Coming apart to listen to each other, that’s what we did from 9 to 10 April 2025 at the Maison d’accueil – Procure of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Garoua. The young sisters of the Vice-Province of Cameroon took an interest in this meeting, and each of them was present from the morning of 9 April to talk about : Agnès DABAYA and Yvonne MAPOU.
Sister Agnès DABAYA began by talking to us about the concept of ‘community life’. Drawing inspiration from biblical texts and our Rule of Life, we heard once again that the love of Christ is the foundation of community life, where God gathers us together for his mission. Prayer, the sharing of daily experiences and fraternal communion are the means that promote healthy community life, the model of which is the life of the first Christians: ‘They were diligent in the apostles’ teaching, in fraternal communion, in the breaking of bread and in prayer…’ (Acts 2:42-47). By our Rule of Life: ‘Bound to those whom God has associated with me’ and ‘Gathered together by the same gift we receive in Congregation the gift of living together in the Spirit of Pentecost.’ (Rule of Life art. 1 and 2), we are called to strengthen our bonds of fraternity by cultivating respect for others, mutual listening, benevolence, and communion.
Secondly, Sister Yvonne MAPOU helped us to understand ‘fraternal life’, which enriches our community experience. Fraternal life is a path of inner liberation that requires courage, surpassing oneself and self-denial for God and others. Fraternal life is built on attachment to Christ, in prayer and the Eucharist, in mutual love and reconciliation. We learn to love every day through our words, our attitudes, and our actions. Through kindness, communion, commitment and hope, we are building together a dynamic and fraternal community.
Thank you to our sisters Agnès and Yvonne for their availability. Thank you to the whole Congregation for always making sure that we are ‘in an attitude of formation throughout our lives’ (Rule of Life, VIII). Happy Easter to all!
Sister Denise MBAFI TAGODA, Doukoula community. Published on 23 April 2025.
Photo. The young professed sisters and Sister Agnès after Palm Sunday Mass.
