Celebrating in the periphery in Rwanda
From our Sr. Marie Kanyoni, in the community of Butare, in Rwanda Our community wanted to conclude the bicentennial of Cardinal Lavigerie with the sister congregations, the Benebikira and the Abizeramaria from our parish; and also with our close neighbors from the cathedral as well as our collaborators, the former students of MSOLA. Then, one of us had the idea of inviting the poor from the peripherie with whom we work in our apostolates, that is, the four groups from three different villages and the Notre Dame d’Afrique Center (sewing center for young women). With this gesture, we find ourselves fully in line with the apostolic exhortation of Pope Leo XIV: From the beginning, Scripture manifests with such intensity God’s love through the protection of the weak and the less fortunate, that one could speak of a kind of ‘soft spot’ of God towards them. The poor have…
Loving the poor and the reality of life
Nairobi is a city of contrasts A touching testimony from Sr. Marietha Joakim, Nairobi, Kenya When I reflect on my experience of helping the poor, I do not begin with theories or Church documents. I begin with the streets of Nairobi, with the people I meet every day with faces that are easy to pass by, yet difficult to forget. Nairobi is a city of contrasts. Tall buildings, busy roads, and signs of development exist side by side with deep poverty. In recent times, the number of homeless people and beggars has visibly increased. At every traffic stop, outside supermarkets, along major roads, and near churches and mosques there are people asking for help. Some are elderly, some are children, many are young adults who should be in the prime of their strength but have nowhere to go. So far, my personal experience of helping the poor…
Living Lent with a Missionary Heart
Some Practical Ways to Live Your Faith Inspired by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa Lent is a season we often associate with sacrifice, giving something up, praying a little more, trying to be better. But what if Lent is not about giving up, but about opening up? Opening our hearts to God, to others, and to the world He loves. Inspired by the Ignatian spirituality of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa you can rediscover Lent as a time to grow roots in Christ and stretch out our hands in love. These are not only for religious sisters, they are a path for every baptized Christian. Deepening our relationship with Christ: The interior journey At the heart of MSOLA life is a personal relationship with Jesus. Mission begins in prayer. Without roots, a tree cannot grow; without prayer, our faith cannot bear…
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…
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…
Cardinal Lavigerie and Pope Francis: Apostles of Justice and Love
by Sr. Fides Mbabarempore As we celebrate the Jubilee of Justice in the Church, it is striking to recognize how Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, founder of the Missionaries of Africa, and Pope Francis share deep apostolic traits. Though separated by centuries, both embody a prophetic response to the needs of their times. Their witness offers us a legacy of justice, compassion, and hope. I would like to highlight two key points that especially resonate today: Closeness to the Poor and the Marginalized Cardinal Lavigerie stood courageously against slavery in Africa. His mission in Algeria opened doors to other regions of the continent, where he proclaimed the Good News with a conviction that Africans, once evangelized, would themselves become apostles. His faith and hope were remarkable, especially in a time when Africans were often dismissed as “uncivilized” and exploited without hesitation. For Lavigerie, the essential truth was the…
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,…
Blessed Martyrs of Algeria
We remember the blessed martyrs of Algeria, in particular our brothers Jean Chevillard, Alain Dieulangard, Charles Deckers and Christian Chessel. On 8th May 2020 Bishop +Claude Rault. M.Afr. gave a homily to the the Missionary of Africa in Paris, France. It so happens that, through the mystery of history, I have come to know almost all the members of the Church of Algeria whose memory we celebrate today. Some I have known more, others less. On several occasions I was able to work with Bishop Pierre in the Episcopal Conference, and he came several times to the Diocese of the Sahara when I was Vicar General. He was a passionate and exciting man. His regular letters during the “black decade” soon made him a potential target for armed Islamists and security forces. He knew the risks he was taking. I was also quite close to Christian Chessel,…
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…
A cultural evening with the seminarians of Koumi
Cyarisima Divine, novice in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, shares her experience The Koumi Seminary organized a cultural evening on 03/09/2024 with the theme “Patriotic commitment for peace”. No doubt, due to the fact that the evening was organized by the seminarians, the majority of consecrated people were present. The bishop of Bobo-Dioulasso was also there. The evening was marked by cultural diversity across the different ethnic groups of Burkina Faso. The seminarians presented a poem about peace which said that it is possible as long as we believe in it. We can learn this from nature filled with various species capable of experiencing unity and peace, like ants and bees. They also presented a drama about solidarity. The evening closed with the message from Bishop Paul Ouédraogo who said : The weapon of victory is solidarity, because true peace begins with our conversion at the level of our families, societies…