Pope Leo XIV at Notre-Dame d’Afrique
From Sr Bernadette Djekoye on mission in Algeria “But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (luke 1:43) These words of Elizabeth, expressing both humility and deep joy, resonate with what I experienced when Pope Leo XIV was welcomed to Algeria. It is with great joy that I share with you my experience of this visit to Notre-Dame d’Afrique on 13 April 2026. For several months, preparations had been intensifying, both within the Church and on the part of the Algerian government, whose commitment was admirable. Everything was organised very well. On the morning of 13 April, from a large stadium, extensive transport arrangements and an impressive security operation were put in place to take us to the basilica, situated on the heights of Algiers. This place is highly symbolic: it is both a place of prayer for Christians and…
A new member at the Dicastery
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development was created on August 17, 2016 according to the wishes that our Holy Father Pope Francis expressed in his Apostolic Letter, under the form of a Motu Proprio, Humanam Progressionem. The new Dicastery promotes the integral development of the person in light of the Gospel and in line with the Social Doctrine of the Church. It dedicates particular attention to taking care of the goods of justice, peace and the safeguarding of Creation, as well as issues regarding disarmament, human rights, human mobility, health, charitable works, expressing the concern and attention of the Pope towards a humanity that suffers, among whom are the needy, the ill and the excluded. In addition, the Dicastery follows issues regarding the necessities of those who are forced to abandon their own countries or those who are without one, the marginalized, the victims of armed conflicts and…
Walking Together in Mission: Insights from the Tanzania Gathering
Sister Angela Kapitingana shares a video about the meeting that took place in Tanzania from 17 to 23 March 2026. For these five days, we, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, from all over the countries where we are for mission, in Africa, Europe, Canada and America, we have met here. The purpose of this meeting was simply the Synodal Way, to come together, to listen together, to discern together for the way forward, how we want to continue to live the theme chapter and the mandate that the chapter gave us in 2023. Indeed, it has been a moment of encounter where we explore together what does the world today invite us to respond effectively. Secondly, this encounter marks our great, great desire of how we want to work together without fear. We want to bring about new life, even in our very ordinary ministries that we are…
Celebrating in the periphery in Rwanda
From our Sr. Marie Kanyoni, in the community of Butare, in Rwanda Our community wanted to conclude the bicentennial of Cardinal Lavigerie with the sister congregations, the Benebikira and the Abizeramaria from our parish; and also with our close neighbors from the cathedral as well as our collaborators, the former students of MSOLA. Then, one of us had the idea of inviting the poor from the peripherie with whom we work in our apostolates, that is, the four groups from three different villages and the Notre Dame d’Afrique Center (sewing center for young women). With this gesture, we find ourselves fully in line with the apostolic exhortation of Pope Leo XIV: From the beginning, Scripture manifests with such intensity God’s love through the protection of the weak and the less fortunate, that one could speak of a kind of ‘soft spot’ of God towards them. The poor have…
Loving the poor and the reality of life
Nairobi is a city of contrasts A touching testimony from Sr. Marietha Joakim, Nairobi, Kenya When I reflect on my experience of helping the poor, I do not begin with theories or Church documents. I begin with the streets of Nairobi, with the people I meet every day with faces that are easy to pass by, yet difficult to forget. Nairobi is a city of contrasts. Tall buildings, busy roads, and signs of development exist side by side with deep poverty. In recent times, the number of homeless people and beggars has visibly increased. At every traffic stop, outside supermarkets, along major roads, and near churches and mosques there are people asking for help. Some are elderly, some are children, many are young adults who should be in the prime of their strength but have nowhere to go. So far, my personal experience of helping the poor…
Past and present, for the future!
Srs. Marie-Ange Ndayishimiye, Lucile Habimana, Margareth Kibola, Olive Nihorimbere, Mia Dombrecht. Next to Msgr Victor Ndione, and the Bishop emeritus Msgr Martin Happe M.Afr. In the 1970s, the wife of the first President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mrs Ould Dadah, had expressed to the Bishop at the time, Mgr De Chevigny, her desire to have catholic sisters who could work with Mauritanian women. Our Congregation responded positively to this request, as being women with women in a multicultural country is in line with the apostolic priorities of our Congregation. Sr Jeanne Guérid was the first missionary sister of Our Lady of Africa to arrive in Nouakchott in November 1975. This October, we wished to celebrate with our parish our 50 years in Mauritania and combined these celebrations with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Cardinal Lavigerie. On Thursday 23 October, we led the adoration service at…
The heart still beats… a memorable day in Ouarzazate
Our Sisters in Ouarzazate, 3rd on the left Sr. Rehema and in the centre Sr. Hélène, among the faithful who came to celebrate together the Eucharist The Community of Ouarzazate, Morocco, share a memorable day There are days that leave an indelible mark on the soul, like a light that continues to shine for a long time. Sunday, October 26, was one of those days. In a context that does not allow us to hold open public activities or celebrations, we chose to mark the closing of the Jubilee Year of our Founder, Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, with what unites us most: a Eucharistic celebration imbued with recollection and fervour. A moment where every gesture and word counts. The preparations were simple but made with much love. A few prayers, a short message about our Founder and prayer intentions filled with hope. We also chose hymns in different…
A message in time…
the sons and daughters of Cardinal Lavigerie listen with an open heart (Cathedral of Bayonne) Sr. Franceline Hien, coordinator of the JPIC-ED/MSOLA Network, feels the celebration of the bicentenary of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie (1825-2025) allowed us to revisit and reclaim his prophetic figure, dedicated to justice, peace, and human dignity. On this occasion she imagines a message from Cardinal Lavigerie to his sons and daughters. Let us listen to his message: On the day after the close of the year celebrating the 200th anniversary of my birth and my 133rd birthday in heaven, I have a very important message for you: My sons and daughters, with the celebration of my birthday, a unique opportunity arose in which you renewed your zeal and passion for the African world. I say to you once again: You are heirs to a prophetic struggle against slavery, to a fight against all…
Closing of the Bicentenary in Burundi
By Sister Maite Oiartzun Nshimirimana of Gitega community in Burundi How can we thank the Lord for all the blessings received during the jubilee year of the 200th anniversary of the birth of our dear founder Lavigerie? Let us keep alive the memory of all the graces received and keep in our hearts the memories of his wonders. Thanks to Lavigerie’s YES and his generous response to the Lord’s call to evangelise Africa, he founded the Missionaries of Africa and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to the African peoples. In Burundi, on 22 November 2025, we celebrated the closing with a thanksgiving Eucharist in our parish of Mucunguzi. The group included the Archbishop of Gitega, Monsignor Bonaventure Habimana, president of the Episcopal Conference of Burundi, Bishop Monsignor George of the Diocese of Ngozi and Bishop Leonidas…
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…