There are seasons when grace arrives with particular intensity, moments when religious life blossoms in a renewed light. In August 2025, the Rwanda–Chad Province experienced one of these blessed times: a period of renewal, celebration, gratitude, and communion that will remain engraved in our hearts as a true spiritual symphony.
It all began with the annual retreat, held from July 28 to August 6, 2025. Led by Sister Martine Tapsoba, this retreat brought together all the sisters of the province under the theme: “Consecrated life, a treasure to welcome and make fruitful”. Each sister was invited to return to the essentials, to let herself be touched anew by Christ’s call, and to rekindle within herself the fire of her vocation as a Religious of the Assumption. Sister Martine guided us with words rich in experience, deeply rooted in the Gospel and in our Rule of Life, inviting us to rediscover the hidden fruitfulness of our lives offered to God.
August 6, the closing day of the retreat, was a moment of shared joy: we celebrated the jubilees of our dear Sisters Ancilla and Blandine Marie. Two lives given, two paths of fidelity, two living treasures of our province. For many years, Sister Ancilla has been a reference figure in initial formation: in the postulancy, novitiate, and juniorate. We thank her for this discreet yet essential ministry, for the total gift of herself. Sister Blandine Marie, a talented liturgist, has enriched community prayer through her many compositions, especially for the Liturgy of the Hours. Her music combines theological depth with cultural beauty. Beyond her art, she stands out for her contagious joy and enthusiasm, embodying with simplicity and authenticity the beauty of consecrated life.
We shared moments of jubilation; our joy was amplified by the fraternal and benevolent presence of His Eminence Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali, and of Bishop Samuel, Bishop of Koumra in Chad. Their presence was a strong sign of unity between our Churches in Rwanda and Chad, as well as visible support for the mission we carry together.
After these intense and luminous days, Sister Martine Tapsoba continued her generous service to the province by offering, from August 8 to 10, 2025, a training session for community superiors and the Provincial Council. This session was another moment of grace, a time of deep reflection on leadership in community, fraternal communion, and shared mission.
We cannot close this time of blessing without expressing, from the depths of our hearts, our profound gratitude to Sister Martine. Her passion for religious life and her love for the Assumption have rekindled in us the sense of our congregational body and our consecration. Thank you, dear Sister Martine, for having been for us a precious treasure, a unifying and life-giving presence.
Today, as we return to our daily path, our hearts overflow with gratitude. Gratitude for the treasure of religious life, for the fidelity of our elder sisters, and for the spiritual renewal that the Spirit has sown in us. Yes, our consecrated life is a treasure — a humble treasure, sometimes discreet, but immensely fruitful when placed in the hands of the Lord.