Fioretti from Zambia 1
Often at night I would pray near a river close to the house, it flowed, sang, and jumped. One day at a crossroads, I met a boy of about six years, very cute. On his bare chest shone a medal. I said, “But I do not know you, what’s your name? ” Straightening and very proud, he said: “Nine Ibrahimu” “I am Abraham” What a great introduction to the beginning of these pages, this encounter with Abraham !!! I want to write about the Bible in the lives of Zambians. ____________________________ Another meeting: I was returning from the village, further down the road I see two men talking with a boy of 10 or 11 years who was returning from school. The men continue their way, the child arrives at my side, he is laughing. We greet and I tell him “you seem very…
Final commitment of Sr Clémence Sawadogo 29th august 2015
My soul magnifies the Lord! … With the Magnificat, I thank God for his trust and love for me and for all the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to your word.” This is the theme I chose for the Eucharistic celebration. By my baptism, I entered the great family of God and became a prophet and disciple to follow Christ. What is essential for me is trust, acceptance to walk in the light as in the darkness with faith in the Risen Christ. I thank the Lord for the gift of religious missionary life. On the eve of this important ceremony, I was so happy to welcome our sisters from Ouagadougou: Hortensia, Agnes, Nathalie and Caritas as well as the father of our sister Nathalie; also Brigitte from Mali and Thérèse from…
O Migrant, “rest here” with us…
My brother, My sister, You left everything, your home, your family, your friends, your country…. You left, set out,.. arriving in an unknown country, With people who speak another language, Who have different customs, a different religion than yours…. How many obstacles encountered, not counting all those met on the way… in Sinai, Turkey, Libya, on the seas…. and now in the country where you seek a welcome. In addition, without an apparent future, With tomorrow’s insecurity, In search of the papers to regularize your situation, Lacking the necessary for your vital needs. Being unable to speak, to really express yourself….. Unable to comprehend all these papers, not knowing what they mean, What to do …… O my brother, O my sister in humanity, I would like to be able to say to you… “rest here” with us,…. do not worry. I hope that…
Come mix your colors with me
Around the theme of peace and living together, the library of the Palmiers in Algiers, organized for the first time a summer camp from 20 to 25 July 2015 for neighborhood children. A dozen facilitators (seven young Algerians, two Congolese Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa and Marion French DCC) prepared singing workshops, crafts (origami, painting, salt dough …), theater and magic for children from 6 to 10 years. We began with an educational game in the morning, where even the most timid children got involved! Each day, a group of children was responsible for preparing the tea. The last day, parents were able to admire the works their children had done during the workshops. The children presented a show with little theater skits about living together. Each presented the job of their dreams: doctor, architect, pilot, mechanic, cook, teacher, police officer, housekeeper, lawyer. Meriem, aged…
Pray from the Encyclical “Laudato si”
“We feel it is urgent to incorporate in all our apostolic commitments, the dimension of justice, peace and integrity of creation. We want to express our solidarity with all humanity and participate in this reconciled CREATION event which Christ is moving towards its fulfillment.” 2011 General Chapter of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa Pope Francis in his encyclical “Laudato si” after comparing the earth as our home according to the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi, he calls it Sister Earth. He writes: “This sister Earth is crying because of the damage we cause her by the irresponsible use and abuse of the goods that God has deposited in her.” This encyclical is the basis of our prayer. Let us listen to the old song of the scouts: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit O Lord,…
The disastrous effects of the Mining Industry in Africa
Africa is rich in reserves of minerals. It is a leading producer of gold and coltan (used in electronic devices) and other minerals.
My vocation : I Had a Dream …
Sister Maite Oiartzun Baraibar, from Spain, tells her story… Tell us what led you to Africa: I went to Africa, Mali, as a tourist. I had been invited by a Spanish White Father I knew. The reality of Mali astonished me with its 1.8% of Christians. I felt the need for missionaries to share the faith, the Good News of the Gospel, so that those who did not yet know Jesus Christ could meet him.I was a teacher in Spain. Seeing illiteracy in Mali, I felt called to collaborate with others, so that children could learn to read and write. School is the base of education. I was very involved in Spain in the youth group ENCUENTROS DE PROMOCION JUVENIL. Christ was the driving force of my life, my treasure. Why a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa? The sister who welcomed me in Mali was…
I discovered an intimate face of Islam
At the beginning of my stay in Paris, a happy event led me to discover the existence of a spiritual-sharing-group at the great mosque in Paris which met under the theme “Enter into the intimacy of the Koranic universe.” It is true that I could not imagine spending a school year in Paris without trying to meet with the Muslim community in France -I who lived 17 years in Algeria where I very much appreciated the welcome of Muslim friends and families. I carried within me the desire to meet the Muslim minority living in Paris. With the goal of sharing our lived experience, our host ensured that exchanges did not become discussions, but that we would all seek to discover how God speaks to us in our life, how God’s word inspires, how God reveals himself through the Qur’an. The group was very diverse, consisting of people…
Surprised by the Spirit… twice!
In defining our new Community Apostolic Project we of Winooski were very pleasantly surprised by what happened. We are seven, of very different characters and personalities and often find it difficult to come to consensus. Some are independent living and others needing infirmary care. However one sister suggested that what was needed was a new word carrying a new emphasis. After a pause, she proposed that HOPE was becoming very meaningful to her and could be such a word. The idea was contagious. It was as if it passed from one to the other, each one endorsing it. It was easily translated into “becoming a Messenger of Hope”. We all liked that. Then we could almost feel the invisible Spirit spelling out to each one the direction she could take. One said it could only be according to her own gifts and her God-given strength which varied…