Brothers and Lay people of the St. John Paul II College at the Entrance to the Badi Monastery.
On Sunday, March 30th, 2025, the Mennaisian family of the Southern Sector of Senegal, composed mainly of the Educational Community of Saint Jean Paul II college of Vlingara, made its Mennaisian Pilgrimage to the Brand New Monastery of Our Lady of Badi, 149km from Vélingara and 60km from Tambacounda, on the road to Kédougou. The Monastery of Our Lady of Badi was a Daughter Foundation Project of the Cistercian Abbey of Sept-Fons (France) in the Diocese of Tambacounda.https://www.notredamedebadi.sn/fr). That Project began in 2017, in the Diocese of Tambacounda. Watch the video about that Brand New Monastery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xCFj1p0Zss
On the Banks of the Gambia River
Trappist Monks live in that Monastery. There were Thirteen of us, including Three Brothers and Ten Lay People. After a time of Prayer to entrust Our Journey to the Lord, the first stage of that Pilgrimage was Contemplation; Contemplating Nature with all its Wonders and Praying in Intimacy with its Creator.
Once there, the First Highlight of the day was the Eucharist, in which we participated with Great Fervor in an atmosphere conducive to Prayer. Then, the Second Time was Sharing around a Theme that was both Nourishing and Topical: Hope and Apostolic Mission. After that Theme, led by Brother Christophe MATEYENDOU, Brothers and Lay People had a long Discussion around Several Themes such as: Hope and Mission in the Family, Hope and Mission in Society, Hope and Mission in the Church, Living Hope in the context of the Catholic School, the Identity of the Mennaisian Layperson.
Then, while continuing Our Time of Contemplation, we were treated to a Guided Tour of part of the Monastery Site, which covered 200 Hectares.
A Third Highlight was devoted to the Reading of The Letter from the Superior General to the Mennaisian Brothers and Lay People, followed by reciting the Rosary.
At the End of the day, we left the Monastery full of Enthusiasm for the Mission. May the Lord, through the Intercession of Venerable Jean-Marie de la Mennais and Venerable Gabriel Deshayes, obtain for us many Holy Vocations as Mennaisian Brothers and Lay People.
Bro Simon GUEYE, Community of Vélingara