Vocation Pilgrimage 2009
Sénégal – Burkina Faso – Gambia
December 27 - 31, 2009

Wanting to walk in the spirit of Marie Rivier in order to encounter Jesus Christ, 81 young women and 17 sisters from Sénégal, The Gambia and Burkina Faso participated in a Vocation Pilgrimage that began at Kunkujang in The Gambia and finished at Popeguine in Sénégal. 

This was a pilgrimage where each one was invited to meet God.  A pilgrimage where symbols: a walking stick, sandals, a back-pack, water and bread, spoke loudly.  The buses were transformed into “rolling chapels” and together the group sang hymns to Marie Rivier, to the Virgin Mary as well as hymns of praise to God.  The conference in The Gambia was given by Father Emil who insisted on the fact that each vocation must be rooted in love and that love must always be the reason for our choices.  The discernment of a vocation, of God’s dream for us, must always be done in prayer.  In Sénégal, Father Jean Paschal Colley challenged the young women to be witnesses to Christ and at the closing celebration each one was invited to be “light for the world.”  Each day of the pilgrimage brought with it its newness.  Each young woman appreciated it in her own way.  And the Lord made his light shine on each countenance. 

A few comments given by the young women: 

“During the walk and the times of prayer, God was there!”
“We learnt to pray following the example of the daughters of Marie Rivier.  We also came to know Jesus Christ better.”
« Coming from very far away, Jesus gave us the joy of meeting him through all of these different faces of young women from other cultures and mentalities. Together we prayed, shared, sang and ate.  This pilgrimage was a journey the allowed me to renew my life.”
« I want to say a big thank you to the Sisters.  Their simplicity, their service, the moments of organised prayer, the meals, everything tells me who the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary are.  I understood that you are sent by God to live in our midst.”

 Many young women said that they were returning home happy to have known the Presentation of Mary in a closer way and happy to have met other young women with the same motivations as the ones they carry in their hearts. They hope that this type of gathering can take place again. Let us give thanks to God for all that was lived and continue to carry these young women in our prayer. 
“All is gift!  All is grace!”