From April 21 to 26, 2025, the annual charismatic formation session for young Canossian Sisters in Temporary Vows from the “Notre Dame d’Afrique” Delegation took place at the Léon XIII Spirituality Center in Agoé-Lomé. Fourteen young consecrated women, accompanied by three members of the Delegation Council, experienced an intense week of prayer, formation, and fraternity centered on the theme: “Our Identity as Daughters of God and Servants.”
It was a grace-filled experience in a context that, despite its challenges, radiates extraordinary spiritual vitality. Togo, a small West African nation, continues to face significant obstacles: widespread poverty, a fragile healthcare system, social tensions, and limited access to education, particularly in rural areas. Yet amid these hardships, the vibrant presence of religious communities stands as a beacon of hope and transformation. Through its youngest daughters especially, the Church remains a quiet but powerful leaven of dignity and peace.
A Journey of Identity and Service
The session opened with a reflection by Mother Agnès, who drew from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians (3:1-4), inviting the participants to rediscover their identity as daughters of God. To recognize oneself as a daughter, to feel loved by the Father, is a profound and ongoing journey, nurtured through silence, prayer, and contemplation of Christ’s example.
On the second day, the Sisters reflected on their call to be servants of God—not as a duty imposed, but as a free and loving response to the One who calls. Three key steps were proposed: listening to the Son, allowing oneself to be renewed by His Word, and persevering in service, even amid fatigue and uncertainty.
The Charismatic Heart of Consecrated Life
The third day brought the participants to the heart of the Institute’s charism, deepening their understanding of identification with the Crucified Christ—the core of Canossian spirituality. Six steps shaped this spiritual journey:
- Knowing the Spirit of the Crucified Christ
- Meditating on the Crucified Christ
- Contemplating Jesus Crucified
- Imitating Jesus Crucified
- Being transformed into Jesus Crucified
- Identifying with Jesus Crucified
This demanding path is one of inner transformation that compels mission in the world’s most vulnerable places, where humanity waits for tangible signs of love and mercy.
Joy, Fraternity, and Witness
Alongside moments of study and prayer, the Sisters also enjoyed times of fraternal sharing, relaxation, and community outings, all in an atmosphere of deep joy. It is in this joy that the beauty of their vocation shines—lived as a gift for the world and a testimony to a hope that does not disappoint.
In the heart of Africa, in a nation still thirsting for justice and development, these young consecrated women embody a prophetic response: not armed with power, but with love; not seeking success, but ready to give of themselves. Like St. Magdalene of Canossa, who made service the royal road to holiness, they too prepare to live and carry the Charism of Charity wherever life is most fragile.
May this time of spiritual formation bear abundant fruit in holiness, dedication, and Gospel courage, for the good of the Church and the people of Togo.
