Imam’s daughter makes first profession as religious sister in Guinea-Bissau

Following offensive comments directed towards Sr Aicha on social media, the National Confederation of Islamic Youth in Guinea-Bissau issued a statement condemning hate speech and defending freedom of conscience and religion.

A daughter of a imam made her first profession as a Catholic religious sister in Guinea-Bissau on the Feast of the Assumption.

Aicha Settimia Canté, 27, described making her temporary profession in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Spirit on 15 August as a moment of “joy, emotion and profound gratitude”.

The celebration took place at a Mass in the Diocese of Bissau, with Bishop Emeritus José Câmnate Na Bissign presiding.

“Above all, I want to give thanks to God for calling me, choosing me and sustaining me until this moment,” Sr Aicha said in her thanksgiving speech, adding that her heart “overflows with joy, emotion and profound gratitude”.

Sr Aicha’s religious vocation has particular significance because she comes from a Muslim family background. She is the daughter of an imam and is originally from Safim. She was baptised at Our Lady of Grace Farim Parish in the Diocese of Bissau and received Confirmation at St Anne Mansoa Parish before embarking on her journey to consecrated life.

In her address during the Mass, Sr Aicha thanked Bishop Na Bissign for presiding over the celebration.

“Thank you very much for accepting to preside over this celebration, which is so meaningful to me. Your presence made this day even more beautiful and full of meaning,” she said.

She also expressed gratitude to the superior and sisters of her congregation for their accompaniment throughout her formation: “Each one of you contributed to my formation and to the strengthening of my vocation.”

Sr Aicha also acknowledged the formators who accompanied her through her formation, including during her study of French and in the Postulancy and Novitiate, saying their teaching, advice and gestures of love helped her grow as a Christian woman and religious.

In his homily, Bishop Na Bissign urged Sr Aicha to embrace her vocation as a mission of faith and dedication to God.

He emphasised that responding to God’s call requires determination, a generous response and a willingness to serve, noting that God continues to call men and women to participate in his plan for humanity despite the challenges facing young people today.

The bishop said a vocation should not be understood simply as an individual choice detached from mission, but as a response to the “divine mission”. He said faith was essential for navigating life and overcoming its challenges.

“Those who do not have faith in God find themselves completely disoriented,” he said, urging those responding to vocations to keep their relationship with God at the centre of their lives.

He also emphasised prayer and thanksgiving as essential elements of the Christian journey and integral to a permanent relationship with God amid personal and social challenges.

“[The Virgin Mary] is the complete response to God,” Bishop Na Bissign continued, explaining that she represents “the ark of the new covenant” because of her willingness to receive and fulfil God’s will. He also described the role of the Holy Spirit as “the principal companion of the Church.”

The temporary profession was celebrated under the motto of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus: “In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be love.”

Following offensive comments directed towards Sr Aicha and her profession on social media, the National Confederation of Islamic Youth in Guinea-Bissau issued a statement condemning hate speech and defending freedom of conscience and religion.

The organisation expressed “deep concern over the wave of offensive comments, personal attacks and hate speech”, citing the Quranic teaching that “there is no compulsion in religion”. It said Islam should be expressed through peace, mercy, justice, tolerance, wisdom and respect for human dignity rather than insults, humiliation, threats or persecution.

“Respecting someone’s choice does not necessarily mean agreeing with it,” the organisation said, stressing that disagreement over religious choices does not justify attacks on another person’s dignity.

The group also warned that freedom of expression should not be confused with the freedom to defame, insult, incite hatred or provoke religious conflict.

It called for a Guinea-Bissau in which Muslims, Christians and people of other convictions can live “with respect, fraternity and dignity”, describing the episode as an opportunity for reflection and dialogue rather than further division.

There were sisters in habits and sisters in cargo shorts. National dress was encouraged

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