The Presentation of Mary sisters, a religious congregation, will be holding an international meeting to enhance their work for the poorest at Shalom, Fajara next week.

The Presentation of Mary Sisters arrived here in 1968. The Sisters have 16 members of whom 11 are Gambians, 3 Ghanaians and 1 Canadian. Of the group 3 are novices and 6 are pre-postulants. The Sisters take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

This years meeting prepares for the next general chapter. Sr. Elizabeth Pottin said the meeting is held every four years and they were delighted to receive their comrades from all over the world. She said, “the sharing of our experiences of solidarity commemorates our actual commitment and will open new paths for the future”.

The theme of this year’s meeting is “Let us Dare to Live a Preferential Love for the Poor.” The Sisters believe that their theme illustrates the, “already there” and the “not yet arrived”, and that this begins with the reality they live of; “Solidarity Today for Tomorrow”.

The tentative content for their meeting includes, ‘let us broaden our horizons’, ‘global vision of the realities in our world’, ‘sharing of experiences and visits’, ‘evaluation and commitments’ and commissioning day.

Sr. Madlene Mendy, their superior in The Gambia said, “45 sisters from 9 African and European countries including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Madera, Mozambique, Cameroon Senegal and The Gambia”. She says their focus will be on solidarity with the poor. “We shall find solutions as to how to help the poor as they’ve always done correctly”, Sr. Mado said.