In this solemn year, marked by the double jubilee of our congregation, the sisters of Côte d’Ivoire have the privilege of celebrating a third jubilee of particular significance. Fifty years ago, the first Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation settled on Ivorian soil to transmit the message of Salvation to all.
To commemorate this event, the sisters undertook a pilgrimage to ONO, an emblematic place where the pioneers were first welcomed into the country. From March 29 to 30, 2025, this initiative allowed the sisters to experience a time of prayer and sharing with the faithful of the parish. The program for these days included moments of reflection, prayers including the recitation of the Rosary in a beautiful procession, songs and dances. In addition, the pilgrims visited some sites where the pioneer sisters had deployed for missionary activities, in particular the Maternal and Child Protection service (PMI) and the dispensary. This visit also continued at the village chief’s house and in the house the sisters had lived in. This culminated in the projection of a video retracing the life of the sisters since their arrival, illustrating the various fields of their mission.
This pilgrimage ended with the solemn celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the Saints Martyrs of Uganda Chapel. These moments of spiritual communion made it possible to pay homage to a heritage of faith and charity that has endured for five decades. Beyond a simple tribute to the pioneers, this celebration also presents itself as an act of commitment and hope for the future of vocations in Ivorian soil.
Sister Regina Emeline ABITAN op
