The wind blows where it will
It has been almost a year since I arrived in Malaga and I have not stopped discovering the wealth of faith and self-giving that many Christians here have. It suffices to approach the parishes, to meet the people in, after and during the liturgical celebrations, in order to feel in a number of them, the strong Christian roots which inhabit them. Yes, these people still have a thirst for God that only needs to be quenched. Wanting to integrate and create relationships, I chose to be part of the groups that already exist and that have their own facilitator. These are: life-sharing groups, Bible formation groups, gospel sharing groups, couples groups, Caritas groups, social pastoral groups, marriage preparation groups, etc. These groups meet faithfully every week. I admire their sense of belonging to the parish. The fraternal relationships between the members show that they have known each other for a…
Sharing our charism
Our community in Nouakchott, Mauritania, shares our charism with our collaborators and friends For some years now, we have been encouraged to share our MSOLA charism with lay people interested in getting to know us. Last year, our community in Nouakchott had already gathered some friends and collaborators around this theme and this year again, we thought of the feast of Our Lady of Africa to meet together. Long before, we had met as a community to reflect on this important event in our working year. The idea came to us to focus the reflection on our four apostolic orientations. Finally, the long-awaited big day arrived! On Saturday 29 April, about twenty of our friends and collaborators met in our house: the supervisors of the Maison du Quartier, people who have planted trees with us in different neighborhoods, members of the Islamic-Christian dialogue group, neighbours, students from the hassaniyya…
Mission Saturday at the MSOLA
First Saturday of the month and the first day of April, but not ‘April Fool’s day’ at all, because it was also our Mission Saturday. Whereas usually these meetings are held on the second Saturday the festive time changed the habit somewhat. We began the meeting with our friends by an encounter with the Word of God. We pondered and shared the Sunday Gospel. Then we took time to get to know each other, our names, countries of origin (it was multinational!). We sang a Lenten song in English and some even got the opportunity to try playing an African instrument. I don’t think it was easy at all! While munching on delicious snacks, we chatted with people we hadn’t seen for a month or more, or with new people. Holly then introduced herself to us, explaining the meaning of her name and talking about the country she comes from,…
Preparation for confirmation
Our parish of Badalabougou organised a formation program for the young people who are preparing for confirmation this year 2023. This meeting took place at Sacred Heart School in Bamako Jikoloni from 28 to 31 December 2022, with the participation of 126 children and 41 accompanists. I had the joy of accompanying the children of our Christian community in Kalabankura. The talks were on different themes: Baptism; the Commandments; Sin; the Bread of Life; Confirmation; the gifts of the Spirit. The children were attentive and interested in following the different teachings. After each talk the young people met in groups. Each group had two or three accompanists who helped them to deepen the theme and the questions asked. I appreciated the spirit of collaboration, sharing and attention during the different activities and also during the meal. There was a recreational evening where questions were asked and those who managed…
A Fruitful Visitation
Born in Switzerland, Bibiane Cattin was sent on mission to the Congo DRC where she remained for thirty-five years. She now lives in a retirement home in Fribourg and continues to live the spirit of our congregation. Here she tells us about one of her encounters. During my “pastoral visits” to the Home des Chênes, in Fribourg, I regularly meet Mrs. Edith (not her real name). She is 99 years old. One day, when I entered her room, I could not hide my astonishment to see on her table a Larousse Dictionary of 2022, some books and in particular, crosswords and other puzzles… Without introduction, she told me that she had just read a book by a Swiss exegete, Daniel Marguerat: “I have learned a lot about the Bible. Jesus experienced the same situation as many children today. He had no biological father. Certainly, the people of Nazareth knew…
Moving Forward Together towards the Peripheries
Sister Bibiane reports from Fribourg, Suisse, where since 2016, she has been part of a team of pastoral visitors to the Home des Chênes in the Parish where our community is located. This Home currently accommodates 83 elderly people from all over the canton of Fribourg. Here is her story: One day, the pastoral worker, responsible for our group, suggested that I start a gospel sharing group within the Home for the residents who would like it. Indeed, she was aware that I was already participating in a group the “Gospel at Home” in Fribourg.What are these “Gospel at Home” groups? These are small neighborhood groups that meet once a month, since 2011, using the booklet that bears the same name, in order to rediscover the Word of God in continuous reading. This year, the Gospel according to Matthew is offered.The moment of astonishment, of surprise passed, after having spoken…
A grandmother’s faith
It was June 26, the MSOLA community, like all the parishioners of Saint Jean-Baptiste de Sceaux, was invited to the big annual end-of-year party. It was for Agnès Nouyrigat, the occasion of a beautiful meeting. Our church being too small to contain all the parishioners, a large tent was erected by municipal employees in the garden of the Menagerie, which allowed everyone to participate in the Eucharistic celebration. The choir, accompanied by several instruments was able to motivate the assembly, with well-chosen and catchy songs. The celebration ended with the blessing of the families. I must say that this gesture for the families particularly moved me. It was touching to see coming before the priest: fathers, mothers and children, several kneeling to receive the blessing, then putting into a basket a prayer intention written by the family. An aperitif taken on the spot, still under the tent, allowed people to…
“Go to my vineyard, you too, and I will give you what is right”
I am Sr. Marie Ange Ndayishimiye, I am Burundian missionary in Mauritania. I am in my third year on this desert land, warm and endearing. I thank Jesus Christ who, by his goodness, made me hear his words of sending on mission: “go to my vineyard, you too, and I will give you what is right. “I went there, body and soul, and since then I have had no regrets. Mauritania, in addition to its dunes, is a beautiful country where certain ethnic groups raise cows, camels, sheep, goats, etc. In some places, such as Rosso, and in other villages, rice and vegetables are grown and, above all, there are places planted with date palms. Come and you will see how good the Lord is! There are a good number of Muslim families who ask us to pray for them. My presence here, like that of the whole Church, is…
I was in prison and you came to me
I am preparing for my visit to the prison. The sheets of the Word of God for next Sunday. The list of prisoners. Currently there are 20. Objects requested by others. Messages from families; super important to stay in touch, to continue to live with the family, often also to reconcile. In the end, I enter a lot into the lives of families. I discover people through relationships with their loved ones, wives, children, parents, friends. Saturday 2 p.m. I am ready. I go to the chapel. I ask the Lord: Send me. I’m going in your name. I leave the house, I walk towards the prison. It is a way of prayer, I say the rosary. It’s Saturday, so I’m still meditating on the glorious mysteries, life is reborn, joy after pain… I’m also talking to the angels to prepare the way ahead of me. I walk through the…
New Altar in Ouagadougou
This last month of the year has been marked by a happy event.