The Notre Dame de Grâce community in Manandona is composed of ten sisters and four young aspirants. Four sisters and one trainee work at the school. Our mission is organized as follows: one sister is responsible for the Sainte Marie Eugénie boarding school, another oversees the distribution of student snacks, and the other sisters are responsible for the Home Economics Center. Another sister, together with an elderly sister, also oversees the Home Economics Center. The superior is in charge of livestock farming. The three aspirants are middle-school and high-school students at our Sacré-Cœur Institution.
In our institution, we educate 520 students, from preschool to the final year of secondary education, supervised by twenty educators, including three priests who provide weekly catechesis. On January 6 and 7, 2026, we teachers attended a training session led by Father Fabien from DIDEC (Diocesan Directorate of Catholic Education) on teaching ethics. This formation enabled us to deepen our knowledge and reminded us of the importance of educational quality in Catholic schools, as well as each educator’s responsibility.
At the end of this training, all teachers and educators from the Manandona District celebrated the New Year together. The gathering took place in a fraternal atmosphere, and we experienced genuine community communion.
We are also preparing for the school celebration, which will take place from April 23 to 26, 2026. The event will include various activities such as stands, carnivals, dances, group performances, and refreshment areas. The main objective of this celebration is to strengthen the school fund in order to improve the institution’s infrastructure.
The community then celebrated the anniversary of the heavenly birth of Saint Marie Eugénie on Sunday, March 15, together with Christians from the Manandona district. The festivities began on Friday, March 13, with the arrival of the sisters’ parents in the Antsirabe region, accompanied by Assomption Ensemble Lay members and boarding communities; in total, we were 41 participants. On Saturday, March 14, a spiritual retreat was organized in two groups: the first gathered parents and young people, while the second included children. The conference focused on the life of Saint Marie Eugénie.
On Sunday, March 15, the Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Father Solofo, Moderator, assisted by two associate priests. The liturgy was especially vibrant thanks to the liturgical dances. After Mass, AE organized an exhibition-sale of handicrafts and agricultural products. The celebration continued with a fraternal agape and group dances. Distinguished guests included the mayor of Manandona, the neighborhood chief, and representatives of Church movements and the Sacré-Cœur High School. A total of 130 participants attended. Overall, the celebration was well organized and lively, leaving everyone with a lasting memory of communion and shared joy.
“IT IS GOD WHO GUIDES EVERYTHING”
Saint Marie Eugénie of Jesus