Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) – “We believe in dialogue, relations and communion. We share day to day life with the poor and the excluded, working above all for the promotion of the dignity of women”. Sister Eileen Cummins, newly elected Superior of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles said this in a conversation with Fides Service. The Sisters work in various countries of Africa and also in Lebanon.
Sister Cummins spoke of their mission. “Our vision of mission is challenged by the increased globalisation of our world to include new poverties of exclusion, of violence and injustice caused by the movement of people (war, famine, unemployment ) the mixing of cultures and breaking down of geographical boundaries. We focus on education at all levels, especially the girl child and health care; women in rural and urban areas; women who are victims of different forms of slavery and those reduced to poverty; women who struggle to work for reconciliation in countries torn by religious-ethnic conflicts and wars and who try to keep family life and hope alive”
Sister Cummins explains: “The presence to women in Muslim countries by dialogue of life, Learning more about Islam and Muslims so as to try to seek a basis for common action. This will not be achieved over night, but we feel it is a step in the right direction and will lead to creating a better understanding between Christians and Muslims.”
“The more united we are the better we shall do God’s work”. These wise words were spoken by the founder of the congregation, Father Augustin Planque SMA over a century ago. Sister Cummins continues: “The source of our communion is the contemplation of the Trinity which inspires us to live this unity with one another so that we can incarnate that same communion in our apostolic activities and with the people we meet during the course of our day.”
“We share daily life with African people lacerated by war and hunger. We work in Muslim countries such as Algeria, where two of our Sisters were murdered by fundamentalists in 1994. But our mission continues in education, health care and social service. We are in close contact with the local people and we are loved and respected not only in Algeria but also in Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana. Fundamentalism is a threat but we believe in dialogue, relations, and communion with moderate Muslims.
The Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles was founded in 1876 in Flanders, France. He was also the first Superior general of the Society for African Missions SMA. Today the Sisters work in seven countries in West Africa, English and French speaking and Tanzania in East Africa. They are also in Europe, in Argentina and Canada. They are 850 in number of 18 different nationalities and of the 74 temporary professed Sisters, 66 are from Africa. PA (Fides Service 2/7/2003 EM lines 37 Words: 515)
