The impact of who we are and what we do
“Our personal encounter with the Risen Lord empowers us to be sent and to live as witnesses.” (Capitular Acts 2023, page 24) Shared by Sr. Redempta Kabahweza, Malindi Community Kenya Malindi Community celebrates 10 years of existence this year 2025. Through these years, we have witnessed God at work in us and around us. Living at the Pope Francis Rescue Center with children who have been sexually abused has been a challenge to us and sometimes we feel helpless and overpowered by the situation. However, just being present to the suffering, even sometimes in silence, means a lot and changes situations. For example, we have had a number of cases where the girls are sexually abused by their own fathers and end up with child. Such girls go through a lot of emotional pain which sometimes leads them to have unpleasant behaviors, for example, rudeness, refusing to eat,…
A precious gift to the Deli Health Center
shared by Sr Nathalie W. Sedogo Our Health Center in Deli is on an easily accessible axis, so we regularly receive multiple supervisions. During the month of December, we received a routine Supervision Team and we worked with them throughout the morning. We had to answer a good number of questions related to SONU activities: (Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care). This activity aims to strengthen the skills of health personnel in order to ensure quality care for the mother, and the newborn, through early screening and prevention as well as adequate treatment of obstetric and neonatal complications. The team focused on our registers and monthly reports to see the consistencies and areas for improvement. After this step, the Supervision Team asked to visit the maternity ward. When they saw our delivery tables, they were disappointed and here is the reaction of one of the team: “You work well overall…
Monique and Mariana
Here’s a nice little video in French featuring our sister Monique Vien, interviewed by one of Quebec’s most popular artists, Mariana Mazza, who is also known for her legendary fieriness! The young comedian, actress and author Mariana has quite a life story! Born in Quebec to a Lebanese mother and Uruguayan father, she also has Italian and Brazilian grandparents and a Quebec father-in-law. A multicultural environment that echoes our congregation, with sisters of 30 different nationalities! Monique Vien, 50 years older than Mariana, and with experience accumulated in her apostolate in Zambia, Malawi and Algeria (among others), stands up to her in a humorous interview that is also full of truth and tenderness.
At the Pan Bila Centre
Shared by Philogène TEBABO LINGANAISO, postulant I would like to share with you my experience at the Pan Bila center of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. I started my apostolate there in June 2024. This center welcomes single mothers or those who have fled a forced marriage. The aim is to reunite them with their families or to study and become responsible and assume their role in society. In our country Burkina Faso, there is a tribe where, according to its culture, if a girl becomes pregnant out of wedlock, her family will chase her away. She cannot meet her father or brothers until she gives birth; if she does it is believed that they will die. At first, it was a little difficult for me to work with these girls because of the language barrier and it was also difficult to gain their trust, so the only…
International Women’s Day 2025
Photographer Esther Ruth Mbabazi took this image in Juba, South Sudan, in September 2018, when the country was at war, yet ‘these graduates were full of hope for a brighter future’ On 8 March 2025, join us to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This year’s theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change. This article is a collection of memories, quotes and resources to celebrate International Women’s Day together, from the websites of the United Nations and the Vatican. Sr Oluwakemi Akinleye fsp – Vatican City writes: The journey towards an International Women’s Day began in the 1900s in New York and…
Ambassadors of hope: together against human trafficking
Ambassadors of hope: together against human trafficking Every year on 8 February, in the liturgical memory of Saint Bakhita, we celebrate the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. People on all continents unite their prayers against human trafficking. Among them, we, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, as members of Talitha Kum, the international network of religious against human trafficking. Join us and other Ambassadors of Hope in praying against human trafficking. Join the Online Pilgrimage of Prayer and Awareness against human trafficking on the 7th of February. For more information and prayer materials visit preghieracontrotratta.org
Unspoken voices of women in Maaji Refugee Settlments
By Sr. Julienne Bouda, Ukusijoni Community, Uganda Amidst the large population of Maaji Refugee Settlements, the majority are children, women and youth, with fewer men. Some are widows, but others have husbands in South Sudan who are working to help their families in Uganda, which is sometimes not obvious. So women remain the breadwinners. This is a challenge for many who try their best to earn a living by doing casual work, renting land for farming, brewing the local beer or relying on the little or nothing their husbands can send. This makes it very difficult to provide for their children’s formal education, health, food and clothing. A family in Maaji is made up of relatives, but also of adopted orphaned children who were separated from their families while fleeing the war. Nowadays, life is even harder for the refugee women, as the UNHCR ratios are…
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…
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…
International Women’s Day in Ghana
Sr Agathe Ngendakumana shares her celebration of International Women’s Day in Gumo, Ghana It was a first in Gumo! For several months, I had dreamed of going to see the women of Gumo, to get to know them and celebrate their international day. Questions came to me from the bottom of my heart: Agathe, is this possible in Gumo? Agathe, are you ready to take a step? To risk? The answer was “Yes, Courage!” He is with you who sends you.” After a time of observation, listening and meditation, I informed my community of this project. Then I informed the women of our Christian community. They received the news very well. One of them volunteered to continue the reflection with me and find two Muslim women who would help us inform groups or small associations here in the village. I also informed Mr. James, the leader of the…