"To be able to give light, one must be nourished by light." — St Marie Eugenie of Jesus
During the three weeks from 5 to 24 July 2026, the province of Madagascar had the grace of welcoming Sister Véronique, our general archivist. She helped us deepen several aspects of our life as Religious of the Assumption: the archives, the life of Marie-Eugénie, the charism and spirituality, the mission of educators at the Assumption, and the building up of community.
With Sister Véronique, we deepened our knowledge of the history of Saint Marie-Eugénie, our foundress. I am moved by the faith and the courage with which Marie-Eugénie lived the founding of the congregation, though she was very young. There is also her concern for others, for those who lived around her. Her simplicity strikes me as well, along with the gift of herself that made her a saint. As I come to know Marie-Eugénie, I am not afraid to move forward on the path, following Christ, among the Religious of the Assumption. — Emilienne, postulant
Our Sister Véronique Thiébaut helped us understand our spirituality better. What stays with me from her teaching is that our spirituality is shaped by six schools of spirituality — Augustinian, Dominican, monastic, French, Salesian and Benedictine — and that we should commemorate the saints who founded these schools. We are a Christ-centred congregation. After following this session, I am aware of the value of the interior life and of trust in God. It also changed the way I look at the person in front of me, seeing them positively, as a child of God worthy of being loved and respected. — Suzanne, second-year novice
During these two days of training on the archives, I discovered what an archive is and its importance in the life of our congregation, provinces and communities. I also discovered the role of archivists, the qualities they must have, and the good practices for preserving and enhancing our documentary heritage. The training helped us understand that archives are not merely old documents, but a living memory that bears witness to our history, our mission, and above all reveals the action of God in our congregation, provinces and communities. — Sister Olivia
With us, the sisters in the juniorate of Madagascar, Sister Véronique helped us deepen our charism and spirituality, from the time of Marie-Eugénie, and see how to live this in the Malagasy context. I now understand well why and on what our life at the Assumption is both contemplative and active. Our whole life must be centred on God and at the service of others; this helps us to decentre ourselves, to go out of ourselves and to place others at the heart of our mission. It is also essential for us to live as women of adoration — faith, silence, the presence of God — to let our intelligence grow by welcoming contrary ideas, reflecting and discussing, and to let our interior kingdom act toward the social kingdom, beginning with our willingness to be renewed and transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. — Sister Fabina
Thanks to the colloquium that our Religious of the Assumption sisters organised in Ambohimahasoa, I was deeply moved by the richness of the exchanges on the educational mission at the Assumption. This moment of sharing between sisters and lay people highlighted the importance of an integral education, which seeks not only intellectual success but also spiritual, moral and physical growth. I took away that the act of educating is rooted in a Christian attitude, and that before transforming others we must transform ourselves. The discussions stressed the need to approach students with closeness, respect and discernment, valuing their talents and aspirations, and accompanying them in discovering the good within them, so that they may act in society. This fraternal atmosphere made me wish that such gatherings would continue, for they strengthen the conviction that education is above all a path of faith and service. — Mrs Lydia, teacher
During the session with our Sister Véronique, I was deeply moved by several aspects that shed light on my spiritual life. I understood that placing Christ at the centre of my life is a daily undertaking, one that asks of me a more interior life. It means entering each day into a sincere conversion, for He alone can transform my habitual weaknesses. Uniting myself to Christ has become a priority for me, a path that urges me to model my life more and more on Him. I also discovered the importance of living the love of God and love of neighbour, a love rooted in faith. This call invites me to carry out faithfully the mission entrusted to me, seeking to reflect gentleness and quality in the relationships around me. In short, this session was for me a pressing invitation to let Christ reign in my heart and in my relationships, so that His love may be shown concretely in the world. — Sister Geneviève