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

Aicha Settimia Canté, 27, made her temporary profession on Aug. 15, describing the milestone as a response to God’s call and a moment of “joy, emotion, and profound gratitude.”

A daughter of a Bissau-Guinean imam has made her first profession as a Catholic religious sister, describing the milestone as a response to God’s call and a moment of “joy, emotion, and profound gratitude.”

Aicha Settimia Canté, 27, made her temporary profession on Aug. 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Spirit (CDS).

The celebration took place in the Diocese of Bissau and was presided over by the bishop emeritus of Bissau, José Câmnate Na Bissign.

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

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

Her profession highlights the coexistence of different religious traditions in Guinea-Bissau.

‘My vocation was strengthened’

In her address at the Eucharistic celebration, the new sister thanked 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 religious congregation for their accompaniment throughout her formation.

“Each one of you contributed to my formation and to the strengthening of my vocation,” she said.

Canté also acknowledged those who accompanied her through her formation, including her study of French, postulancy, and the novitiate, saying their teachings, advice, and gestures of love helped her grow as a Christian woman and religious.

She further thanked those who accompanied her spiritually and helped her discern her vocation.

‘Vocation is a divine mission’

In his homily, the bishop urged Canté to embrace her vocation as a mission of faith and dedication to God.

He emphasized that responding to Godʼs 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.

According to the bishop, a vocation should not be understood simply as an individual choice detached from mission but as a response to Godʼs plan.

“It is a divine mission,” he said, emphasizing the responsibility of those who place themselves at the service of God and humanity.

Na Bissign also described faith as 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 Godʼs call to keep their relationship with him at the center of their lives.

He also highlighted prayer and thanksgiving as essential elements of the Christian journey and called for a permanent relationship with God amid personal and social challenges.

‘In the heart of the Church, I will be love’

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

Na Bissign presented the Virgin Mary as a model of response to Godʼs call.

“Mary is the complete response to God,” he said, adding that she represents “the ark of the new covenant” because of her willingness to receive and fulfill Godʼs will.

The bishop also highlighted the role of the Holy Spirit in the Churchʼs mission, describing the Spirit as “the principal companion of the Church.”

Attacks on social media

Canté’s religious profession also attracted offensive comments, personal attacks, and hate speech on social media, particularly because of her fatherʼs identity as an imam and her decision to embrace Catholic religious life.

The situation prompted the National Confederation of Islamic Youth in Guinea-Bissau to condemn the attacks and defend freedom of conscience and religion.

The organization expressed “deep concern over the wave of offensive comments, personal attacks, and hate speech” that circulated on social media following news of Canté’s religious choice.

The Islamic youth organization recalled the Quranic teaching that “there is no compulsion in religion” and called for the Islamic faith to be expressed through peace, mercy, justice, tolerance, wisdom, and respect for human dignity rather than insults, humiliation, threats, or persecution.

“Respecting someoneʼs choice does not necessarily mean agreeing with it,” the organization said, stressing that disagreement over religious choices does not justify attacks on another personʼs 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.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, has been adapted by EWTN News.