AGOÈ-LÉGBASSITO, Togo — The opening of the canonical visitation in Togo by the General Council of the Canossian Daughters of Charity resonated beneath the wide, luminous African sky, as the sisters of the four local communities gathered in the chapel of Sainte Madeleine de Canossa. With open hearts and in prayer, they welcomed the representatives of their international religious family, led by Superior General Sr Sandra Maggiolo, joined by Vicar Sr Josemary Keelath and Councillors Sr Mariana Litmanovich, Sr Melissa Dwyer and Sr Albertina dos Santos.
To grasp the significance of this occasion, one must take a step back and consider the religious history of Togo. Catholic evangelisation began under European missionaries in the colonial era, with parishes and dioceses taking root after independence in 1960. Over time, the Church became not only a spiritual anchor but also a social one, shaping education, healthcare and charitable initiatives alongside Africa’s indigenous traditions, Islam and Protestantism.
It was into this landscape that the Canossian Sisters arrived in 1995. Their mission began with the education of girls on the outskirts of Lomé, and has since grown to include a technical training centre, a higher education institute, a centre for spirituality and even a hospital dedicated to Saint Josephine Bakhita. Today, around thirty sisters live across four communities, their work woven into the fabric of daily life: digging wells, opening dispensaries, accompanying families and providing education — especially for girls who might otherwise have no opportunity at all.
Against this backdrop, the canonical visitation is more than a formal exercise. It is a time of listening, discernment and renewed communion, binding local communities ever more closely to the charism of St Magdalene of Canossa. The General Council visited the school, reaffirming St Magdalene’s conviction that the most effective way to overcome poverty is through education, and then proceeded to Sainte Joséphine Bakhita Hospital, directed by the Togolese sisters. There, the Superior General greeted staff and paused at the bedside of the sick, offering words of encouragement — a simple yet powerful embodiment of the Canossian mission: to unite spiritual care with compassion for human fragility.
The following morning brought a gathering of all the sisters of the Togo delegation. Gratitude and communion filled the encounter, expressed in a phrase that echoed at its close: “Nous rendons grâce à Dieu” — “We give thanks to God” — gratitude embraced as a way of life.
The visitation proved to be a vital moment of reflection, encouragement and exchange, strengthening the sense of belonging of the Togolese communities to a wider family. The Superior General and her Councillors listened attentively, engaging in discernment with the sisters: reviewing what flourishes, identifying what needs renewal, consolidating established works and sketching the outlines of new initiatives. Central themes such as the formation of young sisters, the sustainability of institutions and dialogue with the wider Church were placed firmly on the agenda.
Looking ahead, the Canossians in Togo seek to remain a sign of hope — their mission ever more rooted in local culture, combining faith and charity, spirituality and action. With the support of the General Council, their journey continues, strengthened and inspired, unfolding along a path of rootedness, communion and daily service.
