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…
Encounters and places that changed my life
To announce Jesus is urgent.” Such is the cry, the call always being renewed by Sr. Finita Martinez Canovas, a Spanish Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa. In her testimony, she shares her journey of encounters and her inner journey where the difference between cultures and religions forces her to stay awake. My thanksgiving becomes more concrete and explicit through this reality of the Encounter. Yes, that is what I lived: invigorating energizing encounters, full of light that launched me onto new paths. The Meeting with Jesus: It was at the age of 18, it upset my life filling it with meaning, consolation and orienting it to new horizons: first my Christian vocation, then the call to religious-missionary life. What a beautiful experience! The encounter with other peoples, cultures, religions through the people around me: First it was the great Congo-Zaire. What brave people, open, frank. With this people…
The Juniorate 2017 is started
Preparation for the final vows with sisters Vickness Muleya, Marie-Ange Ndayishimiye, Franceline Hien, Linah Siabana,Thérèse Namakoma Nyarukanyi and animators sisters Ingrid Hager and Hélène Mbuyamba The Well is a symbol for Community. It is often located at the center of the Community where everyone has access. From the Well, the community draws water, which sustains its life. In the olden days, the Well represented all the social resources of the community that were necessary to endure and thrive. This well for us represents the word of God, which invites us to listen to Jesus speaking, through events, formators, facilitators and many other people we encounter. It represents all that we are going to live during this period of this juniorate; all that allows us to rediscover and nurture the source of life within us. This well challenges us to live the values of openness (receiving and giving) to life…
First vows of Victorine Bulangalire
You who want to follow Christ, Come as you are, whatever your motivation, your story. He is there, He walks by our side and goes with us. Whatever difficulties you encounter, open your mind to Him and let Him lead you, even if it is sometimes difficult to understand. Do not be discouraged, however hard and long the way may be. He alone, in his own time. I come from a Christian family. I lost my parents very early. There was a neighbor who questioned her children saying, “Why do you behave like children who have no parents? ” This word disgusted me, and placing myself among her children, I understood that it was we who were behaving badly. In my parish there were sisters of the Daughters of the Resurrection. I saw them as those who behave well. I felt inspired by religious life and wanted to be…
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…
First vows of Angèle, Ywona, Faustina and Aline
Sr Angèle Aganze, from DRC, send to Ghardaïa in Algeria Sr Ywona Cholewinska, from Poland, send to La Marsa in Tunisia Sr Faustina Baawobr, from Ghana, send to Kinshasa in DRC Sr Aline Busane, from DRC, send to Dar –Es- Salam in Tanzania Angel Aganze: This April 29, I made my first profession. This is for me the most important day in my life. When I walked towards the altar, I felt carried by someone and I believe it was Christ. I feel that He has become more intimate to me. I felt a degree of joy never felt in my life. Yes, this day is unforgettable! When I received the light of Christ, I felt transfigured. When I made my vows, I felt myself covered with a loving presence of Christ. As I stood up, I realized the embrace of two lovers: Christ and me. How wonderful!…
Final commitment of sr Lucy Nabweteme
Lucy committing herself as a religious missionary sister ! Final commitment of Sr . Lucy Nabweteme on 15th January 2017 in Naama parish kiyinda mityana diocese Uganda . She committed herself for life as a Missionary sister of our Lady of Africa. “I wish to share a few words about Lucy’s final vows. We had a simple and meaningful feast with the people of her parishioners about two and a half hours drive from Kampala.Lucy was accompanied by her parents, family and our sisters from the entity participated and this was supportive. The missionaries of Africa came to the feast , the Gogonya generate community all came apart from the superior and for the people it was touching, something they had never experienced in life. It was a good witness that I believe awakened the Missionary spirit in the…
The missionary heart has no boundaries
AFRICA…and then what? Sister Monique, Belgian Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa, returned from Burkina Faso several years ago. However, back home does not mean “retirement”! Rather, the missionary heart has no boundaries, and spontaneously she found places of work, or rather people to love, particularly the very poor. In mission at Louvain-la-Neuve “Our mission can be lived wherever we are sent,” we read in the MSOLA Constitutions. Upon my arrival in Louvain-la-Neuve, a multicultural city, I discovered that we could live the MSOLA charism in a special way. Africans are everywhere. We meet them while shopping, in parish activities, on the way to school. To share with young people what I have lived in Africa always gives me great joy: The director of a school in Ottignies (section of Louvain-la-Neuve), and a religion teacher, asked me for an animation. In the 39 high school…
Message of Pope Francis for the 90th world mission sunday 2016
MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS FOR the 90th WORLD MISSION SUNDAY 2016 23 October 2015 Missionary Church, Witness of Mercy Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “Today, on the occasion of Pentecost, my Message for World Mission Day, which is celebrated every year in October is published. May the Holy Spirit give strength to all the missionaries ad gentes and support the mission of the Church throughout the world. And may the Holy Spirit give us strong young people – boys and girls, who want to go and preach the Gospel. This is what today we ask the Holy Spirit”. On Sunday, 15 May, on the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Holy Father announced the publication of his Message for the 90th World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday, October 23. Below is the full text of the Pope’s Message. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Extraordinary Jubilee…
25 years of the Lord’s faithfulness, Srs Gisela Schreyer and Marie-Alice Terrettaz
On September 17, 2016, Sr. Gisela Schreyer and Sr. Marie-Alice Terrettaz celebrated their silver jubilee of religious missionary life in the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. Sr. Marie-Alice had made her first profession on September 8, 1991 in Butare in Rwanda, Sr. Gisela made hers on March 15, 1992. Since both shared formation time in the postulate and novitiate and now live at the Generalate in Rome, their decision to celebrate together was not difficult. Each had the joy of welcoming members of her family who joined the sisters at the Generalate. Father Joe Buholzer member of the Missionaries of Africa presided at Mass and gave the homily on the selected text Luc 5:1-11: the miraculous catch and the call of Peter to become “fishers of men.” The first reading was taken from 2 Timothy 1:6-9a. Symbols to express…