In connection with World Mission Week in October, a young couple, Anaëll and Bastien,  came to give an account at the motherhouse, Kermaria, of their commitment to Cameroon in association with the Catholic Delegation for Cooperation.

Origin of this initiative

Anaëll and Bastien chose to share their experience in Kermaria because they have a special bond with the place. Anaëll is the granddaughter of a resident at la Sainte Famille, our high-dependency unit for the elderly, and Bastien is the grand-nephew of two Daughters of Jesus, who are in community at Kermaria.

Many Daughters of Jesus from Kermaria and the surrounding area gathered for this beautiful sharing in the Sacré Coeur hall, along with members of their two families, including several young people.

For two hours, Anaëll and Bastien captivated the audience with their presentation as they talked about :

– The Catholic Delegation for Cooperation.

– Their mission.

– What they learned.

The Catholic Delegation for Cooperation

The Delegation, which is an organisation of the Catholic Church, accompanies volunteers on their mission of international solidarity in Cameroon, from the beginning to the end of their experience, offering them :

– A session before departure.

– Follow-up throughout their stay.

– A session on return.

For their part, the Delegation has a number of requirements, the most important of which is motivation.

Sharing their mission

We could feel Anaëll and Bastien’s motivation as they spoke forcefully about their experience. After presenting the C. D. C. in very accessible language, they kept everyone’s attention with magnificent photos as we followed them through their lives in the neighbourhood where they lived in a small hut.

Each of them spoke about their experiences in Cameroon over the past 18 months. Anaëll, a nurse, worked at the Dibamba leprosarium run by nuns while Bastien helped future engineering students with their final-year project at the Catholic University of West Africa in Douala.

What they have learnt from the experience

Having returned to France a few months ago, the young couple are now aware of what this wonderful experience has given them. Able to remain realistic, they do not idealise what they have experienced but express the benefits they have gained from it.

Reactions to the sharing

At the end of their presentation, Anaëll and Bastien invited the participants to react. We all appreciated the enthusiasm of these two young people and their confidence in life. The Sisters of Kermaria appreciated this happy initiative and said :

‘It was a well thought-out and prepared project, based above all on strong common motivations.’

‘The details given about the motivations, the preparation, the work and the meetings showed just how carefully thought through the choice was.’

‘I was struck by their confidence and their perseverance in dealing with the more difficult things: adapting to the climate, particularly in the face of frequent malaria crises, and relationship difficulties.’

‘What I also remember is the presence of their families. You could feel that the families supported the young people’s project, and the way they carried it out. It was beautiful. Thank you very much for that.’

‘What interested me was the human aspect, the ‘benefit,’ that these young people got from this experience, their openness to another culture and what it brings. Plus, the change or adjustment in their outlook.’

‘They are two young people who have everything they need to be happy, and who, instead of selfishly living off their happiness, have started  by giving their time and skills to those who are waiting for help and support to improve their situation.’

‘They evoked an unconditional love to follow Jesus in serving the poorest. It reminds us of the first departures of our missionary Sisters for unknown lands… it tied in with the history of the Congregation: “to honour the Sacred Humanity of the Son of God”.’

‘Thank you to Bastien and Anaëll for coming to share with us what they have experienced in Africa: the joy of believing that God is at work in every age and in every generation.’

‘Their people are already a living testimony, their actions, supported by a meagre salary, with the suffering, leprosy patients in particular, or with future engineers, the hope of Africa, are a direct echo of the Gospel. Thank you Anaëll and Bastien.’

‘I am happy to learn that they met the Daughters of Jesus there.’

Many thanks to you, Anaëll and Bastien,

for allowing us to experience such a rich afternoon.

Good journey to you.

Sr Madeleine Meunier, fj

Rue des Tatras community, Rennes, France