Celebrating 150 years: The reopening of the “The White Caravan” exhibition in the Netherlands
The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa in the Netherlands reopened the exhibition “The White Caravan” in the Religious Heritage Center of St. Agatha – a little village near Cuijk/Nijmegen. The exhibition was prepared for the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the “Lavigerie Family” (the Missionaries of Africa and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa). On well prepared panels you can read the history of both Congregations in the Netherlands during the past 150 years and their missionary work in Africa. There are many African items such as: drums, textile prints, gifts, wooden animals or books, old cashbooks, chronicles, magazines, annual reports, letters, saving boxes for the mission, old suitcases, a motorbike, the old costumes of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa and the Missionaries of Africa, paintings, drawings of missionaries and Our Lady of Africa, as well as many old movies…
An MSOLA in Togo, a novelty, a call!
An open door to Togo: In December 2017, I had the opportunity to go to Atakpamé, in Togo and participate in the ordination of Father Amorain Kwami Welagnon WAYIKPO – one of our brothers of the Missionaries of Africa. At the same time, it was a great opportunity to share with the Togolese people about our charism and our mission. Our Togolese brother Amorain, Missionary of Africa: On December 30, Amorain was ordained a priest in the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul of Kougnohou. It was a very beautiful celebration during which the bishop, Mgr. Nicodemus Anani BARRIGAH-BENISSAN, called him to persevere in his vocation by being faithful to prayer, living in humility, loving the mission and the people among whom he is sent. Our brother Amorain was sent on a mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the end of the celebration, I sang the Sancta Maria…
A special experience in Tunis
A special experience beyond cultural and religious differences Testimony of Sylvie: I responded with enthusiasm to the invitation of the “White Sisters” of Tunis to set out to discover the Church of Tunisia. A Living Church: During our stay, I discovered a living Church thanks to our different encounters: with catholics from sub-Saharan Africa studying in Tunis, Christian expatriates lay or not who lived all their lives in Tunisia and Tunisian catholics. We left with my brothers and sisters from Poland in the footsteps of the first Christians: Saints Perpetua and Felicite martyred in Tunis; Saint Cyprian, Saint Augustine, Saint Louis and Saint Vincent de Paul who left their mark on the city as we have observed through our visits. Breaking down prejudices: Nowadays, when the fear of Islam can become a terrible constraint on dialogue, Tunisian Muslim families in the city of Kef have opened their doors to…
Missionary animation in Málaga, Spain
Share the Mission: In Malaga I am part of the Diocesan Missionary Council. It is linked to O.P.M. (Pontifical Mission Societies) and promotes several missionary animation campaigns throughout the year. The most important is the one of October on World Mission Sunday. Last October, the day began with a major exhibition called “El Domund al Descubierto” [The World Discovered]. It showed the missionary activity of the Church on the five continents. There was also information and formation provided by the missionaries with conferences, round tables, and testimonies … I shared my religious missionary experience in DR Congo radio. Forming young people for the Mission: An important activity that we organized as part of the mission delegation was the formation of a group of young people who wanted to be involved in the mission of Málaga Diocese in Venezuela. We gave them one formation day per month, using themes…
Genesis of the movement “Kizito-Anuarite”
The group Anuarite In the years 1972-1973, youth movements were abolished in Zaire and religion classes were abolished in all schools. Miss TABU Amisa Marguerite, a catechist in Christ the King parish in the diocese of Kalemie-Kirungu, gathered children every Sunday after Mass under the mango trees, to give them a bit of joy and relaxation with dancing, games and instructions. In 1977, she asked Sister Tina Anthonissen, Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa, to help her to structure and expand these meetings. Sister Tina, who was had been involved with the Chiro Movement and the Eucharistic Crusade, was able to start the movement, not only for games and dances but especially for the Christian education of children and young girls. Besides the girls of Christ the King parish others joined from Mateo de Kifungo parish, St. Albert parish in Kalemie and from the parishes of Lubuye and Kaseke.…
Saint Kizito, a martyr at age 13
Saint Kizito, the youngest martyr Saint Kizito is the youngest of the group of 22 martyrs of Uganda, beatified by Benedict XV on June 6, 1920 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in Rome on October 18, 1964. “Kizito, born in 1873 in Uganda, became a page in King Mwanga’s court. Joseph Mukassa, the head of the pages, had received the teaching of the White Father Missionaries, Father Lourdel and Father Livinhac. It was Joseph Mukassa who secretly taught the pages about Christ. Kizito was one of them. Having discovered this secret teaching, King Mwanga became fiercely hostile to Christians and had Joseph Mukassa burned alive in 1886. After his death many catechumens, including Kizito asked for baptism. The young Kizito only wanted to be like Christ. On June 3, 1886, the king ordered him to be burned alive with other Christians. Kizito was 13. Before disappearing in…
First vows of Alicja, Aurélie and Magdalena on 30th April 2016
SHARING OUR JOY: APRIL 30, 2016
Sr Carmen Sammut’s homily – April 30, 2016
Sharing on the Gospel of the Wedding Feast of Cana (Jn 2:1-12)
The Basilica of Our Lady of Africa
The Basilica of Our Lady of Africa is a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary the Mother of Jesus commonly referred to in Algiers as Lalla Myriam or Madam Africa. It is a prominent place for meditation, forgiveness, silence, prayer, peace. The origin of the Basilica The Basilica of Our Lady of Africa was built thanks to the faith and tenacity of two Christian women, Marguerite Berger and Agarithe Cinqin. They were able to convince the bishop of Algiers at the time, Bishop Pavy (1846-1866) to undertake the construction of the building (1846-1866) which was finally inaugurated by Cardinal Lavigerie in 1872. It is the work of the French architect Jean Eugène Fromageau. The exterior is built in a Byzantine style, while the inside is inspired by Spanish-Moorish architecture. From the beginning the basilica has been a place of prayer and pilgrimage for generations of Christians who came to pray…