I’m Estelle, I’m 33 years old and I’ve been a member of the community since 2009. Here in Yopougon, I am responsible, among other things, for the formation of our missionaries who are still at the beginning of their journey. It’s an important and exciting task.
Walking at the same pace…
When a young man or woman enters the community, they go through a basic formation period that lasts five years. First, a year of community life, then two or three years of theology or religious studies, and then a year of preparation for their first vows.
The week is divided between prayer, manual or intellectual work, and the different regular appointments of our missionary life in Yopougon.
Usually, on Fridays at 4 pm, we meet for a training session. It’s a privileged moment of exchange and sharing around a theme related to the life and spirituality of the Missionary Community of Villaregia.
The meetings are held in the afternoon because it’s after a day of work or school that the brothers and sisters in formation can all come together or according to different stages.
Educating, training, accompanying…
In our statutes, number 1 states that “members of the Missionary Community of Villargia desire to live an intense communion life in the community, devote themselves to ad gentes mission, and live in confident abandonment to divine providence.” This life is assimilated through prayer, self-improvement through service, and intellectual formation.
My presence alongside them is one of service and listening. I am responsible for their training, but the entire community is involved in accompanying these brothers and sisters.
It’s not a classroom…
The Friday afternoon training session lasts only two hours each week, but it is life itself that is the ground where each one of us, including them, can generously give themselves in fraternal life and mission. I am merely a spectator of the grace of God, who works in the life of those who trust in Him.
The Yopougon community remains open to anyone who desires to take a break to recharge and, why not, make themselves available to Communion and Mission with confident abandonment to Providence forever.
