1954-2024: 70 years on, the wonderful adventure of Marie BALAVENNE and Renée BUREL – at the origins of our Congregation in 1706, in France – continues on Cameroonian soil. The jubilee year, which began last April, came to a close on Saturday 21 December 2024 in Maroua, the capital of Cameroon’s Far North region. Indeed, after 3 days of assembly with Sister Ann ALMODOVAR, Superior General of the Congregation and her two counsellors Sister Olga KIENDREBEOGO and Sister Abiola ADIGBOLUJA, we experienced with joy and gratitude a triduum of closure of the jubilee year.
On Thursday 19 December 2024, in the Christ-Sauveur parish in Domayo, with the participation of several other people, we enjoyed a beautiful cultural evening where every choir in the town and several ethnic groups paid tribute to the Daughters of the Holy Spirit: they expressed their gratitude and encouraged us in our various missions. There were also exhibitions and sales of various products and articles. On the morning of Friday 20 December, many people joined us in a march for peace in our hearts, in our families and in our country, particularly in the town of Maroua. On Saturday 21 December, the Eucharistic celebration in the parish of Saint Jean de Djarengol-Maroua was presided over by the Archbishop of Garoua, Mgr Faustin AMBASSA NDJODO. In his homily, he dwelt at length on love, the indispensable ingredient for a fruitful, happy, joyful and fulfilled life. He encouraged us never to lose sight of it in our relationships with one another and in our missions.
During this celebration, 9 sisters reconfirmed their ‘Yes’ to the Lord for their 10, 25, 30 and 35 years of following him. And at the end of the Mass, Sister Ann ALMODOVAR sent us on mission by presenting Sister Angèle SILIKAM HARANGA, our vice-provincial, with a mandarin tree seedling for all of us, inviting us to grow and bear good fruit.
70 years of the presence of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Cameroon, what legacy for today? This question will always remain a challenge as we strive to fulfil our common mission with love and zeal, so that together we are always responsible for the vitality of the charism we have received. A page in our history has been turned and, for us, another is beginning. As we all know, beginning is always a source of hope. For we are going to plant the young tree that has been given to us, even if the ground is parched. We pass from one story to another by looking back to the past and now by looking far ahead: towards tomorrow… and the others.
At the close of the jubilee year, all the participants had put on their wedding finery (jubilee loincloths or other festive garments). Thus adorned, after Mass, the celebration continued at the vice-provincial house in Galdima-Maroua, for the fraternal sharing of a glass of water.
Thank you to everyone for their contribution and their many forms of help, which encourage us in our various missions in the Church and society.
Sister Vedette NDAOKAÏ, Daughter of the Holy Spirit, Marza-Ngaoundéré novitiate community.
Published on 1 January 2025
Pictures
01. Cultural evening
02. Performance by the young people of the parish
03. 04. Peace march
05. Renewal of the vows of the sisters: Monique GABANA (35 years), Catherine MAMMA (30 years), Élisabeth TAKOUDAMA and Olga KIENDREBEOGO (25 years), Anne-Marie ABIONO, Alice TODOU, Vedette NDAOKAÏ and Marthe DEBAÏWA MAÏWORE (10 years)
06. Sister Angèle and those who renewed their vows
07. 08. 09. Family photos at the end of mass
10. Cakes for the occasion
11. Associate François, from Touloum, after presenting a poem he composed himself
12. Joyful celebratio
