Senegal

Senegal region was founded by the province of France in September 1971. The first three sisters arrived in Mboro, a town near the coast to the north of Dakar. These first missionaries came in response to the need expressed by the small Catholic community, many of whom had come to find work in the hospital mine of Taiba. Within the first few months they had opened a dispensary and a kindergarten and were involved in the catechetical programme of the parish. The following year another joined the community and plans were underway to start a primary school. Our first Senegalese Sister made her novitiate in Kenya and has been professed in Senegal in 2007 and is working in her own country. At present, hte sisters are involved in Social work, pastoral work and health, nutrition programs for mother and child. To express what presence in Mission is for us RNDM in Senegal, what better symbol can we find than the calabash: emptied to receive all, to resonate with the rhythms of celebration.
The calabash is present in the life of the Senegalese people from birth until death … in all the ceremonies of life. It is also simply there every day, for the life of each day. The calabash is open to receive, to listen; it is ready to pour out freely as gift for all that it has received. A calabash circles in communion and has the depths of prayer.