The ceremony of entry into the postulancy is such a special rite that gives direction to the future, that Sisters Christine DIDJA, responsible for the postulancy, and Silvie ROAMBA, Vice-Provincial of Burkina Faso, accompanied us, second and first year postulants, on a three-day Ignatian retreat, from the evening of 19 October to the morning of 23 October 2024, on the holy hill, in the community of the Beatitudes.
The retreat was a time of silence, meditation, prayer, sharing, accompaniment and, above all, heart-to-heart communication with God. The setting of this hill of Mercy was our ideal setting for gradually entering into the context of our choice. The Vice-Provincial, Sister Silvie, with the support of the Postulancy Mistress, Sister Christine, did us the honour of talking to us about some essential points of our formation. To help us pray better, Father Jonas celebrated Mass for us and enriched us with his homilies.
After these three days of retreat, far from the city, we returned to the postulancy filled with graces and a desire to live life to the full: a new spirit dwelt in our hearts. Given that our entrance ceremony was scheduled for 4.30pm the next day, we got up early for Mass in community to sanctify the day and for the preparations: the beautiful, well-ironed outfits we would be wearing, our shoes polished… not forgetting to put on some perfume.
At 4.30pm we were all in the chapel, including the sisters from the Bagane community, Phariyago and the Foyer ‘Marie-Balavenne’. After a few minutes of waiting, the celebration began with a beautiful musical background and continued with a song of welcome from the second year postulants: Laurence, Matilda, Ijeoma, Louisa, Mary-Patience, Emmanuela, Mary-Faith. Then other songs were sung for the postulants who were about to enter their first year, reading biblical extracts related to the chosen symbol: salt; the vocational journey of each of the four of us was read, and stones bearing our names and a cross were handed over. From that moment Léonie SOME, Pélagie ZONGO, Judith OUEDRAOGO and myself, Eudoxie OUEDRAOGO, officially became postulants in the Congregation of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. Immense joy for all the sisters present! We ended the celebration with universal prayer, the Magnificat, and a birthday song for Sister Jessica, who was celebrating that day.
The celebration ended with greetings, congratulations and photos. And then it was time to feast on a variety of dishes, in a spirit of joy and fraternity!
We give thanks to God for making this day possible, and thank all those who contributed to its success: May the Lord bless you and fill you with his abundant graces!
Eudoxie 0UEDRAOGO, First year postulant. Published on 6 November 2024
