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Presence
and activities
The
MSOLA arrived to Ghana in 1908. They opened
communities in the North and soon started teaching
women and preparing them to become catechists,
teachers.
The
MSOLA opened schools, and workshops, to teach
both men and women.
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Sr.
Prosperine (left) with some young women interested
in becoming missionaries.
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Sr.
Elisabeth Biela with some students
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| The
community of Gumo. |
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Sr.
Maamalifar (in yellow) with
some of her students. |
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The
MSOLA presence in Ghana
Ghanean
MSOLA Sisters in Africa:
- Sr.
Matilda Baanuo, sent to Lusaka (Zambia)
- Sr.
Susana Bushuk, in Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania)
- Sr.
Philomena Aruk, in Lilongwe (Malawi)
- Sr.
Victoria Gaa, in Gumo (Ghana)
- Sr.
Maamalifa, lives her mission in Nairobi (Kenya)
- Sr.
Alice Bangmindong, works with the youth of Kinshasa (DR
Congo)
- Sr.
Philomena Aruk working in Malawi.
- Sr.
Susana Bushuh in mission in Tanzania (Dar-es-Salaam)
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The
MSOLA sisters in Tamale (Northern Ghana)
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COLWOD
for women in distress
Constance
Gemme started COLWOD, a Project who identifies
the Women in distress in the town (widows, abandoned
women, prostitutes, street mothers).
The
women receive training in hairdressing, dressmaking,
batik making, etc. which allows them later on
to have an income.
Actually
Jacqueline Picard has taken over the
direction of the project from Constance. Jacqueline
visits the women at home and at their place
of training.
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| The
women signing the contract. |
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| Sr.
Jacqueline Picard opening the shop where the materials
diedby women from an an income generating project, are
sold. |
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When
they are ready she helps them to start a business on their
own in their own sector of the town.
"It
is very important to visit them often, to see how they are
doing and to encourage them." she says, and she
adds: "To keep the project going involves a lot
of organization, buying, selling…"
There
are many surprises: joys, disappointments, consolations
and desolations. Lately the women printing the colourful
materials have got a shop where their materials are sold,
which facilitates the commercialisation of the products.
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Elisabeth Biela well known all
over the diocese trains catechists. She organizes sessions
and meetings. Lately she has spent a lot of time writing
and printing a booklet with the talks given at the first
Tamale Archdiocesan Congress.
Fernande
Cloutier, leaves home at 7h40, takes a minibus (the local
transport) and goes to the Diocese Offices in town, where
she works as an assistant bursar (cashier) in the office
of the Bursar of the Diocese, Brother Christian M.Afr. Most
Diocesan priests come to this office, which gives her a
lot of contacts with them.
Marie
Renée Wyseur, is the Diocesan
coordinator of the Inter-religious Dialogue committee. She
starts harvesting the fruits of her twelve years work in
this field.
On Holy Saturday at 5 p.m. she came back tired but delighted
after a whole day workshop organized by lay people - Christians
and Muslims of our parish. They were 77. A happy and surprising
Easter Eve!
Two
weeks before, representatives of the Federation of Muslim
Women Associations of Ghana met with the Executive of the
I.R.D.C. Some sessions have been considered in the coming
months.
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Meeting of young sisters
The
younger sisters of the West Africa province (A.O.) met in
Gumo during four days to reflect on their role
in the community and in a Missionary Vocation Animation
(AMV) community.
During
these days, we have seen the Spirit working in us by the
openness and deep listening of each one. We felt the unity
growing among us. As young MSOLA, we shared our mutual concerns,
our desire to make the congregation better known. We were
happy to have Piluca (from the General Team) and Gisela
(the provincial of West Africa) with us and to listen to
our concerns. They encouraged us to grow in a strong sense
of belonging to the Congregation.
We love
our Institute. We are on a journey and this period of temporary
vows is a special time to deepen our vocation. We are sent
to participate in Christ's mission and to collaborate for
the coming of the Kingdom. Isn't this life giving ? We are
called to be a bridge between our young and elder sisters
and to be joyful witnesses of our mission. We are ready
to commit ourselves.
We are
grateful to the Congregation for giving us this opportunity
to meet together as young sisters. We found new strength,
new energy and new zeal in living our call. United to all
our sisters we follow with confidence the steps of the One
who sends us !
The younger sisters
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| Logo
of the Tamale Centenary |
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Explanation
of the Logo for the Tamale Centenary
In
1906, with the arrival of the messengers of God, the
Missionaries of Africa, coming from the North, Upper
Volta, the Spirit already present in the people, became
tangible as the Spirit of Jesus, the giver of all
light and life.
In 2006 the Archdiocese will celebrate the Centenary
of the arrival of the Christian faith in the region.
The
logo made for this celebration is a symbol of the
life and history of these 100 years of Christianity.
The
map of the Tamale Archdiocese is represented in the
colours of Ghana: red, yellow, green and black. A
ribbon of light traverses diagonally from Navrongo/Bolgatanga
Diocese where everything started. This light, like
the rising sun, immerses the Province in the Light
of God's Love emanating from the Holy Spirit, represented
in a delicate rose/white colour.
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From the Spirit the rays of light representing the
Light and Wisdom of God, are sent into the 5 dioceses.
Jesus, the Tree of Life, the crucified and risen Lord,
is the centre of this new Life announced by the Missionaries.
It is through his suffering, death and resurrection
that Jesus has brought Life to all, reconciling all
humankind to the Father.
GOD
IS LOVE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND COMPASSION; this was
and is his message to be proclaimed without tiring
to all. The cross, sign of this total outpouring of
God's love, is implanted, not into the physical earth
of the Province, but into the people, who embraced
it, and accepted the message. Today, 100 years later,
they sing the great deeds the Lord has done for them,
in them and through them. They count the graces one
by one received throughout these 100 years. They adore
and they praise the Lord in one voice.
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Sr.
Corrie, Elisabeth and Marie-Rénée
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Since 100years
ago when the Good News was announced the horns and drums have
never ceased announcing the New Life in Jesus in our regions and
beyond our Province.
Our archdiocese
is missionary. The circle is open in all sides; the message can
be heard by other tribes and nations. The cross, the people, the
rays, the Spirit, all symbols are reaching beyond our boundaries.
With St. Paul we say: "Woe to me if I do not announce the
Good News. Freely we have received, freely we give."
Cross and
Resurrection, Suffering and Life, Praise and Adoration, a great
symphony of Thanksgiving rises from mother earth and the hearts
of all the members the Family of God at this great event of the
Ecclesiastical Province of Tamale. Indeed this song is heard throughout
the whole world.
PRAYER
FOR THE CENTENARY
Lord Jesus,
just as the sun rises in the sky
You have risen over our Province
And like the rays of the sun you enlighten our existence and bring
brightness into darkness,
Warmth into the cold, peace into tribulation, Wisdom into foolishness,
love into hatred,
Hope into despair and faith into disbelief.
The gentle fire of your Spirit has brought to light
The yearning of our people for your truth and goodness,
And just as gold is purified in the furnace
Our customs are purified in the fire of your love.
Today, our hearts are full of praise and gratitude!
We adore you and we praise you
For your faithfulness and love!
We ask you the grace, that the fire of your love in us
May never burn down and like the fire of Pentecost send us out,
May we takeout drums and horns, and announce to all,
"JESUS LIVES, WE ARE WITNESSES TO THIS."
May our lives be a living witness to your life among us. AMEN.
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