We were taken aback when Sr. Marie Heckman of the Institute Sisters of St. Joseph called us to reserve two weeks in August for young African and French sisters who were preparing for their final vows. They would also bring their own cook! How could we refuse such an offer!
The sisters came from France, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. Fr. Aristide Jules-Dossou, a Jesuit priest from Benin,
accompanied the sisters as well as Sr. Marie Therese Vallete and Sr. Dijondo Toussainte also provided presentations and readings during meal times. The two weeks included a week-long retreat with visits to SSJ historical sites. Everyone was very serious about this visit and faith-filled.