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Official Publication of the SMA-OLA Triple Jubilee Celebration Logo

Official Publication of the SMA-OLA Triple Jubilee Celebration Logo Dear Friends, As we embark on a momentous year of thanksgiving and reflection, we are delighted to introduce the official logo for our Jubilee Celebration. This logo represents a historic triple milestone in our journey of faith and mission: ✨ 150 Years of the Foundation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) ✨ 170 Years of the Foundation of the Society of African Missions (SMA) ✨ 200 Years since the birth of Fr. Augustine Planque, OLA Founder and First SMA Superior General This Jubilee is a time of gratitude and recommitment to our mission of spreading the Gospel and serving humanity. The logo embodies the spirit of our Institutes’ heritage, union, and commitment to God’s work. You are cordially invited to the Opening Ceremonies of our year-long celebration in OUIDAH(Bénin), where we will officially commence this journey of joy and thanksgiving together. Let us rejoice in our shared history and walk forward in faith! More details on the opening event will be shared later. For more information, kindly contact the Jubilee Planning Commission through this Email: smaolandajubilee@gmail.com

OLA Sisters Advocating Against Human Trafficking: A Call to Action

Advocating Against Human Trafficking: A Call to Action Every year on February 8, the world observes the World Day Against Human Trafficking, a moment to reflect on the grim reality of modern slavery that continues to affect millions across the globe. This day, particularly significant for the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) in Italy, serves as a call to action, raising awareness and advocating for the rights and dignity of women and children most vulnerable to exploitation. A powerful video produced by the OLA Sisters in Italy sheds light on this urgent issue, drawing inspiration from the life of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Born in Sudan, Bakhita was abducted as a child and endured years of unimaginable suffering in slavery. However, her story did not end in despair. She later found freedom, dedicated her life to God, and became a beacon of hope for many. In 2000, she was canonized as a saint and declared the patroness of human trafficking victims, a powerful symbol of resilience and transformation. The video not only recounts Bakhita’s moving story but also highlights the tireless efforts of religious communities in championing the rights of the oppressed. Through prayer, advocacy, and direct support, these communities work to combat human trafficking and restore dignity to survivors. Volunteers in Italy share their personal experiences of engaging with those who have suffered from trafficking, emphasizing the importance of building relationships rooted in trust, support, and hope. The fight against human trafficking requires collective action. It is a [...]

Plenary Council 2024 Closing Mass

Homily in memory of Saint John of the Cross ( December 14th) At the Closing Mass of the Plenary Council of the Institute of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Néocatéchuménat Center in Divo 1st reading: 1 Corinthians 2, 1-10 Psalm: 36, 3-6, 30-31 Gospel: Luke 14, 25-33 Reverend Sisters, On the occasion of this Eucharistic celebration marking the end of your meetings, and in particular of the plenary council, His Excellency Msgr. Jean Jacques KOFFI OI KOIFFI would like to extend his warmest congratulations to you and encourage you to generously apply the good resolutions of this time of reflection and prayer that has occupied you for three weeks. To make this wish come true, I have exceptionally chosen to solemnize the celebration of the memory of Saint John of the Cross in order to ask for his intercession on your behalf and to offer you his spiritual guidance. As you all know, Saint John of the Cross is a master of the spiritual life, a mystic who devoted his life to union with God in pure and total love. His life and writings invite us to reflect on the path that leads to God, a path often marked with the need for complete detachment and trials, yet illuminated by the radiance of God’s plan. In the first reading from Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle’s praise of God’s divine wisdom is situated in the perspective of the [...]