Missionary Month 2024
We start the Missionary Month 2024 with a prayer The most beautiful wedding between Earth and Heaven, is offered to us through Jesus. The Father invites everyone: “Come to the banquet!” Despite any indifference or refusal, let us go out tirelessly, let us reach out to people, to those who are far and distant: “Everyone is invited to the banquet!” Where we find joy and justice, sharing and fraternity. “Come to the most desired banquet!” Unconditional love calls us to be in communion with Him and with each other. Fr. Yoland Ouellet, OMI, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Francophone Canada Inspired by Pope Francis’ Message for World Mission Day 2024
Vocation animation in a residence for our Sisters
Vocation animation in our residence consists in keeping alive the missionary fire that will animate us until the end, remembering that we are MISSION by all that we are and do. We are fortunate to have a lay animator in our Cartierville retirement home in the person of Mrs. Josée Beaudet who organizes activities to animate meetings. She recently organized an African party where we were invited to wear our African dress (boubous), to dance to the sound of songs and drums, to have a drink of hibiscus and sweet doughnuts… all the residents were invited. The atmosphere was lively and it was a real treat for all. For Valentine’s Day, we draw pictures of Our Lady of Africa and hearts, and tried out our skills in modeling clay! Birthday gatherings are an opportunity for us to reminisce about our mission experiences which are always interesting. There are also…
MSOLA at Montreal intercultural center
Srs. Rita Toutant and Monique Bonnefoy, members of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, are often referred to as the “White Sisters” under the protection of Our Lady of Africa. This post is from an article in the National Catholic Reporter, here is the link to the article After many years spent as missionaries on the African continent, Toutant and Bonnefoy are back in Canada. However, the sisters’ contribution is far from over. They reside with the Missionaries of Africa, also known as the “White Fathers,” in a provincial missionary home in the heart of Montreal, where they continue to serve African immigrants as well as people of other nationalities who visit Centre Afrika. Our first activity is to welcome people without the need for an appointment. When our pioneers started the center, it was first to welcome Africans, but the mission has progressed to…
Center for the promotion of Women
Sr. Elisabeth Herkommer (in the pink cardigan) taught women to produce a precise and beautiful work in kabyl embroidery. Sr. Franceline Hien from the community of Hydra/Algiers, visited Sr Elisabeth in Larbaa-Nath Iraten The presence of the White Sisters in Kabylia has had a positive impact on the population who still value our presence, as a congregation, at their side. For around twenty years our sister Elisabeth has remained alone in Larbaa-Nath Iraten where she started this Berber embroidery and sewing training center. Training at the time lasted three years, to obtain a diploma as craftsman or instructor. Several women benefited from quality training which offered them work. Currently, the center operates with 14 women (Artisans and Instructors) Sunday April 21, I went to visit the center with the intention of writing this article in honor of our sister Elisabeth without realizing that shortly afterwards she was going…
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.…
“Sharing the path”
Young Tunisian girls and French Scouts with Sr. Speciosa (between the girls and the Scouts) and Sr. Rekha, a Missionary of the Immaculate on the far right. From our Sr. Spéciosa Mukagatare, Director of Caritas Tunisia “Sharing the path,” a place of collaboration and growth It was Palm Sunday, just after the celebration ushering Christians into Holy Week, while believers of Islam were halfway through the holy month of Ramadan. As a Lenten effort, the faithful of St Cyprien de la Marsa had collected non-perishable food items over the weeks, thinking of the poorer families in our working-class neighborhoods. The priest, Jawad Alamad, then proposed sending the young scouts on a mission to distribute to needy families the food collected during the Sundays of Lent. He contacted Caritas Tunisia to direct these young scouts towards the most needy families. The Caritas Tunisia team responsible for listening and…
Faith leaders invite you to the Season of Creation
Here is a link to the video of Faith Leaders inviting you to the Season of Creation 2024
Season of Creation Resources
Here is the link to the website with all the resources for the preparation and implementation of the Season of Creation activities: promotional, liturgical, etc… Deepen your Season of Creation experience by taking advantage of these free resources. Your event will have a bigger impact if the community is engaged and inspired. We invite you to use these resources to share the word with your church, invite the bishop or other regional authority to join the celebration, and even take the word to audiences outside your church by reaching local news outlets. Please feel free to use and adapt these materials any way that suits you. Resources
The art of collaboration
From Sr. Maite Oiartzun – Nshimirimana, Burundi Based on my experience, collaboration is an art. In the Trinity, source of inspiration and creativity, we are invited to contemplate the collaboration between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The bond that unites them is Love: “As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my Love… so that you bear fruit and your fruit endures.” John 15:9-16 Collaboration solely focused on human strengths is faced with fatigue, discouragement and sometimes the temptation to resign because collaboration can become a difficult mission. To persevere, I need to be rooted in the collaboration that Jesus of Nazareth developed with the disciples and with all of Creation. I note that three conditions are important for good collaboration: having a common objective, personal and group motivation and the deep desire to engage in a dynamic of giving…
The opening of a new foundation: The Ouarzazate community in Morocco
Sr. Maria Carmen Ocón Moreno, Sr. Rehema Toiwoki Kimesera, Sr Angela Kapitingana and Sr Maria Julia Alonso Martinez From Sr. Rehema Toiwoki Kimesera and Sr. Maria Carmen Ocón Moreno We are delighted to share with you that the official opening of the Ouarzazate community took place on Sunday 14 July. The ceremony took place in the only church that exists, St. Therese which is attached to the sister’s house. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero and, curiously, it was the only time since we have been here that there were no people other than the sisters, in this case our Congregational Leader, Sr Angela Kapitingana and Sr Maria Julia Alonso Martinez representing the NOUA leadership team and ourselves. It was probably a sign of how we are called to live our missionary presence in this place, with discretion and simplicity, but with great…