The disastrous effects of the Mining Industry in Africa
Africa is rich in reserves of minerals. It is a leading producer of gold and coltan (used in electronic devices) and other minerals.
An old Catechist
As for me, I do not have a great devotion for cemeteries, but would go to his tomb each time I returned to Ipusukilo. In 1950, I arrived in Ipusukilo, Northern Rhodesia, Zambia. As a good White Sister, the first thing to do was to learn the Bemba language. My teacher, (at that time there were no language courses), was Sister Séraphine, one of the four Sisters of the first caravan of Sisters to arrive in Northern Rhodesia. In the afternoon, I went to Lubilo village to practice speaking with Gabrieli Kawimbe. Holding the hand of a patient, or of a dying person: this act makes all the difference. Old Gabrieli had understood this.Gabrieli was an elderly man. I found him still seated on his deck-chair made of animal skins and reciting his rosary. He had been one of the first catechists of Bishop (Moto-Moto) Dupont, the Bishop King of…
I discovered an intimate face of Islam
At the beginning of my stay in Paris, a happy event led me to discover the existence of a spiritual-sharing-group at the great mosque in Paris which met under the theme “Enter into the intimacy of the Koranic universe.” It is true that I could not imagine spending a school year in Paris without trying to meet with the Muslim community in France -I who lived 17 years in Algeria where I very much appreciated the welcome of Muslim friends and families. I carried within me the desire to meet the Muslim minority living in Paris. With the goal of sharing our lived experience, our host ensured that exchanges did not become discussions, but that we would all seek to discover how God speaks to us in our life, how God’s word inspires, how God reveals himself through the Qur’an. The group was very diverse, consisting of people…
To give the best of ourselves
We are six sisters in Málaga. Each one, according to our possibilities answers the calls we see in our environment and in line with the charism of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. We strive to give the best of ourselves so that the Kingdom of God might grow. Lola and Juanita go to visit the homeless gathered in a Caritas house. They are happy to be able to meet these people and show interest in their lives. Féli gives Spanish lessons to immigrant women in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. She is happy to share her faith above all through her witness. Carmen serves in an Oxfam Intermom which struggles for justice and universal rights. Josepha deals with immigrants, with the sick and she participates in the work of Caritas in the parish. As for me I work in the General Services of…
Surprised by the Spirit… twice!
In defining our new Community Apostolic Project we of Winooski were very pleasantly surprised by what happened. We are seven, of very different characters and personalities and often find it difficult to come to consensus. Some are independent living and others needing infirmary care. However one sister suggested that what was needed was a new word carrying a new emphasis. After a pause, she proposed that HOPE was becoming very meaningful to her and could be such a word. The idea was contagious. It was as if it passed from one to the other, each one endorsing it. It was easily translated into “becoming a Messenger of Hope”. We all liked that. Then we could almost feel the invisible Spirit spelling out to each one the direction she could take. One said it could only be according to her own gifts and her God-given strength which varied from day to…
Rally in London: alert on climate change!
We were 4 Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa – that is to say – Florence, Harriet, Laurence and I went to the big lobby on Climate Change at Westminster. Laurence took these photos of us waiting to meet our M.P. and of me talking to her.. Her name is Rupa Huq and do you know that I spoke to her about how climate change affects Migration… the advance of the desert and the submerging of the islands.. She agreed very strongly.. As you see she is of Asian descent and she spoke about her homeland which has been threatened by flooding for many years.. 17th June 2015, Sr Marie
Relations Africa – Europe
Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN) AEFJN is a Christian Network that strives to eliminate injustice and to promote Equity and Economic Justice in the relations between Europe and Africa. We do that by lobbying (working towards promoting just legislation and transforming the laws that cause Injustice and poverty). The members are Catholic International religious Congregations working in Africa and in Europe. About 80,000 persons in Africa and Europe are involved directly or indirectly in the activities of AEFJN. The International Secretariat in Brussels lobbies the European Union while the 11 national antennae in Africa and Europe lobby the national Governments and Parliaments. AEFJN was born in 1988 from two calls The deteriorating of the economic situation in Africa, despite developments efforts, and the call of missionary congregations to transform that situation. The call of Pope John Paul II to the missionaries to be present…
Migrants in the Algerian desert
Already two weeks ago I wanted to write something about a particular adventure – an adventure about migration; an adventure about human encounter. It is still possible to have beautiful encounters, free encounters, transforming encounters. Ghardaia, November 2013, the first hints of rain, little drizzles in the evening. The day is sunny and fresh, otherwise cold! The small desert offers its stones to the sun’s rays as if to suck the heat and keep it for the nights, already difficult to bear without shelter. The Algerian cities have been visited for the past year by unusual people, women and children from the south, begging by day, disappearing at night. At first like the war-refugees from Mali, then recognized as Nigerians, their presence questioned, sometimes disturbing, often leading to compassion. Algerian Associations mobilize quickly to bring them food, especially when cold attacks these scantily clad people. Some newspapers write about them.…