Sr Laurence Huard (at the drum) pronounced her Perpetual Profession in Petit Mars, France, on March 25th, 2007. Next to her, Sr Charlotte Fuin.
About her vocation, Sr Laurence tells us:
"With the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, I felt attracted by Africa and the love for all the African peoples. This gave me the courage to leave everything in order to go towards other peoples, cultures, religions and become a different person through the encounters with them. Just because we believe that God loves all people and that he is at work in us!
Our life in international communities teaches me something new every day. But it is a great joy to grow through each other, to share the same hopes and difficulties.
It is my sisters who taught me to prepare African food and to light a fire for the laundry. It was a challenge for me who come from a world of supermarkets and washing machines. "
(texts in light blue taken from the dialogue with Sr Chantal)
As a sign of the total gift of herself to God, Laurence prostrated in front of the altar while the assembly prayed for her.
"Our ALL TO ALL
springs from our
I AM ALL YOURS “
(Capitular Acts 1999)
"To become all to all, to love people of all origin, that would not be possible without the strength that comes from daily prayer."
Sr Chantal Vankalck, General Assistant of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (left), received the vows .
His Excellency Bishop Soubrier of Nantes diocese (middle) presided the celebration.
Sr Laurence has been living in Mauritania and chose to pronounce her vows on a Bible in Arbaic. The book seems to be lying the "wrong way round".
...I vow to follow Christ...until death... (from the formula of vows)
"What speaks most to me in Jesus is his attitude of welcoming and compassion. Compassion with his disciples who are slow to believe, who don’t grasp (like myself, by the way!). Compassion with the poorest, those who suffer, those pushed to the margins of society.
It is a compassion that gives new courage to continue one’s life journey; Jesus brings out in others the best they have and brings them joy.
In the patience my sisters have with me I recognise many times this same compassion that brings me joy.
This compassion comes from listening and the humility which made Mary say « yes » with all her heart."
After pronouncing the formula of vows, Laurence received the ring from the hands of Sr Chantal as a sign of the covenant with God and her commitment to the work of God in the MSOLA congregation.
Laurence expresses what touched her in the founder, Cardinal Lavigerie and Mother Salomé, first Superior General:
"
I am touched by Mother Salomé's attachment to Jesus Christ and his Mission: >Go and tell of the Love of God to the ends of the earth.<
This attachment to the Mission has wakened in her a strong family spirit. She told the sisters many times : >You are sisters to each other, and really be so ! Love and help each other!<
The Cardinal Lavigerie is for me a man of prayer and a great lover of humanity. He is someone who went across the whole of Europe in order to denounce the evil of slavery which he himself, and the Fathers and sisters, witnessed in Africa. He cried out loud that anything that humiliated a human being hurt his heart and his own human nature.
Like him, I want, together with the peoples of Africa, fight against injustices which we witness in Africa today. "
