Ready to ‘scatter’ for the good of others

For the Canossian family, one word moves us to action: availability. Saint Magdalene of Canossa lived it with a heart open to whatever God and others asked of her, holding nothing back for herself.

Beyond the square: when faith rekindles a city

Sometimes a glance, an image, a simple photograph can convey more than countless words and arguments.

That is what happened on Saturday 26 September, when an enormous crowd welcomed Pope Leo XIV to the beating heart of Paris, the famous Place de la Concorde.

Thousands of faces, gazes and fluttering flags transformed the square into a single, vast mosaic of hope. The Pope’s presence brought the French capital to a standstill while warming its heart, offering a rare and powerful image of unity. When the Holy Father began to speak from the stage at the foot of the Obelisk, an almost reverential silence fell over the immense crowd.

Canossian Foundation VOICA – From journeys around the world to everyday life

(Verona) – Returning from a summer of volunteering with the Canossian Foundation VOICA means carrying with us the faces, colours and memories of the journey we have shared.

Whether we were in Imperatriz, Brazil, among the villages and communities of Togo, in Malawi, or sharing experiences of fellowship and solidarity in Poland, we discovered first-hand what it means to encounter another person’s life, draw close to others and recognise that differences do not divide us, but enrich us.

India – Evening study centres: supporting literacy in rural communities

Payakaraopeta — Children in the rural villages of Payakaraopeta, in Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India, grow up in extremely challenging social and family circumstances. In practice, the provision of government schools in these villages amounts to little more than a formality. A single teacher is usually responsible for teaching all five years of primary school. This severely affects the quality of teaching and children’s learning, leaving many unable to read or write properly even by the time they reach Year 5.

To help build a better future for these children, Sister Thankam John has established seven evening study centres in seven villages. Together, they now support 300 boys and girls, assisted by 12 teachers.

Canossian Foundation VOICA – My name is Sophie, and I refuse to give up in the face of life’s challenges

(Lomé) – Agoè-Kové is a vibrant, densely populated suburb on the outskirts of Lomé, the capital of Togo. It is expanding rapidly and has a very young population.

Sophie, aged 19, lives here with her two brothers.

In recent years, she has lost both parents within a few years of each other, and the pain of their loss has been immense. Responsibility for the family has therefore fallen on her young shoulders. As well as continuing her studies, she has had to take on the care of her seven-year-old brother…