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…
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…
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…
The collaboration of MSOLA with UISG
In the past many of our sisters have collaborated with the International Union of Superiors General, in the past Sr Carmen Sammut as President, and today Sr Angela Kapitingana as a member of the Council and Sr Maamalifar Poreku in the JPIC Commission. The UISG aims to promote a wider and deeper understanding of women’s religious life in all its diversity and complexity. UISG highlights the richness of the different charisms that inspire congregations and demonstrates the diversity that flourishes among members of religious congregations, including differences in cultural backgrounds, perspectives, experiences and skills. It shares stories of the care and tenderness that sisters bring to those around them on a daily basis, often in very demanding contexts. The Talitha Kum network, in which many of our sisters collaborate, was officially founded in 2009 by the International Union of Superiors General, in order to play an active part…
A year with Cardinal Lavigerie in Kenya
Interview à Radio Maria de Nairobi avec Sr Christine Bahati Safi, le père Innocent Maganya M.Afr. et monsieur Frank du groupe Lavigerie du Kenya Sr. Xaverine Mukansinga, Nairobi, Kenya “Ending human trafficking is a mission that requires collaboration,” This phrase was reiterated by speakers at an awareness-raising event on human trafficking. It was the theme chosen for the occasion reflecting the spirit of our founder. It helped to raise awareness, his impact on the Church, and his commitment to the world of his time. This event was organized by the Missionaries of Africa, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, and the Lavigerie Family in Kenya. It was held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, South B, Archdiocese of Nairobi, on March 15, 2025. In the afternoon, those present were made aware of the reality of human trafficking. This event was highlighted by the presence of…
Jubilee of Consacrated Life in Arua, Uganda
By Sr. Magdalena Orczykowska, Ukusijoni community, Uganda On 2 February, the Diocese of Arua was filled with joy as we celebrated the Jubilee of Consecrated Life. The celebration took place in the context of the Jubilee Year we are celebrating in the whole Church throughout the world under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”. This special occasion brought together many religious from different congregations, as well as the lay faithful who pray in the Cathedral parish, underlining the living tapestry of faith that enriches our Diocese. The main celebration was preceded by a day of reflection led by the Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Diocese of Arua. He led us in a reflection on the meaning of the Jubilee and this year’s theme, its impact on our lives and the importance of reconciliation. The highlight of the gathering was the Mass presided over by our Bishop, who…
Closing of the Jubilee of 125 years of Evangelisation in Burkina Faso
A report from our communities in Burkina Faso The festivities started in 2023 found us finally on February 16, 2025, at the Shrine of Notre Dame de Yagma. The Eucharistic celebration was presided by Pope Francis’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The theme was “The Church, Family of God in Burkina Faso: 125 Years of Evangelization, Assessment of Pastoral Options, and Prospects for a New Beginning.” The faithful came from all over the country, as well as delegations from other countries. Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco of Algiers, created cardinal a few months ago, came with a 13-member delegation. A Missionary of Africa, Father Guy Sawadogo, a young M. Afr in training, a sister of the Immaculate Conception from Ouagadougou, and another sister of the Annunciation from Bobo-Dioulasso were part of the convoy. “A great field to harvest, a vineyard to gather, God now calls for his harvest! A…
Remembering Pope Francis
In these days of mourning for the Church and the world we want to remember Pope Francis in the meeting he granted to our congregations, Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa and Missionaries of Africa. This meeting took place in the Vatican on 8 February 2019 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of our foundation. SOME EXTRACTS OF THE POPE’S SPEECH: Dear brothers and sisters, It is with great joy that I welcome you as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Missionaries of Africa and the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. In thanking your Superiors General for the words they have addressed to me, I wish to express to you my cordial greetings and my spiritual closeness, as well as through you to all the members of your Institutes, present in Africa…
Experience of being Mission
Sr. Sylviane Rouamba, Dar es salaam community, Tanzania St. Charles Lwanga Parish and its pastoral team offer different activities to the people; among others those of the Salome Learning Centre. As our founder Cardinal Charles Lavigerie used to say: Be apostles, be nothing but apostles or, at least be nothing else except with this in view’’. This was his deepest wish for his missionaries. Dear brothers and sisters, it is with joy that I am sharing about two points: Being an apostle, being mission, and also, my mission in Dar es Salaam. Who is an apostle? An apostle is someone who is on pilgrimage or someone who is on a journey looking for holiness, a journey looking for God through people, a journey of imitating Christ and doing his mission. What is the meaning of mission? A mission is a service or a call we have…