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THE
FIRST MSOLA sisters
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| Basilica
Our Lady of Africa (Alger). This was the first sight
of Alger the first sisters had when landing in Algiers. |
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Thus
began the story of the MSOLA…
On
9th September, 1869, a group of 8 young girls
from Brittany (France) landed in Algiers...
They were to become the first MSOLA...
They
had answered a call made by Cardinal Lavigerie
who needed women religious to evangelise Africa.
Upon
leaving France for Algeria, they crossed the
sea where they were tossed about in a big storm...
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When they arrived in Algiers
and discovered that they were the first to volunteer
for the future congregation, one of them exclaimed,
"Well, if it is only us, it is going to be fun!"
Still today, it is 'only us', you and I, and all those
who work towards the realisation of God's dream, that
His Kingdom come.
It
is the dream of a world more human for all, where
men and women of all cultures and religions, live
in solidarity like brothers and sisters, serving one
another.
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| The
first sisters arriving to Zambia ... |
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As
during that first crossing, still today, we, Missionary
Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, are often in the midst
of storms, but like our first sisters, we continue
the mission in spite of the difficulties.
In
February 1879, Sister Gonzague, one of the first sisters,
wrote to the Cardinal to inform him about the visits
which she and another sister were making to the poorest
villages.
They
had to leave early in the morning on donkeys in order
to arrive in the villages towards noon. As they had
to leave for home by two or three o'clock, the time
was too short to look after all the sick and spend
a little time with the women.
On
account of this situation, she was asking Cardinal
Lavigerie permission to build a little hut in the
village so that they could stay there all week in
order to care for the sick, teach the women and spend
some time with them.
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"
I would like that love (charity)
take hold of everything in us,
especially of our hearts,
so that we might love
God and our neighbour
with a love which gives
of itself
without
counting the cost."
M. Marie-Salomé
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On
Saturday they would return to the community to attend Mass and
live with the sisters. A small hut and two mats would be enough
for them. They would take with them enough bread to last for five
days and medicine for the sick.
And if the Cardinal did not have enough money for that, the sisters
could go to France to ask for help. The Cardinal smiled at this
proposal, unusual at that time. However he was proud of the missionary
spirit of these sisters who were ready to sleep on the ground
and eat only bread and porridge five days a week.
And
all that, in order to be able to go to the most distant villages...
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