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Loué Jésus-Christ!

Welcome to Loving Africa

In 2021, I spent five months serving in Gabon, on the west coast of Africa. Mine time there, living at the Mission Ste. Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus, in the "professional capacity" of a nurse (I spent more time in the kitchen than the clinic!), was an experience I would like to share. Here you will find my story, and all the people and things that made up that stories: our dear priests, Canon Fragelli and Canon Sigros, the seminary candidates and oblates, who were my brothers for five months, and the postulants: my sisters! Feast days, Forty Hours Devotion, processions and birthdays make up this story, but there is also the day-to-day experience: Mass, clinic work, meals, French class, choir practice... 

Each day, each hour, was a thread that wove this tapestry, one I hope you enjoy seeing as much as I enjoyed making it--or rather, being the one Our Lord used to make it.

In Christ the King,

Sarah

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A Tribute to Canon Fragelli

Canon Henrique Fragelli, who rebuilt and revitalized the Mission Ste. Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus since 2012, died this morning in Brazil. His health had been fragile ever since contracting covid in May 2021, requiring a prolonged hospitalization and a double lung transplant. He had recently established a new mission in Rio de Janeiro at the invitation of the archbishop; today, as was noted by the Prior General of the Institute to be the first day of the month of St. Joseph, patron of a happy death, the Lord called him back to Himself.  I can only imagine the mourning at his beloved mission. For my part, I have a few personal memories: -- Canon working with me to arrange my mission trip; offering me his arm when I nearly collapsed upon my arrival and later calling my mom to let her know I had arrived; teasing me: about my ridiculous facial expression when he was taking a picture, about making hamburgers because I'm American; urging courage and patience with learning French; simpl...

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