Doing what you (tin)can
Sr Leny on her rounds Sr Leny Droogh, who is 90 years young, has a daily task she has carefully chosen. When she walks to church every morning at 9 o’clock with her rollator, she picks up every plastic bottle and tin can that she can find, in the grass along the road or in the garbage bins. On the way from the church coming back home to the Wereldhuis, she does the same. She also does this when she goes to the supermarket for shopping. Then she goes to the recycling spot in the market and she gets a refund based on the amount of cans and plastic bottles. Last year the refunds all added up to more than 1.200 euros! She divides this well-earned money among all kinds of good initiatives, like a local project for vulnerable people or a mission project in Africa and…
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…
Happy Birthday Mother Marie-Salome
On the 3rd of March 1847, in Guissény, France, was born little Marie-Renée Roudaut, the sixth child in a family of farmers. Who could have imagined that she would grow to become the Venerable Mother Marie-Salomé, first superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa? At eleven years of age she made her First Communion. “What did you ask Jesus for?” somebody had asked, she answered: I asked God to make me a saint by doing whatever He wills.” She made her first profession on the 6th of July 1873 in the Saint Charles motherhouse in Algiers, where she died peacefully in 1930 at the age of 83 years. During her long life in Algeria she dedicated herself to the will of God, praying and working tirelessly for the congregation to survive and thrive. This day it is indeed a happy happy birthday that…
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…
A Journey of Hope Against Human Trafficking
By Sr. Justine Akampamya This year’s theme for International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking was PEACE BEGINS WITH DIGNITY. Indeed, without dignity accorded to every individual, there is no peace. I was glad to participate partly in the prayer against human trafficking in Rome. I was touched by the engagement of the youth from different continents working towards the prevention of human trafficking through networking and education for young people. Part of the prayer was what was termed as “a Walk for Humanity.” Here, the participants had a guided tour to the Colosseum, and a link between current and ancient human suffering through slavery was made. All along this journey, the personal invitation was on how each one can make a contribution to protect life. During the vigil prayer, a survivor gave a witness about her long journey from Darfur, fleeing for her life and risking being snatched…
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…
XII International day against human trafficking
The International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking takes place every year on February 8th, the day in which we celebrate the liturgical memory of St. Bakhita, the Sudanese nun who as a child had the dramatic experience of being kidnapped and enslaved and became the universal symbol of the Church’s commitment against trafficking. It is promoted by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General (USG). The coordination of the network of partners and adherents is entrusted to Talitha Kum, the international network founded by the UISG and committed against trafficking in persons. We are committed to the work of UISG and Talitha Kum and we share with you some material for preparation and reflection All the material are from this website https://preghieracontrotratta.org/ which is in five languages. Peace and dignity are inseparable. In the words of Emily Greene Balch, Nobel prize for…
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…
A Crossroads of Reunions in La Marsa, Tunisia
During the last months of the year, our small Christian community in La Marsa, Tunisia, experienced many moments of visits, encounters, and joyful reunions, enriching the life of the parish and the religious communities present in the country. Closing of the Bicentenary of Cardinal Lavigerie at La Marsa Parish On October 31, on the occasion of the closing of the Bicentenary of Cardinal Lavigerie, our parish in La Marsa welcomed the communities of the Missionaries of Africa and the entire Lavigerie family. The Mass, presided over by Bishop Nicolas Lhernould, was at once simple, beautiful, and deeply prayerful. It was followed by a time of fellowship with the consecrated members and friends who accompanied us, with a special guest: Pauline Lecointe, the great-great cousin of Cardinal Lavigerie. A Fraternal Day of the COSMADT in Monastir In November, a beautiful day of fraternity and sharing brought…