Missionary Month 2024
We start the Missionary Month 2024 with a prayer The most beautiful wedding between Earth and Heaven, is offered to us through Jesus. The Father invites everyone: “Come to the banquet!” Despite any indifference or refusal, let us go out tirelessly, let us reach out to people, to those who are far and distant: “Everyone is invited to the banquet!” Where we find joy and justice, sharing and fraternity. “Come to the most desired banquet!” Unconditional love calls us to be in communion with Him and with each other. Fr. Yoland Ouellet, OMI, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Francophone Canada Inspired by Pope Francis’ Message for World Mission Day 2024
One invited… many came…
Sr. Margret (left) with the journalist who made the interview Shared by Sr. Margret Tovar, Trier, Germany The birthday of my cousin was celebrated in a splendid setting near Frankfurt / Main on May 1st, 2024. In the invitation he had requested that instead of gifts people could make donations for the missionary work of the White Sisters. At the reception in the park of the golf club, I had a conversation with a journalist who wanted to find out more about our community and our different activities in Africa. We agreed to meet after lunch to discuss this. But then another opportunity presented itself. My cousin gave a speech during lunch in which, among other things, he briefly mentioned our African mission and asked me to say something about it. I spontaneously thought of the journalist among the guests who wanted to know more about the…
Message for the care of Creation
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION 1st September 2024 Hope and Act with Creation Dear Brothers and Sisters! “Hope and Act with Creation” is the theme of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to be held on 1 September 2024. The theme is drawn from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:19-25), where the Apostle explains what it means for us to live according to the Spirit and focuses on the sure hope of salvation that is born of faith, namely, newness of life in Christ. 1. Let us begin with a question, one perhaps without an immediately obvious answer. If we are truly believers, how did we come to have faith? It is not simply because we believe in something transcendent, beyond the power of reason, the unattainable mystery of a distant and…
A French Guide to St. Louis in Carthage
From our sister Cécile Dilé In the spring of 2024, I had the pleasure of making my small contribution to the training of the cultural mediators who give tours of the former basilica of Carthage. Their many questions inspired me to write this booklet. The texts are short, with anecdotes, personal accounts and lots of photos. This booklet has been written so that visitors who have it in their hands can enjoy the aesthetic and/or spiritual experience to which this great cultural site invites us. The booklet can be ordered through email to the author at sblamarsa@gmail.com Here you can download the cover and index of the booklet
Jubilee Celebration in Brussels
From our Sister Monique Bonami What a joy it was on Saturday August 19 to gather around the 3 jubilarians of the year: Sr Irma Declerq: 75 years of religious life, Sr Patricia Massart: 65 and Sr Marie-Paule Schiltz: 50. Early in the morning, our coordinator Claire and her husband Kim went to pick up Irma in Oostkamp (Bruges). Patricia came from Eureka (Evere) and Marie-Paule is on site: Evere St Joseph where we have 4 sites. An elevator breakdown gave us the opportunity to go not to the chapel, but to the dining room of the Sisters of the 3rd floor, which was well decorated for the occasion, and it was more familiar! Father Luc de l’Arbre, Miss. d’Afrique, celebrated the Eucharist, which began with the beautiful hymn “Jubilez, criez de joie”. We continued alternating between French and Flemish, ending with a song in Alur, a language of…
Golden jubilee celebration for Sister Bijundi Bashige
Report by Sister Mariette Macozi, for the Kinshasa community Following the announcement of Sister Bijundi’s appointment to Bukavu, we were looking for a simple way to say goodbye. The conditions being right, we combined her farewell with the celebration of her 50 years of religious consecration as MSOLA. The small number in our community was not an obstacle for us to mark this important day for our sister. Given the limited space available to welcome a large number of guests in our home, we approached our brothers the Missionaries of Africa to welcome us to their home for this important celebration. Once we had obtained their agreement, we asked their young people to help us lead the mass. Many people responded positively to our invitation. We had initially asked Father Ange Kufwakuziku, SVD (Director General of the organization for the Reclassification and Protection of Street Children – ORPER) to…
Prayer for compassion
God our Creator, we pray to you: To us who are far from those we love, that we are reminded to find ways to be your love and tenderness for our neighbor. May the restrictions we know remind us of the daily challenges to human dignity, life and fundamental security that so many women, men and children in our world go through. We who are healthy, Let us remember those who do not have access to basic health care. We who restrict our movements, let us remember those who have no refuge to go to. We who have a social safety net, let us remember our sisters and brothers whose situation is getting worse. That the concern we feel for the lives of our elders encourage us to love and cherish every person that we meet every day. In the face of fear, let us choose love, peace and hope.…
Decoration
On January 31, 2023, Sister Vickness N. Muleya, in charge of the Delwendé Center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, was decorated for her commitment and dedication in the apostolate with vulnerable women. The Burkinabé State thus wanted to express its gratitude to the Church for its participation in the development of the country and the Burkinabé people. Sr Vickness was made a ‘Knight of the Order of the Stallion’. The ceremony took place at the Grand Chancellery in the presence of His Eminence Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Ouagadougou. The decoration was presented by the Chancellor. The Cardinal thanked the State and all its collaborators for having recognized the effort of the Church throughout the history of the country. He is grateful to the daughters and sons of Lavigerie for their role in the evangelization of the Burkinabe people: he recalled that it is thanks to them that the Church…
I have been very blessed in my life
Sister Françoise Dillies, currently in the Ehpad St Jean in Lille, has spent most of her life in Kabylia. When an opportunity arose, she spontaneously accepted to be photographed dressed as a “Kabyle woman” and with great simplicity, she let her heart speak and told us how happy she is to have lived with the women of this country. I have been very blessed in my life because I have only served in Kabylia where I learned the Kabyle language which is not easy; this was with Sister Madeleine Alain, the great linguist. We were a small group and so it was like private lessons well adapted to each one. I began my journey by teaching at the elementary school in Beni-Yeni, for a couple of years. Then I was asked to come to France for a while. After that, I had the chance to return to Beni-Yeni. Because…
The prayer against human trafficking
Let us pray: Saint Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child and endured unspeakable hardship and suffering. Once liberated from your physical enslavement, you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church. O Saint Josephine Bakhita, assist all those who are entrapped in slavery; Intercede on their behalf with the God of Mercy so that the chains of their captivity will be broken. May God himself free all those who have been threatened, wounded or mistreated by the trade and trafficking of human beings. Bring comfort to survivors of this slavery and teach them to look to Jesus as an example of hope and faith so that they may find healing from their wounds. We ask you to pray for us and to intercede on behalf of us all: that we may not fall into indifference, that we may open our eyes and…