Different Languages. Different Cultures. One People. One Message. One Christ.
Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles Bring the Joy of Mission to the First West Africa Youth Days in Ghana
The joyful rhythms of West Africa echoed through Accra as thousands of young Catholics gathered for the first-ever West Africa Youth Days (WAYD) 2026 in Ghana. Young pilgrims from 16 countries came together, bringing different languages, cultures, traditions, and experiences, yet united by one faith in Christ and one missionary calling. Under the theme, “Take Courage (John 16:33): Catholic Youth as Actors and Agents of Peace and Hope in West Africa,” the gathering became a historic celebration of faith, fraternity, and missionary discipleship for the Church in West Africa.
For the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), this was much more than a youth event. It was a missionary encounter—a moment to accompany young people, proclaim the Gospel through joyful witness, and animate vocations in the spirit of our Founder, Fr. Augustine Planque, SMA, whose enduring conviction continues to guide our Congregation: “The mission is our sole aim.”
A Church United in Christ Across Borders
The opening ceremony beautifully reflected the vision captured in this slogan: Different Languages. Different Cultures. One People. One Message. One Christ.
Welcoming pilgrims to Ghana, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, greeted the young people with the warmth of ‘Akwaaba’ and reminded them that although they come from different nations, languages, and traditions, they are united by one faith, one baptism, and one shared mission. He described the gathering as an opportunity to deepen communion, celebrate diversity, and strengthen the Church’s commitment to the Gospel across West Africa.
Throughout the Youth Days, liturgical celebrations, catechesis, cultural festivals, music, dance, exhibitions, and Eucharistic prayer became visible signs of a Church that is truly alive. Diversity was not a barrier; it became an evidence that Christ gathers His people into one family.
This experience mirrors the missionary identity of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles. Since our foundation 150 years ago, OLA Sisters have crossed cultures, languages, and frontiers to proclaim the Good News wherever the Church sends us.
“Take Courage”: Pope Leo XIV’s Missionary Challenge to the Youth in Africa
One of the defining moments of the Youth Days was the video message of Pope Leo XIV, addressed in both English and French to the young people gathered in Accra.
The Holy Father encouraged the youth not to lose hope despite the many crises facing West Africa—conflict, insecurity, forced migration, poverty, unemployment, and uncertainty. He reminded them that they are not a forgotten or sacrificed generation, but young people in whom the Church places its confidence.
Pope Leo invited them to become builders of bridges between peoples, cultures, and religions, ensuring that no one is excluded or left behind. He urged them to give the world a powerful message through their words and actions by becoming witnesses of love, justice, and peace in societies wounded by violence and division. He also challenged them not to sacrifice their youth to superficiality, but to seek Christ through authentic encounter and service.
For the OLA Sisters, this papal message resonates deeply with our missionary vocation. Every mission begins with meeting. Every vocation begins with listening. Every apostolate becomes a bridge that brings people closer to Christ and to one another.
The Voice of the Church in West Africa: Hope for a New Generation
The message of SECAM, delivered by its President, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, expanded this vision beyond Ghana to the entire African continent.
Calling the Youth Days a historic moment for the Church in Africa, Cardinal Ambongo affirmed that the bishops of West Africa organized this gathering because they believe in young people—their faith, creativity, energy, and capacity to transform society. He reminded them that they are not merely the future of Africa, but a living force in Africa today.
He encouraged them to take courage in the face of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, climate change, and social instability, and to become voices of hope and agents of peace who build a more just, peaceful, and hopeful Africa. Beyond the celebrations, he invited every participant to encounter Christ personally and to encounter one another as members of one human family.
The OLA Congregation shares this same hope. Across Africa, our sisters accompany children, women, families, migrants, and vulnerable communities through education, healthcare, pastoral ministry, safeguarding, evangelisation, and social outreach. We believe that every young person has the potential to become a missionary disciple and a builder of peace.
Ghana’s Invitation to Build Peace Beyond Borders
Representing the President of the Republic of Ghana, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang welcomed the pilgrims by highlighting the importance of young people in strengthening regional unity and integration.
She encouraged the youth to use technology responsibly, warning that anger, prejudice, misinformation, and falsehood can spread quickly across borders through digital platforms. At the same time, she challenged them to use those same digital tools to connect communities, spread knowledge, promote dialogue, and create opportunities for development and peace.
Her message is especially meaningful for the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, whose communications ministry seeks to evangelize the digital continent with truth, hope, and human dignity. In today’s world, missionary witness is lived not only in villages and parishes, but also in digital spaces where young people spend much of their lives.
OLA Sisters: Joyfully Animating Vocations
The presence of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles was visible during these Youth Days—not only in the celebrations but especially in Vocation Animation, where the missionary heart of the Congregation came alive.
With joy, openness, and simplicity, the Sisters welcomed young women who desired to know more about religious life. Through conversations, testimonies, prayer, and personal accompaniment, they shared the beauty of consecrated missionary life and invited young people to listen attentively to God’s call.
Many young pilgrims discovered the international missionary family of OLA and learned about the Congregation’s 150-year mission of proclaiming the Gospel across Africa and beyond. These encounters became moments of grace where questions, dreams, and discernment were welcomed with hope.
Inspired by Fr. Augustine Planque’s words, “The mission is our sole aim,” the Sisters embraced every opportunity to sow seeds of vocation in generous hearts.
Mission Is Our Identity
The Youth Days offered a concrete expression of what it means to be missionary today.
Mission is not simply travelling to another country. It is choosing encounter over exclusion, dialogue over division, service over indifference, and hope over fear. It is accompanying young people as they discern God’s purpose for their lives and empowering them to become witnesses of Christ wherever they are.
The words of Pope Leo XIV, the vision of SECAM, and the pastoral call of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference converge in one invitation: Take courage and become missionary disciples who transform society through the Gospel.
This invitation is deeply rooted in the charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, whose mission has always been to proclaim Christ with courage, compassion, and joyful service among peoples of different cultures and languages.
A Harvest of Hope for the Church and the OLA Mission
As the first West Africa Youth Days came to a close, the pilgrimage did not end. Young people returned to their countries carrying renewed faith, new friendships, and a stronger commitment to become ambassadors of peace and hope in their families, parishes, schools, workplaces, and communities.
For the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, the fruits of these days continue in prayer and mission. We thank God for the grace of witnessing His love among the youth of West Africa and for every seed of vocation planted during this historic gathering.
Different languages. Different cultures. One people. One message. One Christ.
May the Lord continue to bless our humble missionary efforts as we proclaim the Gospel with audacity and joy, accompany young people in their vocational journey, and build bridges of peace, justice, and hope across Africa and the world.