December 1997-December 2022: 25 years of presence in the Diocese of Diébougou, Burkina Faso!
On 17 December, in the cathedral of Diébougou, in the Vice-Province of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit and with the people of God, we marked in a simple and significant way the arrival, 25 years ago, of the first sisters in the diocese: Sisters Geneviève GUERNION, “peace be upon her soul”, Marie Paule GUILLEMETTE, Monique GABANA and Agnès OBEMBE.
This celebration was an opportunity for us to re-read our history in Burkina Faso. It was following the merger of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre-Dame de Briouze, which was already present in Koudougou, Burkina Faso, with the Congregation of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, that we established ourselves on Burkinabe soil with the support of Monsignor Jean-Baptiste SOME, bishop of the Diocese of Diébougou. To remember this past fact is to give thanks to God, Master of the Harvest, who always calls many young people and gives growth to the Church.
The mass was presided over by Bishop Der Raphael DABIRE, the current bishop of Diébougou. We gave thanks to God for the trust always given to our Congregation and for our charism which bears much fruit in this society, close to women and young people, through catechesis and the accompaniment of groups, in the simplicity of daily life and in collaboration with other consecrated persons. The bishop encouraged us to know how to value each other in the diversity of our gifts and talents, to welcome our cultural diversity as a precious gift. The Spirit creates unity and communion.
The two General Councillors, Sister Jeannine and Sister Abiola, on their canonical visit, encouraged us in the name of the Superior General, Sister Ann Almodovar, and sent us back to our various missionary places to continue to witness to the grace of God. At the end of the celebration we fraternised together with the people who had come to support us in joy.
Renewed by this celebration and with confidence, we continue our journey together in the service of our brothers and sisters. Let us go forward into the deep!
