Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - Msgr André-Giraud Pindi, Bishop of Matadi, celebrated a solemn Mass with the Sisters of Sainte Marie de Matadi on Sunday 14 August in the parish church of Our Lady of Fatima, in Matadi, a mass of thanksgiving during which the Sisters of Sainte Marie de Matadi celebrated a triple event: the first profession of 3 nuns, the perpetual vows of 2 sisters and the silver jubilee of 2 other sisters.
On this solemnity of the Assumption, a feast in which Catholics celebrate the elevation of the Virgin Mary to heaven, Monsignor André-Giraud focused on the personality of Mary, especially in the context of the visitation (Lk 1, 39-56). , and presented her as a model to the nuns.
"Your presence, dear sisters, should put people at ease, your presence should relieve people. Every time we meet a sister, we say: how glad I am that this sister is coming to visit me... be messengers of happiness. If Mary is the model for your community, then you should follow Mary's example," said Bishop Pindi.
Referring to chapter 12 of Revelation and the signs that appeared in heaven, Bishop André-Giraud called on the women religious of his diocese to be signs for their families and for their diocese, specifying: "The greatness of religious does not lie in the material goods that you have renounced, but in the vows of poverty that you have freely
chosen. Your greatness - if you want to be a great sign – consists in living your consecrated life according to the vows that you have made and that some will make today".
The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Mary of Matadi was founded in 1970 by Bishop Simon Nzita, the first native Bishop of the Diocese of Matadi. After 52 years of existence, the community now has 91 sisters and 6 novices. The sisters work in pastoral care in almost all parishes of the Diocese of Matadi, and serve in the health and education sectors. Besides Matadi, they also work in Kisantu and Kinshasa as well as in various European countries. (P.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/8/2022)
ASIA/CHINA - World Day of Prayer for Spiritual Vocations: “Mission means following Christ”
AFRICA/GHANA - Catholic women from the diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga bring gifts to the refugees of Tarikom on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr
ASIA/INDONESIA - Election campaign: “Avoid instrumentalizing the election”
ASIA/CHINA - Chinese representative to the UN: religions can play a positive role in promoting peace and resolving conflicts