(The celebration took place differently in the three places where the Company is located).
In Man (western Ivory Coast), January 27 was marked by a celebration at the St. Teresa of Avila Professional Technical Center, animated by Father Jean Yves of the Neocatechumenate Community, together with the entire educational community dressed in woven pagne, as if to highlight the participation of each one, in their diversity, in the history of the Society. At the end of the Mass, there were cultural activities with dances and moments of joy inside the Center. In addition to the celebration on the 27th, the Man Community will celebrate the opening of the 150th Jubilee of the Society during the celebration of the consecrated life of the Diocese of Man on February 1 at St. Michael's Cathedral, in the presence of the religious men and women of the diocese.
In Abidjan (southern Ivory Coast), the celebration was also attended by the Pope's Chaplain (Fr. Jean Baptiste AKWADAN), who welcomed the first founding sisters of the Abidjan Community. The organization of the Mass was the result of a collaboration with the team of priests of the parish, members of the Basic Ecclesial Community of the neighborhood (CEB Our Lady of the Beautiful Love Allabra), members of the Teresian Family and some representatives of our families. It was a synodal experience that allowed us to live deeply the sense of walking with others towards a common goal: to live with them the 150 years STJ. A Mass celebrated with the religious men and women of the deanery, the Discalced Carmelites from Gonzague, the youth of the MTA, and the parishioners of our two mission parishes (Holy Family of Riviera 2 and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit of Agouapi), as well as the former students of the Enrique de Ossó School of Man. Enrique, as usual, attracted hearts to steal them for Jesus!
In Gourcy (northern Burkina Faso), the opening of the Jubilee coincided with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Lycée St. Henri. In addition to the Eucharistic celebration inside the lycée, in the presence of the entire educational community, the bishop of the diocese, former students and other guests, a march for Peace was held in the city of Gourcy, whose surrounding villages are marked by terrorist attacks and by the massive arrival of refugees due to the crisis. In the same framework of the celebration, cultural activities were organized within the Lycée.
Gratitude, appreciation and hope, realizing that the Society is truly good news for the people of West Africa.
You can see the photo gallery by clicking on this link: Teresianas de Ossó STJ Communication Albums | Flickr
