The 27-year-old daughter of a Muslim imam in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, has made her first profession as a Catholic religious sister, describing the occasion as a joyful response to what she believes is God’s call.
Sr. Aicha Settimia Canté made her temporary profession on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Spirit (CDS). The celebration took place in the Catholic Diocese of Bissau and was presided over by Bishop Emeritus José Câmnate Na Bissign.
“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, describing the occasion as one of “joy, emotion and profound gratitude.”
Originally from Safim, a town about 15 kilometers north of Guinea-Bissau’s capital, Bissau, and raised in a Muslim family, Sr. Aicha is the daughter of an imam. Her Christian journey began at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Farim, where she was baptized. She later received Confirmation at St. Anne Parish in Mansoa before beginning her journey toward consecrated life.
During the celebration, she thanked Bishop Na Bissign, the superiors and sisters of her congregation, and the formators who accompanied her during her formation, including her studies in French, postulancy and novitiate.
“Each one of you contributed to my formation and to the strengthening of my vocation,” she said, acknowledging the spiritual guidance, advice and support she received.
In his homily, Bishop Na Bissign encouraged Sr. Aicha to understand religious life not simply as a personal choice but as a mission entrusted to her by God.
“It is a Divine Mission,” he said, urging her to respond generously and remain faithful to God’s plan.
The bishop also emphasized the importance of faith, prayer and thanksgiving in religious life, presenting the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model of openness to God’s will, particularly as Sr. Aicha made her profession on the feast of the Assumption.
The celebration was held under the motto attributed to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus: “In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be love.”
However, Sr. Aicha’s profession also sparked controversy on social media. She faced offensive comments, personal attacks and hate speech linked to her Muslim family background and decision to embrace Catholic religious life.
The National Confederation of Islamic Youth in Guinea-Bissau condemned the attacks and defended freedom of conscience and religion. Referring to the Islamic principle that “there is no compulsion in religion,” the organization called for peace, tolerance, respect and human dignity.
The group stressed that respecting a person’s religious choice does not necessarily require agreement with it, but disagreement should never become a justification for insults, threats or persecution.
Guinea-Bissau is a religiously diverse West African nation where Muslims and Christians live alongside followers of traditional African religions. Sr. Aicha’s profession has therefore drawn attention not only to her personal vocation but also to the importance of religious freedom, peaceful coexistence and respectful dialogue among people of different faiths.
Her journey from a Muslim family to Catholic consecrated life has become a reminder of the importance of respecting individual conscience and protecting the freedom to choose one’s religious path.
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