Miracles of Mother Marie Salomé, an invitation…
On March 3, we celebrated the 175th birthday of our Venerable Mother Marie Salomé. I felt an inner call to share with others the example of the life of holiness of our Mother Salomé. With our newest community in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the St Julien community, we have decided to invite our neighbours from the basic Christian community, St Julien CCB, and the nearest community of the Missionaries of Africa of the parish of Saint John XXIII. Being new to the neighbourhood, we couldn’t imagine what it would be like. We shared the tasks: invitations, liturgy, and reception. Already in the preparations, we were unanimous. The day far exceeded our expectations. The community of our brothers, the White Fathers was complete. Around 60 of our neighbours came. Our joy was immense. Mother Marie Salomé gave us two unexpected gifts. After the rosary with her thoughts, we had on the program…
Solwodi-Germany shares with Solwodi-Kenya during the Coronavirus
SOLWODI had to adapt to the coronavirus. Many appointments and events had to be canceled or postponed. We have limited our work or reorganized it into telecommuting. But, we remain reachable for women in distress. In these difficult times, this is more important than ever. In the previous weeks, we have received more appeal calls from women victims of violence in their homes. In Germany, despite the closing of brothels on March 16, prostitution continues and affected women are asking us for help, because their situation has worsened. The Covid-19 has made it clear that a long-term political solution must be found and that it is absolutely necessary to introduce a ban on the purchase of sex acts at European level. In this regard, we have addressed an open letter to Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. For Africa and for SOLWODI Kenya, the coronavirus…
Apostolate in the peripheries
Our sister Cecylia Bachalska, from the community of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) tells us about her apostolate in the outskirts of the city and of life …
Solidarity in Delwende during Covid-19
MSOLA community of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) Sr Vickness Nangongo Muleya, MSOLA. In Delwende (Ouagadougou) Sr Vickness Nangogo Muleya, director of the Delwende Center in Sakoula, asked to stay at the center during the pandemic, in order to accompany the rejected women accused of witchcraft and to ensure their protection against Covid-19. The Delwende center welcomes mostly women, but there is also a few men who have been chased from their villages accused of witchcraft. Sr Vickness shares her experience: « I saw their faces light up and at the same time they were surprised that I came to stay with them at this difficult time. They were surprised to see me there the whole day and night but their faces were shining. In my heart it was like a dream and I was in awe of what was happening. The first night I prayed in the hangar because my room was…
Beginning of a transformation at Kinteko
Sr Leocadie Kana, Msola community of Butare (Rwanda) Kinteko, a subparish of the cathedral, is not far from our Butare community. Despite being close to the town, its population is very peripheral, with plenty of unemployed young people and many young single mothers. They are known to be very difficult and very poor materially, humanly and spiritually. Material poverty adds a heavy burden to the difficulties of family life which sometimes becomes hell. The first victims, the children, desert the family home while very young to live adventures in the city, turn to drugs , become criminals and an easy prey of human traffickers. The population of Kinteko is somehow left to itself. No religious was working in that area. Touched by this reality, our community reflected about it, and we decided to do something with the women and young people. Sr Leocadie meets the women and young people in Kinteko..…
Missionary Month: the beauty of Malian women according to Sr. Marie Vincente Brouca
Missionary Month: the beauty of Malian women according to Sr. Marie Vincente Brouca
Missionary Month: witness of Sr. Marcelle Gaborit
Missionary Month: witness of Sr. Marcelle Gaborit
Missionary Month: witness of life of Sr. Marie André du Sacré Coeur
Missionary Month: witness of life of Sr. Marie André du Sacré Coeur Pope Francis proclaimed an Extraordinary Missionary Month in October 2019 and placed it under the theme “Baptized and sent: the Church of Christ in mission in the world”. He invites all the baptized to live this time in four dimensions: the encounter with Jesus, missionary witness, formation in mission and missionary solidarity. Throughout this month we invite you to discover some missionary testimonies of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. Today, we present to you the portrait of Sr. Marie André du Sacré Coeur who lived her missionary life as a woman apostle for the defense of women’s rights. Sr. Marie André du Sacré Cœur (1899-1988) Sister Marie André du Sacré Cœur had a doctorate in law when she entered our Congregation in 1922. Thinking that her studies in law would not be useful in Africa,…
Meeting of the “Our Lady of Africa Family”
On Saturday, May 11th, 2019, when the Plenary Assembly of the UISG (International Union of Superiors General) was finished, the community of Rome welcomed twenty Superiors General of the ‘Family of Our Lady of Africa’. They spent the day working with the General Council, focusing on various points of common interest. Looking back on the UISG meeting, which had as its theme ‘Sowers of Prophetic Hope’, many highlighted the awareness they had gained and the concrete commitments already made. Through these, we were equipped to raise awareness on how we can either take care of the environment or destroy it. Some examples of actions were cited: planting trees and reforestation; educate children in our schools to respect and care for creation; make people aware of how to improve their environment, especially regarding forests; support the projects of those who are working for the same cause and collaborate with them. Dialogue…
Pope Francis: Free women from the slavery of prostitution
Pope Francis contributes the preface to a new book on human trafficking, entitled « Women crucified”, by Fr Aldo Buonaiuto, a priest of the Pope John XXIII Community. The shame of human trafficking as told from the street ». In the preface, Pope Francis recalls one of his Mercy Friday visits to a house run by the Pope John XXIII Community for victims of human trafficking. “I did not think I would find such humiliated, afflicted and suffering women there”, writes the Pope. “Truly, women crucified”. Pope Francis describes listening to “the moving and very human stories of these unfortunate women, some of them with their child in their arms”. Afterwards, he says he felt the need to “ask forgiveness for the real tortures they had to endure because of their clients, many of whom call themselves Christian”. Rescue and rehabilitation “A person can never be offered for sale”, writes the Pope.…