Authors
Gianantonio Allegri
Gilberte Bussière
Gianpaolo Marta
Canada, 2017
$10 (suggested price)
ISBN 978-2-9814329-1-9
Presentation
The night of April 4 to 5, 2014, Sister Gilberte Bussière, CND, was abducted by a group of armed men in the extreme north of Cameroon; a few meters away, members of the same group also captured Father Gianantonio Allegri and Father Gianpaolo Marta. Captive for 57 days, they were freed on May 31, feast day of the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame.
Hostages with God, initially published in Italian under the title Rapiti con Dio, is the story of these two months of captivity according to the journal kept by Sister Gilberte. Held prisoner in the Nigerian forest, dispossessed of everything, Sister Gilberte and Fathers Gianantonio and Gianpaolo drew closer to God. Their story is one of exceptional faith. Sharing the Word of God and the bonds formed among them, amid the adversity, occupied the prisoners’ daily lives. It is this incredible life experience that is shared with us.
Also available in French under the title Otages avec Dieu, the book will be available at the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum gift shop; at Maison Saint-Gabriel; at Maison de la prière Notre-Dame in Longueuil; and at Librairie Paulines.
In a world in need of spirituality, may this witness of faith enlighten us! Sister Gilberte is not available for interviews. Read the book, all is there. Enjoy!
Summary
April 4, 2014: Gianantonio Allegri, Gianpaolo Marta and Gilberte Bussière (two Fidei Donum priests of the Diocese of Vicence, Italy and a Canadian Sister of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame) had missioned together for several years in northern Cameroon on the Nigerian border, a region rife with Islamic sects. On that night, they were taken hostage by a squadron of terrorists and forced to live two months in the forest, where they experienced total deprivation. They had no freedom or access to even a minimum of material comfort, whether it be food, water, shelter or a bed.
In her journal, Sister Gilberte tells us that the unexpected possibility (for the first days of their captivity) to celebrate the Eucharist, along with the choice they made to share the Word of God and pray together each day, transformed their trial into a true path of conversion. The journal in which Sister Gilberte succeeded to write clandestinely bears witness to this. Immediately after their liberation she wrote: “The exceptional community life we experienced together during our captivity made us realize once more that we are called to practice respect, patience, tolerance, humility, kindness, compassion and love wherever we are called to live with others in a group.”
Information
Sisters de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame
2330, Sherbrooke Ouest
Montreal, QC H3H 1G8
www.cnd-m.org
www.heritagecnd.org
Stéphanie Manseau
Director of Communication
Congrégation de Notre-Dame
(514) 931-5891 Ext. 236
smanseau@cnd-m.org