Since November 2024, the General Team, headed by the Reverend Sister General, has been visiting the Province of Africa. The purpose of this great and important trip is to visit the different communities of the province, to organize some meetings with the sisters in order to know more or less perfectly each of them, obviously talking and sharing with them for a better collaboration. It should be noted that Sister General took the opportunity to receive the perpetual vows of Sister Agnès for the first time since the beginning of her mandate, accepting her as a definitive member of the big family, and these events took place in Togo.
In order to energize the existence and real presence of our beloved Congregation, the team took turns to convene a General Assembly, first in Gabon and then in the Democratic Republic of Congo, under the theme “synodality, shared leadership,” taken from the Chapter Document, Reborn anew.
First Assembly in Gabon
The Assembly of the Vedruna Province of Africa was held in Libreville, capital of Gabon, from November 23-25, 2024. The Sisters of Equatorial Guinea, Togo and Gabon participated with the main theme “To be born again”.
On the first day, Sister Provincial Marguerite Bima welcomed the General Team, expressing her joy and gratitude for their presence in Africa. Sister Maguy Bwandala then led a prayer while presenting the symbols:
- a lighted candle: the light of Christ on our journey
- sandals: to protect our feet, and a sign of humility when we approach others
- the walking stick: our support to continue walking.
Jesus is our support par excellence to continue the mission.
Sister General Maria Teresa Cuervo took the floor to express her joy for the discovery she had made in Africa, the beautiful landscapes, the joy of the people and above all the discovery of the communities and their missions.
The meeting was based on the 7 chapters of the chapter document, with 7 groups each reading one chapter and highlighting 3 essential points.
The second day was based on shared leadership, with a question that accompanied us in our reflection: how am I living this rebirth at the personal, community, Province and Congregation levels? So that we can live an integral and ecological spirituality.
The third day was the financial report of the province so that all the sisters could know the general state of the province and some important information, as well as the preparation for the bicentennial and the perspectives for the future.
There was a lot of creativity in forming the work groups, which allowed us to participate without getting tired and with much enthusiasm. The Provincial Assembly ended in a spirit of family and joy.
Second Assembly in Congo
Hermine Mutshili, CCV
