“Abide in Me”: Beginning Our Juniorate Journey
Sisters Keneema Anosiata, Olive Nihorimbere, Dusenge Domina, Tusiime Donatira The juniorate is a stage preparing for the final commitment in the Congregation. It’s a time of deepening spiritual life, growing in freedom, and integrating one’s life to commit fully to the Lord and His mission. It is also a time of confirming one’s vocation to follow Christ in religious missionary life. Four sisters who began this stage of formation in September 2026 share with us their experiences at the beginning of this journey. By the Sisters of the Juniorate We are delighted to share with you our first experience of travelling to Rome, where we all arrived on the same day, 31st August. We travelled from three countries, but from four communities: Dusenge Domina from Algeria, Ghardaïa community, Olive Nihorimbere from Mauritania, Nouakchott community, Tusiime Donatira from Bunamwaya community and Keneema Anosiata from South B community, Kenya, both travelling from…
Taking root in Christ, the source of our charism
The sisters on temporary vows of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (SMNDA) took part in a period of formation, sharing and renewal centred on the theme: ‘Taking root in Christ, the source of our charism’. This took place during their meeting organised by the General Council. It was held in Ouagadougou, at the monastery of the Benedictine monks of Koubri, from 16 to 30 July 2026. Sister Nadine Nana, from the Ouagadougou community, gratefully shares the fruits of this session. The session was led by Sister Jeanne d’Arc, Assistant General on behalf of the Council, together with Sisters Margaret Kibola, Carmen Sammut and Vickness Muleya, who accompanied us throughout the session and the retreat. The Mission Committee also contributed to this gathering. We express our deep gratitude to them for their availability and commitment. The theme of the session was explored in depth through…
I call you friends – first religious commitment
The newly professed Sisters Mary John Mwongeli, Georgiana Aheisibwe and Evelyne Niyomwungere “It is not you who chose me but I who chose you.” Jn 15 :16 Our newly professed sisters share with us the experience of their first profession day We would like to share what the Lord has done for us by trusting us to be His friends and by sending us to His mission on February 11th 2026. This was not an ordinary day for us but rather an unforgettable day, full of joy and gratitude to God for calling us to be members of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. This religious family helped us to journey and discover God’s love for us by following the example of Abraham’s call and the first disciples. Before the celebration, one of us kept telling God: I have heard you call me friend, and I…
A presentation of our community in Burundi
A presentation of our community in Gitega, Burundi Greetings from Burundi, the land of a thousand hills and a thousand smiles. In Gitega we are a community of three sisters: Anastasie Muzinga from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Maite Oiartzun from Spain and Nathalie Wendata Sedego from Burkina Faso. With us there are six young Burundian pre-postulants who are at the first stage of formation, one pre-postulant who has just begun to improve her French and one young aspirant who is experiencing community life. We bear witness to our international character; we are an intercultural missionary family dedicated to the mission. This is a great treasure that we share amongst the people to whom we are sent. We are a community dedicated to the formation of new sisters. We all work together to help young people grow in our MSOLA missionary vocation. We give thanks to…
We hold a treasure in fragile pots
Sister Julienne with an aspirant and her parents Shared by Sr. Julienne Bouda, Ukusijoni community, Uganda Missionary and Vocation Animation is a ministry that awakens the missionary spirit in people and helps them discern and respond to God’s call. It is also a ministry of encounter, where we meet people in their unique cultures, histories, and life situations and witness the love of God. What often touches my heart is the reaction of parents when their children express the desire to enter religious life. Some struggle to accept the decision, while others entrust their children to us with deep love and concern, asking us to care for them. Their words remind me that every vocation is precious and that every young person who comes to us is a seed of hope entrusted to our care. Through family visits and accompaniment, I have come to appreciate the sacredness of God’s…
A Volunteering Family’s Mission Experience in Ghana
Ewa Kaznowska-Ponczek from Lublin, Poland, together with her husband and two daughters, spent time volunteering among some of the most vulnerable people in Ghana, West Africa. We are an ordinary family from Lublin, focused on everyday life—raising two teenage daughters (aged 12 and 15) and managing our professional responsibilities. Despite our busy schedules, we try to help others, both out of compassion and to teach our children empathy and sensitivity to the needs of others. This desire inspired us to volunteer abroad. Through Sister Celina Natanek, we had the opportunity to serve with the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (White Sisters) in Ghana after a year of preparation. Once a month, we attended formation meetings where we studied the Bible, reflected on our motivations, and listened to people with missionary experience. We learned to be open to the unknown and to let go of expectations. We were encouraged…
First Religious Profession
We invite you to pray with us for the First Religious Profession of Evelyne, Georgiana and Mary After a long journey of deep reflection and discernment they confirmed their vocation and are joining our congregations and missionary life They went through an intensive period of formation. And were progressively and more deeply initiated into the essential aspects of our religious missionary life, through accompaniment and the experience of an international and intercultural community. During this formation they Have deepened their knowledge of the Christian faith and prayer and developed greater intimacy with Christ; Have grown in inner freedom and responsibility and learned the foundational aspects of human development; Have learned to be open to other cultures, values and learned the languages of the Congregation (English and French) Acquired the ability to discern the authenticity of God’s call, by entering fully into the spirit of the Congregation and to…
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…
Cardinal Lavigerie and the foundation of women congregations
At the symposium held at Tangaza University in Nairobi on 20 September 2025 to celebrate the bicentenary of Cardinal Lavigerie, Sr Hélène Mbuyamba, MSOLA, gave a presentation highlighting the cardinal’s role in the creation of women’s congregations Here is an abstract from the conference of Sr Hélène Mbuyamba, MSOLA At a time when the role of women was limited to domestic and family tasks, Cardinal Lavigerie made clear that for him the apostolate of women was an indispensable complement to the apostolate of men. As a man of faith, broad-minded and endowed with extraordinary vision and foresight, he understood the importance of women’s apostolate among women and recognized their vital role in transforming society. Even women who rarely left their homes were still at the heart of their households and it is in the home that women shape the society of tomorrow. Sisters could reach them and help…
Let us move forward, family of Lavigerie
For Lavigerie’s bicentenary, celebrate his legacy of faith and commitment to the African peoples by drawing inspiration from his missionary zeal, courage and faith, and focusing on his legacy of human dignity. The theme for the bicentenary year was For a passionate and renewed commitment to the African peoples’