The first Sisters arrived in Burundi on 8 December 1971 and in Rwanda on 17 May 1973. Today, Jesus continues his work among his favorite people, those who are poor. After 50 years, the charism of Saint Vincent and Saint Louise is still alive in Burundi and Rwanda, and the Daughters of Charity from the Province of Central Africa and the Province of Eritrea have been present in the Central African Republic for 10 years. The Vincentian charism is lived out in the fields of health, social work and education. We encounter Christ in prisons and refugee camps.

The 50^th jubilee has marked us throughout the year; it was opened on 8 December 2021 in Ntobwe, Diocese of Gitega in Burundi and closed on 7 December 2022 in Rwanda.

The joy of living the jubilee with the presence of Sister Françoise PETIT and Sister Theresa EKE

The Lord blessed us with the presence of our Superioress General, Sister Françoise PETIT, accompanied by Sister Theresa EKE, General Councillor. They arrived at the Provincial House on the evening of 1 December. On the 2^nd, they met with Nursery and Primary students of Saint Vincent de Paul School where the children and teachers gave them a warm welcome with a cultural dance.

They visited 7 communities from 3 to 10 December, apart from the Provincial House. All the Sisters of the Province were touched by the depth, closeness and benevolence, simplicity, humility and charity of Sister Françoise and Sister Theresa, virtues that serve as witness of life and challenge us.

Sister Françoise encouraged us to put into action the convictions contained in the Inter-Assemblies Document 2021-2027.  Their visit set before us the following challenges: to live more fully the spirit of the Company; to continue our progress towards self-financing; to remain faithful to the charism of our Founders; to strengthen fraternal life for mission; to be servants whose lifestyle is enlightened by the Word of God, the life of Jesus and of our “lords and masters.”

Thanks to God and to the Church, who accompany us in our mission. Thank you to the first Sisters who paved the way for us. Thank you to Sister Françoise and Sister Theresa, who passed on to us the joy of living in communion with the whole Company. Thank you to all those who have worked so hard to make this jubilee a success, from its opening to its closing. “The Almighty has done wonders for me, holy is his name” (Lk1:49). Their presence is engraved in our hearts and profoundly marked the celebration of our Jubilee: it is a passage of God and we can repeat like the Magi “We have seen the Star.”

Daughters of Charity

Province of Central Africa