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FINAL VOWS OF SIR CONSOLATRICE
‘Mary kept all the events and pondered upon them in her heart’.
Sister Consolatrice with her mother Mireille
The 21st of September 2024 will remain a day to remember for the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Annecy in the Senegambia/Congo Region.
The Eucharist was celebrated at 10.00am in the Cathedral, Marie Reine de l'Univers in Tamba, by his Grace Monsignor Paul Abel Mamba, Bishop of Tamba, along with many other priests from the other dioceses.
During the celebration, Sister Consolatrice committed herself forever to the service of the Lord and the Church in the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Annecy.
After the proclamation of the Gospel of Saint John, chapter 15, 15-20, we proceeded to the first part of the ceremony of the final profession, which is the calling of the professed sister and the confirmation of her desire to make a final commitment to the Congregation.
Then bishop Paul, began his homily with the following words: ‘What I command you is to love one another’. He reminded us that we are gathered to celebrate the gift of consecrated life, which the Lord inspired to sister Consolatrice. He insisted that sister Consolatrice, is committed to living this vocation for the
Greater Glory of God in her religious congregation. He also thanked her parents, her family, the people she knew and her religious family.
Bishop also emphasised that sister Consolatrice, had remembered the testament of Jesus through her commitment to serve out of love, like Mary who kept all the events in her heart. He addressed Sister Consolatrice in these terms:
‘Dear Sister Consolatrice, today you are solemnly going to give your word to God before his people gathered here. You are going to make a promise before God and before his people. You will be doing what is unimaginable for most of our fellow human beings; making a promise for a future that is not in your hands, giving what you do not fully possess : your life and your future. You have the courage to say yes to a future that is not in your hands, because you believe and trust in someone Greater than you...’.
After the homily, we then went to the second part of the celebration, which was a dialogue between the celebrant, the delegate of the Superior General and the professed sister.After the Litany of the Saints, Sister Consolatrice made her final profession. From now on, she joins forever the large family of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Annecy in their consecration to the persons of the Trinity.
After the final prayer, we listened one after the other to the addresses of the professed sister and the Regional Superior.
Sister Consolatrice thanked the bishop for his willingness to preside at the Eucharistic, and the priests who had come to the celebration. She also thanked Sister Jackie, the delegate of the Superior General, her mother Mireille, who had come from Kinshasa, the choir and all the people who had contributed in any way to the success of the celebration. Special thanks were also extended to his sponsor, Mr Toupane, and his wife.
Sister Marie Pierre, Regional Superior, thanked the Bishop, sister Jackie, who had come from Annecy to receive the vows, the women who had been busy in the kitchen, Sister Consolatrice's family represented by her mother, and Mr Toupane and his wife, Sister Consolatrice’s sponsors.Sister Marie Pierre then addressed Sister Consolatrice as senior sister, in these words: ‘Sister Consolatrice, receive my warmest congratulations as well as those of Sister Breda and her council. The Entities of the Congregation also join in your thanksgiving and support you with their prayers.
We have done our best to help you to be rooted in your vocation as a Sister of Saint Joseph. We therefore encourage you to use this help to become what God desires you to be in nature, in grace, for time and for eternity...’.
After a lively and colourful Eucharist, a festive meal was served at the hall of the army barack next to the sisters' community.
The Mankagne community entertained us with beautiful songs and vibrant dances. We wish Sister Consolatrice a joyful religious life and a fruitful mission.
Eight temporary professed sisters renewed their vows during the celebration.