And Jesus answered:
“Comme follow me, and I shall make you fishers of men…” (Mt 4:18)
“You did not choose me; I chose you, and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, fruit that will last”. (J 15:16)
His invitation led each one of us to a
RELIGIOUS MISSIONARY LIFE
Each day He invites me:
- to be with Him in prayer, listening to His Word, knowing Him better;
- to bear fruit in loving service for others, sent as His apostle in the World of today.
I give my whole life to HIM because he called me, he gives me the strength to leave everything and FOLLOW HIM. Jesus called twelve Apostles and they worked TOGETHER:
“He appointed twelve to be with Him and to be sent out to preach.” (Mk. 3:14)
We, too are not alone but in COMMUNITY. All over the world, young women are hearing this same CALL OF JESUS. This call unites us all as a Community.
Since the beginning of the Congregation, Our Founder, Cardinal Lavigerie, wanted our Sisters to live in
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES
This way of living tries to be a response of love and unity in a world where nations and races are divided by fear and misunderstandings. It speaks of the reality of the Communion of Saints professed by the Church, where “people from every race tribe, nation and language” lives in the same Spirit with the same Father.
Because we come from different countries, each community embodies a variety of ideas, backgrounds, and cultural values.
This “living” is NOT EASY, but it is mutually VERY ENRICHING. We thus seek to live out what we proclaim to others: a KINGDOM where all are BROTHERS and SISTERS in CHRIST.
“The family spirit which should exist in our communities can be summed up in these two words: To LOVE and to HELP ONE ANOTHER.” (Mother Marie Salome)
SENT FOR A MISSION
Our very name “MISSIONARY SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF AFRICA” expresses our SPECIAL CALL and SERVICE within the CHURCH: We are RELIGIOUS MISSIONARIES for AFRICA under the protection of OUR LADY OF AFRICA.
“Leave your own country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you.” (Gen12:1)
“Go, therefor, make disciples of all nations… And know that I am with always.” (Mt 28:19-20)
These words of God are ours in a special way. We do not satay in our home-country but we are SENT, through the Congregation, to another country in Africa. We share the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST with those who do not know yet, or with the Local Churches.
* Historical note: It was because of the long white habit that our Sisters used to wear that people began to give us the name “White Sisters”.