Lomé (Togo). On 7 October 2021, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, nine young women, eight from Mother of God Province of West Africa (AFO) and one from St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello Province of Equatorial Africa (AEC), began the journey to become Daughters of Mary Help of Christians by entering the Postulancy at Lomé, in the AFO Province.
“You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world” (Mt 5: 13-16) is the motto chosen by the young women for the celebration, which took place in the chapel of Mary Help of Christians Community of Lomé, in the presence of Sr. Peace Friend Mensah, Provincial Vicar, delegate of the Provincial Sr. Yolande Kikange, engaged in Rome in the work of the XXIV General Chapter; of Sr. Marie Marthe Ekengbi Ndong of the AEC Province, and of other FMA, including the sisters of the community that welcomes them.
After a brief comment on the Word of God, Sr. Peace addressed a few words to the young women, taking up the Formation Plan and the Constitutions of the FMA Institute regarding the formative stage of the Postulancy that precedes the Novitiate. It is a time to go in depth in the vocational choice and in the personal encounter with Christ, to deepen the sources of the Salesian charism, and to live the apostolate towards the young people and the sisters of the Community with generosity.
Sr. Peace encouraged them to open themselves up to the journey with trust in the grace of God, in Mary, and in mediations. She invited them to be ‘Salt’, to bring the flavor of God to the sisters in the Community and to the young people, and to take care of the ‘Light’ received at Baptism, so that it does not go out.
The celebration continued with the imposition of the medal of Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco, a sign of belonging, with intercessory prayers, the Magnificat, and songs animated by the Postulants, as expressions of joy and gratitude.
May Mary Help of Christians support and guide the Postulants on their journey, so that they may be Salt and Light for the young, in the spirit of the Charism of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello.
