Returning to God with an open heart
As we celebrate the Third Sunday of Lent on 8 March, the scriptural readings highlight the themes of repentance, mercy and renewal. This Sunday asks us to fix our gaze on Christ and learn to cooperate with his grace. Let us open our hearts to the Lord; he will never abandon us. For many congregations, these readings serve as a powerful reminder of God’s love and the call to return to Him. They prompt us to reflect on how we can embody these themes in our daily lives, inviting us to consider our Lenten commitments and the sacrifices we have made. Invitation to Reflection Repentance first requires that we place our faith and hope in God. Repentance is often seen as an act of returning to God, a means of restoring our relationship with the divine. The call to repentance challenges us to be humble, to…
Living Lent with a Missionary Heart
Some Practical Ways to Live Your Faith Inspired by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa Lent is a season we often associate with sacrifice, giving something up, praying a little more, trying to be better. But what if Lent is not about giving up, but about opening up? Opening our hearts to God, to others, and to the world He loves. Inspired by the Ignatian spirituality of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa you can rediscover Lent as a time to grow roots in Christ and stretch out our hands in love. These are not only for religious sisters, they are a path for every baptized Christian. Deepening our relationship with Christ: The interior journey At the heart of MSOLA life is a personal relationship with Jesus. Mission begins in prayer. Without roots, a tree cannot grow; without prayer, our faith cannot bear…
We are entering the Lent
We are entering the Lent time and each liturgical season requires a different interior attitude on the part of the believer, a disposition of faith and heart that changes according to the feasts celebrated during that period and the moment in the life of Jesus or the Saints being commemorated. There is a time for waiting and a time for fulfillment, and this statement is truer than ever in the cycles and recurrences of the liturgical year, which have been repeated for centuries and involve all Christians. First of all, we can say that the liturgical year celebrates and renews the life of Jesus throughout the course of an entire year. The heart of the liturgical year is the Paschal Triduum, because it commemorates the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. The liturgical year begins with Advent and ends with the Solemnity of Christ the King, at…
In my heart I felt a great desire – a vocation story
Sister Angela Kapitingana is Tanzanian. Sha was several years in mission in Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Kenya and DRC. For 5 years she was a formator in the novitiate in Burkina. Currently she is the Superior General in Rome, Italy We asked her about her religious vocation. Here is her story Discovering my vocation was not easy but, in my heart, I had a desire to share my faith with people who have no family, especially orphans. I wanted to show that they are important in God’s eyes. Very early I lost my mother so I wanted to help my sister who did everything so that I could study. I worked hard at school until I had the opportunity to go to university. It was a decisive moment when I felt in my heart a need to get out of myself and reach out to others. I followed by…
Feast of Christ the King : a celebration of faith and commitment
As every year, Saint Joseph Parish in Nouakchott joyfully and prayerfully celebrated the Feast of Christ the King, a major event in the life of the Christian community. This solemn celebration, which marks the end of the liturgical year, reminds all the faithful that Christ is at the center of our lives and our mission. It also invites the community to look toward the future with confidence, placing our journey under the reign of love, peace, and justice of the Lord. On the occasion of the Feast of Christ the King, each association, movement, national community, and prayer group of the parish was represented by two members. These representatives were called to make a formal commitment on behalf of their groups to the service of the Church and Saint Joseph Parish. This symbolic yet deeply meaningful gesture expressed the desire of every group to actively contribute to parish life.…
An unexpected encounter with Mary at Međugorje
Shared by Sr. Lucy Nabweteme, of the community in Lublin, Poland On my return from the 36th International Youth Festival in Međugorje, when we were on the bus on our way back to Poland, our guide invited those who wished, to take the microphone and share their experience of Međugorje with everybody. At first nobody responded to this invitation. I was also not sure whether my vision was to be shared with many people or it was just for myself. I had time to pray in silence and ask Mary. Deep from within I felt the affirmation to go and share about it. Here I share it with you all as a testimony to the love of Mary. In Međugorje, on the 8th of August, during my personal prayer with the word of God for that day, (Deut 4:32–40), I felt an invitation to open myself to…
Jubilee of consecrated life – 8th and 9th October 2025
On the occasion of the Jubilee of consecrated life, which will be celebrated on the 8th and 9th October, we wish to remember the thoughts of our Venerable Mother Marie-Salome, who worked incessantly and with unwavering faith to strengthen our congregation. United in prayer to be religious after God’s own heart
The 36th International Youth Festival 2025 in Međugorje
By Sr. Lucy Nabweteme, Lublin Community, Poland I was entrusted by the Congregation with the mission of Missionary Vocation Animation (MVA) during my pilgrimage to Međugorje, on the occasion of the 36th International Youth Festival 2025, held from 4th to 8th August. Preparing for the Pilgrimage to Međugorje During the preparation for the pilgrimage, I experienced complications with travel documents and some fear about the mission ahead. However, I was deeply supported by my sisters in the community. On the 1st of August, at 3:30 am, we prayed together in our community chapel. The sisters blessed me, and we went to Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Lublin, where a special Mass was organized for all the pilgrims. The theme of the pilgrimage was: “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Ps 122:1). The Journey: A Time of Sharing and Prayer Once we boarded the bus and…
Bicentenary of Cardinal Lavigerie: Symposium at Tangaza University Honors His Missionary Legacy
Sr. Xaverine Mukasinga shares with us her participation of the event On the occasion of the bicentenary of the birth of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, a symposium was held on 20 September 2025 at Tangaza University in Nairobi. This event allowed us to pay tribute to the spiritual, human and missionary legacy of our founder. The day began with a Mass presided over by Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, who hailed Lavigerie as ‘one of the fruits of the Church’s rebirth after the French Revolution.’ In his homily, he recalled the power of the Cardinal’s witness. The symposium was organised jointly by the Missionaries of Africa, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa and the members of the association “Lavigerie Lay Movement of Nairobi”, which lives out the founder’s charism in daily life. Cardinal Lavigerie’s commitment to the abolition of slavery was also…
Celebrating the Anniversary of Cardinal Lavigerie in Trier: A Day of Remembrance and Fellowship
From our Sisters in Germany On July 9th, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa and the White Fathers gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, their founder. The event took place at the Abbey of St. Matthias in Trier, a place rich in history and spirituality, where many community gatherings have already been held — jubilees, funerals, and annual meetings. Honoring Cardinal Lavigerie in chorus with our many ancestors. This special day took on even greater meaning as the sisters also paid tribute to Sister Katharina Kirsch, who had passed away just days earlier. To avoid too much travel in the summer heat — especially considering the age of many participants — the sisters chose to unite the celebration of resurrection with the commemoration of Cardinal Lavigerie’s birth. A solemn Mass was held in their memory, in an atmosphere filled…