On Saturday 23 August 2025, our three African Sisters brought us together in the chapel of Kermaria, France, as they said ‘Yes’ to following Christ through their first religious profession.

Sr Patricia’s word of welcome

Sister Patricia, Superior General of the Congregation, welcomed the assembly :

“How wonderful it is to see us all gathered here in the chapel of our Mother House. Kermaria, a place where the grains that fell to the ground have borne fruit, according to God’s timing. It is on this land, Lann Vraz, which became the village of Mary, that I have the joy of welcoming you.

It is our great joy to welcome you, Elisabeth, Joséphine and Caroline, who one

day heard these words, ‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him.’ You listened to him

say: “Come, follow me. Open yourselves to my unconditional love so that you may choose life and give it“, and you set out on your journey.

The ‘Yes’ that you will pronounce during this celebration is an opportunity for each one of us here present to grow in our baptismal grace and to renew our own ‘Yes’ to following Christ, in the complementarity of our vocations. With you, Elisabeth, Josephine and Caroline, with all those who desire to serve God by serving their brothers and sisters, let us cast our nets into the waters of our humanity in search of peace, justice and brotherhood, and contribute to respect for the freedom and dignity of all.”

Testimony from the three novices

Caroline, originally from Chad :

“I am deeply touched by the grace I have been given to devote my life to the service of God. My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude. I feel a great peace and deep serenity accompanying me every day and guiding me on the path of love and service. Today, I am happy to say that this new stage in my life is a very, very precious gift for me.”

Caroline is leaving to join the community in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Joséphine, of Congolese origin :

“It is a great joy for me to have taken my first vows in Kermaria, the place of foundation, paying tribute to all our founders and our first Sisters. I am also very happy to celebrate this temporary commitment in the presence of our Sisters from different communities, especially our elderly Sisters who were present during the celebration or who followed it by video link. The participation of each Sister, their attention, their prayers and their support touched me deeply. I am truly happy about this celebration, because it was also an opportunity to give hope to our Sisters. I really enjoyed taking the vows in the place of foundation. Thank you.

Josephine is leaving to join the community in Daoukro, in the Ivory Coast.”

Elisabeth, from Cameroon :

“I met the Daughters of Jesus at university in Ngaoundéré . They made a big impression on me with their simplicity. It made me want to do their work in the service of Christ. It is a great joy to have taken my vows in Kermaria, where the first Sisters lived. What touches me about the charism of the Daughters of Jesus is their closeness to the least among us, in the image of Christ.”

Elisabeth is leaving to join the community in Lai in Chad.

Homily

Father Benjamin Vergniaud, Son of Charity, commented on the Gospel.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’

Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ” Matthew 4:19-20

“Jesus’ call to his disciples by the lake contains the imperative to follow him, to walk in his footsteps. Following Jesus and taking the road that he proposes to his listeners is a constant theme in the Gospel. In a few moments, after taking your vows, you will be fully Daughters of Jesus. That is a powerful name, a name that will commit you to this path of humility,  the path of the Incarnation of God through the example of his Son Jesus Christ. You are committing yourselves “To honour the Holy Humanity of the Son of God, to commit oneself to a path of humanity and humanisation in the manner of Jesus.”

It is truly the mystery of the Incarnation, of this God who became man, who joined humanity in all that it is, that must shape your life as a religious. This life lies not in being better nor above, nor in appearance or recognition, but in your simplicity of life, in your humble and fraternal life, in truth with your Sisters, and in tenderness towards the men and women of this world.”

Festive celebration

“Rejoice, shout for joy, acclaim the thrice Holy God.

Bear witness to his Love.”

Madeleine from Bignan accompanied the songs as tamtams, maracas, and African songs made the celebration festive and opened us up to the international community.

Conviviality

After this beautiful and prayerful celebration, we were invited to a friendly aperitif where each of us could express our joy at having experienced a religious commitment in Kermaria, the place where, as Sister  Patricia reminded us, the grains that fell to the ground have borne fruit, according to God’s time

where the grain, where the grains that fall to the ground bear fruit, according to God’s time.

Thank you to Caroline, Elisabeth and Joséphine, and to all those who contributed to the success of this day.

Click below to watch the video

Sr Agnès Miquel, fj

Pontivy, France