On 8 February 2025, three Sisters of Divine Providence left for the mission in São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa, more specifically on the island of Príncipe, where a new community will be founded: Sister Maria Cecília Xavier Marques, Sister Judite Gomes de Jesus and Sister Cleria Wickert.
The sending forth celebration took place on the morning of the 7th, during the Eucharistic Celebration in the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, at the Sisters' Provincialate in Florianópolis.
The Liturgy of the Word, especially the Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (13:1-8) brought encouraging words to the three missionaries: ‘...he himself said, ’I will never leave you, I will never forsake you. So we can boldly say: The Lord is my helper, I will never fear... Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday and today and for all eternity.’
Before the blessing, the Sisters received a rucksack, symbolising that we are pilgrims of hope.
Gratitude for the courageous yes of these Sisters! We accompany them and invoke upon each one the blessing of the Provident Trinity. May they feel and proclaim confidently in their new mission area, like the Psalmist: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom shall I be afraid? The Lord is the protection of my life; before whom shall I tremble?’ (Psalm 26/27)