In order to meet the ongoing needs of couples who have not participated in the CANA weeks, the CANA Mission in Ivory Coast has set up an entity called “CANA recollection”. This is an outreach evangelization activity for couples and families. It takes place in parishes or new communities at their request. It offers couples the opportunity to experience a half-day of spiritual formation on themes specific to the reality of couples. The program is structured around a mass followed by an exhortation or teaching, a testimonial from a couple’s life, thematic workshops linked to the general theme addressed, and a rereading at the end.
A session is offered each quarter during the pastoral year, with different themes: living love to the full as a couple; complicity as a couple; constant renewal of the covenant, etc.
To date, the CANA recollection has been organized in 3 dioceses (Abidjan, Gagnoa and Man) and 2 new communities (Sacerdoce Royal and Community Mère du Divin Amour). A total of 256 couples took part.
Below are testimonials from couples who took part in the various sessions of the CANA Recollection.
“The CANA Recollection is an excellent initiative, both in terms of organization and method. The closeness to the participants and the opportunity to share personal testimonies mean that all the couples present feel challenged and interested in the discussions. As a result, 100% of participants found the method used very effective.”
“What impressed us most was the way in which the members of the Community made themselves available by truly listening and devoting time to others. It’s this availability and attentiveness that makes this spiritual formation so rich. What’s more, one aspect that was particularly appreciated was the fact that in the Community, each member introduces himself by referring to his wife as “his better half”. It’s a great way of valuing the couple. The best fruit is learning to do everything with your “better half”. It’s essential to be united and support each other.”
“As a result of the recollection, our couple is doing better. I’m doing so well that it’s showing up in my work. Everyone finds me happier and more pleasant in circumstances in which I was previously impatient.”
In conclusion, this new proposal that has appeared in the CANA universe in Ivory Coast is bearing fruit among couples, who find it an opportunity to nourish themselves spiritually and consolidate the unity of their couple. It is also appreciated by couples and families, parish priests and community leaders. It responds to the problem of couples’ availability for a half-day training session. In fact, the aim is to give couples a taste for the CANA weeks during the summer!
Some photos of teaching and workshop sessions
