Where we are

Argentina

OLA is celebrating 40 years of presence in Argentina. The first OLA Community opened in Suarez, Cordoba in 1982. Presently there is one community in Argentina, in Villa Libertador, in Cordoba. Four Sisters make up the community here: one Italian, a Nigerian and two Argentinians. OLA Mission in  Argentina emphasizes the  promotion of Mission and animation of missionary vocations in the Church. 

By the witness  of the international and intercultural community, living in the peripheries, a simple presence in solidarity with the poor and those who live on the periphery of society. OLA sisters are involved in pastoral work, giving the local Church a distinctive  OLA missionary flavor.  Accompanying youth, women, providing a listening ear to those who have few options in life, listening is a core dimension of the mission in Cordoba.  In healthcare, the Sisters work in a hospice “Casa de la Bondad” which is dedicated to caring for people who are often destitute and who are struglling with terminal illness such as cancer, HIV, AIDs and other chronic illness.

Burkina Faso

The OLA Sisters have four communities in Burkina Faso. There is one community located in the Capital, Ougadougou. The three remaining communities are in Fada N’Gourma, Tibga and Diabo.

Witnessing to God’s love in the world through  services in Education (kindergarten, adult literacy) Health Care (Dispensaries, nutritional rehabilitation centre) and for the Empowerment of women (Formation of Women, Literacy, Income Generating Projects)  - this is the modus operandi of the Sisters in Burkina Faso. Pastoral work  and catechesis  in the parishes and in  villages is also a priority for the Sisters.

Two key projects underpin the missionary commitment of the Sisters in Burkina Faso  responding to the increasing social and health problems in their area. They run a Centre for Children Vulnerable Sistuations  in Fada N’Gourma – ‘Maison Samuel’.  The ‘Bethany Medical  Centre’ is a fast growing centre providing wide ranging services in healthcare to the population form near and far. They also give priority to the treatment and care of those suffering from HIV and AIDS..

Until this year, Fada N’Gourma was also the location for one of the postulates  for young women from our Francophone Province. The last intake (2021-2022) there were fifteen Postulants in Fada.

Benin

The OLA Sisters first arrived in Benin in 1877 and since that time there have been more than 34 OLA communities in Benin! Currently there are 8 communities, with 39 sisters who are involved in a variety of activities including evangelism and many development activities: they run a boarding home for young girls, training of trainers, health care, empowerment of women, care of the elderly. The communities are situated in Cotonou, Djougou, Ouidah, Parakou, Pobe, Save and Tanguieta.

Benin is a country of 12 million inhabitants, whose economy is based on maritime trade, farming and agriculture. For many years now, Benin has enjoyed political stability and there is harmony between its diverse populations of Muslim and Christian. It is still a country with many social challenges such as in the areas of the trafficking of children, growing levels of unemployment.

The CASE Centre at Ouidah

In Benin, everyone has heard of Miss Elizabeth Hodonou of Ouidah, a midwife who, throughout her life, from 1943 to 1985, cared for orphans and abandoned babies in her house.

At the end of her life, she bequeathed her entire estate to the Church, provided that this great work would continue. And so through Sister Maria Goretti Reisling, who assisted Ms. Hodonou towards the end of her life, the OLA Sisters agreed to continue and enhance this work in the spirit of the Congregation and its Founder, Father Planque.

A new "Nursery" or Centre was constructed that continued to care for orphans, but the scope of the Centre broadened to reach out to other children with all types of malnutrition arising out of poverty. The increase of HIV and AIDS also has had an impact on the numbers of children availing of care in the Centre.

The Centre is called C.A.S.E. : Centre d’Accueil et de Secours à l’Enfance. There are currently four Sisters in the community of Ouidah, one from Burkina Faso and three from Benin. The aim of the Centre is to save "little lives" so dear to Miss Hodonou and, equally important, to develop the status of women and children and thus promote the family. There are two other Sisters in the Ouidah community who are both involved in pastoral work. They also support the work of CASE.

Botswana

The OLA Sisters opened the mission in Botswana in 2008. This small community that began the mission there consisted of five pioneering Sisters living internationality in the OLA style: Sisters Bernadette Mc Carthy & Doris Gyan from Ghana, Cynthia Nwadike from Nigeria, Lynn Saint-Auret from France and and Marie Colette Soubeiga from Burkina Faso the OLA .

Botswana is a vast country in Southern Africa with a relatively small population of approx 2 million inhabitants. The Kalahari desert makes up about 70% of its land mass. While Botswana has remained a very peaceful country since independence in 1966 and had made good progress in relation to economic development, it is a country that has been ravaged by the effects of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. THE OLA Sisters responded to the call to come to Botswana and continue their mission of evangelization today by helping the people of Botswana to fight this HIV and AIDS crisis.

The first OLA community was opened in Maun in Ngamiland in the North of the country. IN 2015 a secnd community was opened in Francistown. Here the Sisters collaborate in the Diocesan Secondary School and engage in many pastoral and social activities with women in prison, with migrants and displaced persons as well as in out stations form their local parish.

Québec

In July 1955, OLA sisters arrived from France and Africa to prepare themselves to work in education at St. Helen's School and to promote missionary vocations for Africa.   In 1958, the first recruits left for Africa. Since then there have been 44 OLA Sisters from Quebec. Many Sisters spent the major part of their lives in different countries in Africa.   

Today in Quebec we are 10 sisters: 9 from Quebec and one from Egypt.

We live in two different places: the Residence "Les Pionnières" and the Residence "Bois de Boulogne".

 Our Mission is transmitted and lived through different evangelical values which are expressed in our moments of personal and community prayer and our various missionary commitments.

At the Résidence Les Pionnières: 4 Sisters live here.  In this residence, which is currently reserved for nuns, there is an infirmary, our sisters accompany sick and handicapped sisters, they provide services, participate in the activities of the house and in the different committees: animation, meals, liturgy, service to the sick.

Bois de Boulogne Residence: 6 sisters live here. This is a residence for lay people with apartments and various services: meals, cultural and leisure activities, first aid.

The sisters participate and lead many  activities within the residence: yoga, knitting, cultural meetings, cinema, animation, accompaniment, occasional services.

We  also have missionary  activities outside the residence: Volunteering in a long-term care hospital at Notre Dame de la Merci to visit the sick, painting workshops, occasional activities.

Many of the Sisters volunteer with 'Carrefour Foi et Spiritualité' animating various sessions. There is also collaboration in anti trafficking activities with CATHII and work with immigrants especially from the Arabic speaking world.

Côte d'Ivoire

The Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles first arrived in Ivory Coast 1898 in Grand-Bassam, at Moossou which was located behind the uninhabited "sacred forest”.

The OLA Sisters were the first Religious Sisters to arrive in Ivory Coast, which was the case for many West African countries. The OLA Sisters are involved in the education of children and women in both parish and village settings. They are involved in rural development, provision of health care and home visitation.

In the early years, there were up to 42 OLA communities in Ivory Coast and contributed greatly to the country's development. In particular they played an important role in the education and formation of women, who have gone on to contribute greatly in society.

The OLA story in Ivory Coast is an interesting one. There was much growth in the early years but the presence of the sisters declined in the 1960s, following a decision taken by the Bishops of the Francophone West African coast to forbid the OLA Sisters to recruit novices: the sisters could no longer accept novices, the presence of European sisters was not encouraged, and OLA schools and clinics had to be handed over to the Bishops.

Currently, the sisters have 11 OLA communities in Ivory Coast located in Abengourou, Abidjan-Bietry, Adjame, Adzope, Bouake, Divo, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand Bassam, Tanda and Tengrela. The Sisters are engaged in social work, education (schools, boarding houses and libraries) health care (clinics and leprosaria), rural development, catechesis, missionary animation, the support of displaced persons, and work for peace and reconciliation. There are 42 OLA sisters in the country, of whom 26 are from Ivory Coast with the remining 16 from 8 different countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ghana, Italy, Tanzania, Togo and Nigeria .

There are also 16 sisters from Ivory Coast working in OLA communities in other countries.

Algeria

OLA has one community in Algeria –  in Hennaya in the Diocese of Oran.  There are three sisters in this community; Sr. Philippine Koutamba from Togo, Sr. Lydia Audu from Nigeria and Sr. Sandra Catapano from Italy. The sisters are involved in home based nursing services and social activities like helping the poor with food, clothing, access to health care, listening. They also spend a lot of time doing family visits. Part of the work the sisters engage in is also being a voice for the voiceless by serving as contact persons with the local authorities for the benefit of the people, helping them to access the services they need.

Egypt

Founded in 1876 by Father Augustin PLANQUE, the Congregation of Our Lady of the Apostles was  to collaborate with the SMA Fathers in Africa.  In Egypt, it was at Tanta in the Delta that on 21 December 1881, Srs. Athanasius, Heliodorus and Alexander arrived and founded the first mission there. Our Founder visited Egypt seven times!

 At the end of 1882, three new sisters arrived.  They settled in Zagazig....  Then it was Zifta, Mahalla, Choubra and Zeitoun.  We are still  only in 1896!                  

Today we are in eight communities in Egypt

Tanta

The OLA community is the only religious community in this city. There is a school with more than 1300 students and three cycles: kindergarten, primary and preparatory. The sisters are also involved in Catechesis - training of teachers and employees, preparation of Christian-Muslim - national celebrations - family visits...etc 

Alexandria: 1929
A hostel for summer holidays, Sisters, Sisters' families, churches or youth groups and others.  The OLA buildings promote  Ecumenism and collaboration with other groups like Caritas for a centre for the disabled. 

Choubra 1894:

The community, which is international, consists of five sisters who run a large school with two sections:  Arabic and English.  A sister nurse looks after the polyclinic. The community is located in Cairo in a popular area surrounded by churches and mosques. The majority of our students are Christian, especially Orthodox.

Our school has three cycles. At the request of the parents of the students, we have just opened the English language secondary school. 

Zeitoun 1896

An international community of 5 sisters, including two elderly sisters. The French language secondary school is the main activity.  The house is open to parish activities. (to young people and families). 

Meadi 1945 founded for :   Novitiate

Retreat house and retirement home for the sisters. Now the community is composed of two sisters who provide a welcoming space for ecumenical prayer groups. 

We have three houses in Upper Egypt:

 "In response to the intentions and desires often expressed by the Holy See regarding the apostolate among Eastern Christians, and at the request of His Excellency Mgr Khouzam, Apostolic Administrator of the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate in Cairo, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles established themselves in 1930 in Upper Egypt, to devote themselves to the Christian instruction of the Coptic community, which makes up almost the whole of the population in this part of the Nile Valley. Since then 4 houses have been opened: Mellaoui and Abou Korkas 1930 then Assiout October 1935 and Guirga". (Etoile du Missionnaire 1937)

Mellaoui (1930) - a house where there are three sisters involved in pastoral work and accompanying groups.

Assiout (1935) With a large school and a dispensary, the sisters are  involved in education, health and pastoral work. There is good collaboration with the diocese in the struggle for a deeper awareness of JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation).

 Guirga (1936) Here the sisters run a school and are also involved in parish ministry.

Current situation in Egypt 

Number of Egyptian sisters in the Congregation: 22 sisters: 20 in Egypt and 2 sisters ad extra - one in Togo and one in Quebec

Number of sisters who are in Egypt: 24 - 20 Egyptians, one Ghanaian, one Ivorian and two Nigerians

France

Since the foundation  of thin Congregation in 1876  there have been 1065  French sisters. Our sisters from Switzerland have always been members of the Province of France. Since the beginning there have been 58 Swiss sisters.

Today there are  :
93 Sisters in the province
80 French (78) and Swiss (2)
8 Sisters from other Provinces working in France.
4 student sisters and 1 sister on sabbatical – all from other Provinces.

Sisters by Nationality (8)

France 78  

Ghana 3

Côte d’Ivoire 3

Nigeria 2

Switzerland 2

Bénin 2

Burkina Faso 2

Togo 1

42  of our older Sisters live in 6 different retirement homes

Apostolic Communities

Rillieux-la-Pape

Vaulx-en Velin

Saint-Herblain

Haguenau

Sainte-Foy lès Lyon

Apostolates

Pastoral care in health and social  settings - Missionary Vocation Anomation – archives and research and studies

Read more

Ghana

There are 12 OLA communities in the Province of Ghana: Elmina, Vroomdorp, Brafuyaw Postulate and Brafuyaw Provincialate, Cape Coast,  Nkwanta, Accra, Duyaw Nkwanta, Hwidiem, Kenyasi, Sunyani and Bepoase.  The province celebrated her silver Jubilee in 2021. It became a Province in August 1996.

OLA have been present in Ghana since the first two Sisters arrived in Elmina in December 1883. The sisters are involved in Education, Healthcare, Pastoral work and in various projects for the  empowerment of women and girls.

In education, the Sisters work predominantly in primary and secondary education but have also a long history in teacher training. In 1924, the Sisters started  an all female  training college in Cape Coast  that has produced thousands of well qualified and dedicated teachers. It is now Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) College of Education.

Ghana Province has been growing steadily in the past 25 years and a sign of her maturity is the fact that so many Ghanaian OLA Sisters are now working as missionaries in many different countries: Ireland, France, Italy, Togo, Tanzania, Botswana, Niger, Nigeria, Liberia, Egypt, Chad, Burkina  Faso and Benin.

Ireland

There are four OLA Communities in Ireland. In the North the Sisters have a presence in Rostrevor, Co. Down. There are two communities in Dublin, one in the city in Ballsbridge and one in North Dublin, in Balbriggan.

The largest OLA community  in Ireland is in  Cork where there has been a community in Ardfoyle since 1913.

Ardfoyle, Cork.

Ardfoyle is the Irish headquarters for OLA.  It is also the retirement home for many Irish OLAs who have devoted their lives to the Missions in Africa.

Prior to COVID, many Sisters who have “Retired” from the Missions were able to maintain a very active lifestyle in Cork, collaborating with other groups in offering services to people living in poverty, to Assylum Seekers and Refugees in the Cork area, to people living with addictions etc. Within Ardfoyle itself, a variety of different activities take place in collaboration with other organisations. One of the most important ministries in Ardfoyle is the Ministry of Prayer by the retired Sisters in the community. Prayer intentions from the length and breadth of Ireland and from around the world are remembered in the daily prayer routines and are a great source of consolation and support to those who ask to be remembered.

Ardfoyle community offers hospitality to Sisters of other cultures who come to Ireland to improve their English or to pursue further studies.

Preserving the story of the Congregation since its founding in 1876, particularly from the perspective of Ireland and the Irish Sisters, is an important service. There is a very well developed and maintained OLA Archives of the Irish Province.

Dublin - Lansdowne -Ballsbridge

Traditionally a community of hospitality for Sisters en route to and from their overseas missions and a House of Studies for those pursuing further studies, these two aspects of the Dublin Community continue to be a reality today. A community of four Sisters serve in a wide variety of ministries ranging from Hospitality, Missionary and Vocation Animation, Fund-raising, Spiritual Guidance of Groups such as the Legion of Mary, accompaniment of elderly people, training of Formators from International Congregations. 

Dublin - Balbriggan

This is the newest OLA Community in Ireland, opened in January 2022. 

Rostrevor, Co. Down

The Sisters have a long history in Rostrevor Today the small community continue various activities such as care and support of those affected by HIV and AIDS, Mission and Vocations Animation and Fund Raising.

For more information on OLA Mission in Ireland Follow this link 

Italy

There were Italian sisters in the Congregation since the foundation.

It was in BARDELLO in OCTOBER 1920 that the first convent of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles on Italian soil was inaugurated.

In 1921 a chaplain to the sisters, Father Isaia Bombaglio, arrived. In 1922 - the  novitiate was opened. Since the foundation we have 426 Italian sisters who have worked all over Africa and Europe.

Today there are 43 Italian sisters - 38 in Italy, 2 in Ivory Coast, 1 in Togo, 1 in Algeria and 1 in Argentina.

We have 44 sisters in Italy of whom there are

38 Italian sisters

3 from Ghana

1 from Benin

1 from Togo

1 from Nigeria

 Our main activities are :

Missionary Vocation Animation - school of the Word - catechesis - Mission Animation in parishes

Activities with young people ... Summer camp

Animation of English and French speaking groups

Visits to families and the sick

Services to migrants, women in distress and  people  who are vulnerable

Welcoming refugees from Ukraine

Prayer

In carrying out all these activities, we have a strong collaboration with lay people and associations who share our charism.   Learn more here

Lebanon

 The first OLA mission opened in Lebanon in 1931

There are 27 OLA sisters in Lebanon, 25 Lebanese and 2 Nigerian.

There are five OLA Communities:

Raouda : with 5 sisters whose activities include education, spiritual, social and pastoral work in the school and in the local area.  Learn more    

Montana :  This is the retirement home for sisters. There are 10 Sisters living here and their principal apostolate is prayer. It is also a retreat house used for various groups such as school children and youth groups for retreat days.

 Kab Elias : a community with  6 sisters whose apostolate is education, spiritual, social and pastoral work.  Learn more  

Salima :  A community of 3 Sisters with a mission also in educaiton, spiritual, social and pastoral care. Learn more 

Lebaa :  A community of 3 Sisters whose apostolate is mostly pastoral work in the local parish and village.  

Liberia

Liberia with its capital Monrovia is a West African country undergoing the effect of a long lasted war with many difficulties; socially, economically and otherwise. History has it that it is the only Black state in Africa never subjected to Colonial Rule. More than half of the population are Christians and the rest are divided between Muslims and traditional religion believers.

Presently there is one OLA community in Liberia and it is situated in Tubmanburg in Bomi County. This community opened in  January 20^th 2021 and  is an international community with four sisters fully engaged in education, pastoral and social work. The Sisters work in St. Dominic’s School.  As pastoral workers, the Sister prepare candidates for the sacraments and are also members of Lay religious groups like the Legion of Mary and Catholic Women Organization (CWO). They have set up the Holy Childhood Association in the Archdiocese of Liberia, awakening the missionary spirit in children to help other children. The Sisters also collaborate with a non-governmental organization; Mary’s meals in the Oscar Romero school for the deaf.
For some photos form the OLA Mission in Liberia, look here

Niger

OLA Sisters have been present in Niger since 1947 and in August 2006, a young woman from Niger, Alice BOUKARY, made her first profession with the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles. Sr Alice was just the third young woman from Niger to become a Religious Sister. Later in 2012, Sr Esther Mamoudo joined her to become the fourth from Niger. Currently Srs Alice and Esther are the only two OLA Sisters form Niger. Today in Niger, the OLAs are an international group of 9 sisters in 3 communities.



The church in Niger is mainly recognized through its actions for justice and the fight against poverty. The OLA Sisters together with other Church Groups are involved in the struggle for holistic human development, health, education, and the rehabilitation of prisoners.



Niamey

Capital of Niger, the Red City, with its buildings combining both traditional and modern styles. The architects have been very successful in reconciling the old and modern. The drought in Niger accelerated the rural exodus, and the villagers thought when they migrated to urban areas they would immediately find a job in Niamey. The rapid urbanisation has caused housing problems and high levels of delinquency.



The OLA Sisters are in the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help which has been in existence since February 6, 1931. The Diocese of Niamey , similarly, was erected in 1961. Bishop Berlier Hyppolite is the first bishop. In total there are seven parishes in the city of Niamey. The OLA Sisters came to Niamey in 1950. Currently there are two sisters here here, one form Benin nd one form Nigeria. 


The Sisters are involved in many activities including primary school, kindergarten, sewing workshop, school canteen, , vocation promotion, catechesis .... The attendance rate of Muslims and Muslim communities in our activities is 99.9%. The Sisters are involved in educating young women who dropped out of formal education. Sewing, cooking and civil /social education are included in the programme. Many of these young women gain skills that enable them earn their and gain confidence and the ability to mature into responsible parents.





Maradi

A dynamic city on the economic front, it has experienced rapid growth in recent years. As it grow, more and more it resembles northern Nigeria. The majority of the population is Muslim, from differing groups. The parish of Our Lady of Lourdes where the Sisters are situated, was established April 10, 1954. The Diocese of Maradi was established in 2001. Bishop Ambroise Ouédraogo is the first bishop. The OLA Sisters first came to Maradi in 1955. There are four sisters working there: one from Niger, one from Ivory Coast, one from Tanzania and one from Burkina Faso. They are involved in the following activities: Elementary school, kindergarten, human development, rural activities, catechesis. 


Dogondoutchi

A City situated 273 km from Niamey, located on the left bank of Dollol Maouri The climate is typically desert. Various crops are grown locally such as millet, sorghum, groundnut, onion and beans. The people live a basic subsistence life-style and often do not have the necessary reserves from year to year. Famine is not uncommon. The parish of St. Gerard’s, Dogondoutchi was created in 1947. The numbers of Christian remain small with the majority of the population being Muslim. The OLA’s have been in Dogondoutchi since 1993. Currently there are just two Sisters working here. Their activities include promotion of human development, visiting prisoners, Cultural Centre "Waye Kai" (which translates into open mind) Library, group work, primary education, literacy, and various seminars.

Nigeria

The Nigerian Province of the OLA Sisters was established in 1990. There are currently 21 communites with 118 Sisters in Nigeria.

To learn more about the OLAs in Nigeria, check out the website for the OLA Province of Nigeria

The OLA story in Nigeria began even before their foundation in 1876. More! The first school was opened in 1873 and OLA's have become renowned for their commitment to quality education, especially for girls. Similarly in the area of Health Care, the OLA's have been involved in establishing Dispensaries, Maternity Clinics, Hospitals, Training Schools since the first Dispensary was opened in Abeokuta in 1886.

Today OLAs are found in both urban and rural areas in Nigeria. Their commitment to quality education particularly for the female child is still very much in evidence. They continue to be involved in both Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education. In the area of health care, OLA's continue to administer Primary Health Care Centres and Hospitals. Addressing the challenges of HIV and AIDS is a growing aspect of OLA Health care. Together with these traditional areas of work, Sisters are involved in pastoral ministry in areas such as teaching of catechism, home and hospital visitation, youth development, Justice, Development and Peace initiatives, prison visitation, care of street children.

The foundation of the Women’s Interfaith Council (WIC) is an important milestone in OLA mision in Nigeria in the recent past. It was founded in Kaduna in 2010 by Sr Kathleen McGarvey, an Irish OLA Sister to bring together Muslim and Christian women to get to know each other, to pray together and work for peace. This group continues to be a priority commitment for OLA in Nigeria and have received international recognition for their work for peace in Nigeria.

Netherlands

The population of the Netherlands was predominantly Christian until the late 20th century, divided into a number of different denominations. Although significant religious diversity remains, there has been a decline of religious adherence.  Among the Christian faithful, it is noted that the Catholic Church has the largest number.

OLA has had a strong presence in Holland since the first two Dutch Sisters professed their vows in 1894. Since then 64 women form Holland joined OLA to serve God on the missions. They worked in many different countries including in Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Egypt, Ireland,Italy, France  and in their own native Holland. 

OLA hasone community of two elderly sisters in Cadier en Keer, where they liv ein a home for the elderly with their SMA brothers. The sisters who spent all their lives for the  missions in Africa continue to keep the missionary spirit alive and  their main ministry to day is of prayer, praying for the needs of the world and for congregation.
The Sisters enjoy celebrating God's goodness in their lives. Read about Sr Paula Maria's Jubilee here

Chad

The Ola Sisters have four communities in Chad. Responding to the needs in the country, the Sisters are engaged primarily in healthcare but are beginning to become more involved again in education work there.

In N'Djamena, the sisters offer Health Care in the OLA Hospital in Chagoua. They are also involved in catechesis, and in various activities working towards the empowerment of women.

In Sarh, the sisters have a hospital that caters for people living with HIV and AIDS. These people come from far and wide to access their treatments and to be treated with respect and dignity. More recently, the Sisters are giving priority to offering services to people with mental health issues.

The Sisters also offer a boarding facility for secondary schoolgirls – girls who come in from surrounding villages to study in Sarh and do not habve accommodation. This subsidized service offers the girls a great possibility to further their education to at least secondary school level. The Sisters are also engaged in parish work.

In Bousso, the sisters run a Dispensary which focusses on maternal health. They are also engaged in work in the parish, particularly in the accompaniment of women and the youth of the parish and in visiting the many outstations from the parish centre. They also run activities for the empowerment of women and collaborate in the local Diocesan School.

Togo 

There are 29 OLA Sisters  from eight different countries working in five different OLA communities in Togo. They are signs of love and hope for each other and for the people among whom they live and work.

In Lomé, the community offer quality education of children in the OLA Secondary School  (College Pere Augustin Planque)  in Lomé Bé. The recently began another school in the suburbs of Lomé, in Kpogan. Teaching cathechism and outreach to the poor are important works for Lomé community.

Agou Gare is the location for the OLA Postulate for francophone West Africa. There are currently 26 young women here beginning their training to become OLA Sisters. They come form Togo and the surrounding countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Ivory Coast. Occasionally some young women from DRC join the Congregation.

There is also a small dispensary offering basic healthcare and the Sisters and postulants are very involved in teaching catechism in the local parish.

In Sokodé: The Sisters witness to God’s love in our world  through  education (kindergarten, primary and secondary schools)  through teaching catechism,  and coordinating activities for people with disabilities including a rehabilitation centre.

In Kolowaré, the Sisters are involved in preventative and curative health care (clinic, maternity, laboratory), and caring for people suffering from Leprosy as well teaching catechism.

Tanzania

Tanzania is located in East Africa and has a population of approximately 59.8 million. It has four international OLA communities in three dioceses. There are 17 sisters working there. The first community, Mwamapalala, was opened in 1991. The second, Bugisi, was opened in 1994. The third community, Mwanza, opened in 2005 and is the location for the OLA Postulate in East Africa.

 Mlali (Dodoma) is the newest of the OLA communities  in Tanzania and was opened in December 2021. It is about two and a half hours drive from the administrative capital of Tanzania.

The sisters are involved in Health, Education, Pastoral Care and  programmes for the empowerment of Women and Youth. Learn more here

Central Africa