Franciscan Sisters of the Poor - 40 years of presence in Senegal

40 years of presence in Senegal

On November 16th and 17th of 2018, we celebrated the 40th jubilee of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor in Senegal. GiubileoSenegal 02rid

Driven by the joy of the Gospel, our valiant pioneers - Sisters Benedicta Scheidweiler, Mary Maloney, followed by Sister Rose Margueret Delaney, Sister Adelaide Link, Sister Margie Ferri, and Bernadette Sullivan – arrived.

It was very touching to see people rejoicing and being grateful to God and to the sisters.

Later this original group was joined by some Italian sisters as they cared for the sick, promoted programs for children and women, etc.

GiubileoSenegal 03ridok What follows are some testimonials:

"When I am with the sisters, I feel at home. I admire their work, the activity of salvation as it is realized here in the life of the poor through the Charism of Mother Frances. Congratulations to the pioneers and may their work continue through generations to come." Léon Biagui

"It was a pleasant moment of communion, of common expression of our faith, of gratitude to God -- and of hope and expectation for the next Golden Jubilee.” Jean Noël Diouf

“First of all, I admire the history of the institution of the Charism in Senegal, and give thanks for the courage of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. I also appreciated the solemnity of the Eucharistic celebration, the prayer vigil and the various testimonies. In fact, our Celebrant reminded us that God accepts our sufferings and makes them a source of salvation for others. This motivates me.” Francesco Rodolphe Tine

“It is clear that the small seed sown in 1978 grew, flourished and gave fruit today. I felt great emotion – and gratitude as we celebrated the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor’s journey in favor of the vulnerable of Koungheul village." Charles Sene

"This Jubilee encouraged me to carry the torch of Mother Frances's Charism forward and to the ends of the world." Véronique Thioune (novice)

"Since the arrival of the American sisters, I have been touched by the Sisters dedication and compassion towards the people. They came all the way to Senegal to live the life of the Christ’s poor through the rural populations of Koungheul, Louanga and many other villages. They faced the challenges of the street, the language, the climate and were happy with the solidarity with the poor. They were involved in the local pastoral care, in welcoming new people, in listening to people’s problems, and in caring for the sick, educating the children, and helping those in need. All this pushed me to experience the charism. Today I am very happy to be an Associate of the Congregation and to experience the charism through the care of the sick and the other services offered.” Etienne Ndong.