vocation group. Indeed, every 4th Sunday of the month, all the members of the vocation group spend time with the family of each young person just after mass. Each person brings a dish so that we can have a community meal. We started with our MSOLA community. All the sisters were mobilized for the reception and animation. The young people asked us questions and focused on the…
Empathy in Action: Lessons from the World Day of the Poor
Sr. Valérie Kaboré on mission in Algeria “While part of the world is condemned to live in the depths of history, while inequalities increase and the economy punishes the weakest, while society is dedicated to the idolatry of money and consumption, the poor and the marginalized often have no choice but to continue to wait (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, n. 54). … It is us whom his grace makes shine; it is our life, imbued with compassion and charity, which must become a sign of the Lord’s presence, always close to the suffering of the poor, to soothe their wounds and transform their destiny.” Link to the PDF https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2024/documents/20241117-omelia-giornatamondiale-poveri.html I feel very inspired by this quotation from Pope Francis. He recalled these words recently, on 17 November, during the World Day of the Poor. Several events and celebrations that we have experienced in these days can be linked…
You have helped us to grow
The running of the school in Gumo needs close collaboration between the principal, the teachers, the children and the parents. In the background, Sr. Margaret Kibola From Sr. Margaret Kibola, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso You have helped us to grow” This powerful statement was cited by our first batch of 2020 Junior High at St. Charles Lwanga Roman Catholic School, expressing their gratitude to all they felt I was to them as pupils in the school. They were under our care for 11 years: 2 years of kindergarten, 6 years of primary and 3 years of Junior High School. This group has successfully finished their Senior High School last year 2023 and are pursuing their tertiary education. I was a missionary in Ghana for 18 years. I taught as a teacher in Sorugu Primary School for 5 years and was headteacher at St. Charles Lwanga for 13 years.…
The history of the Mijikenda tribes, Kenya
“It is the study of the language that will help you to understand the people with whom you relate. We need to make ourselves similar to them, by adopting their external way of life, their clothes, their food, their nomadic life, their language; by being in a word, all things to all people to win them to Jesus Christ. Eat their food, learn their language and dress like them.” Words of Cardinal Lavigerie the founder of the Missionaries of Africa and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. From our Sister Xaverine Mukatabaza from the Malindi community in Kenya Dear Sisters, Brothers and Friends, Greetings of peace. It is my joy to share with you a bit of the history of Mijikenda tribes found along the coast of Kenya. This is a place of first evangelization. The Muslims are more numerous than Christians. There is also…