From 16 to 19 July 2026, the Sainte-Anne community in Nanoro hosted the annual retreat of the Nazarene Fraternities of Burkina Faso. Over the course of four days, the participating couples explored their Christian vocation in light of the theme: ‘Promoters of life and hope in the deserts of modernity’. An invitation to make the family a sign of hope in a world in search of guidance.
Coming from the fraternities of Saaba, Saint Francis of Assisi, Ouagadougou and Ouahigouya, the participants gathered in Nanoro to experience a special time of prayer, formation and fellowship.
The retreat was led by Brother Samuel GNARGO, a specialist in family ministry, who guided the reflections on the topic.
The reflections aimed to show us the three ‘deserts’ of our time that are weakening families, and to consider the family as the primary promoter of life.
In addition to these reflections, the retreat included times of prayer, with a daily Mass, the Stations of the Cross and the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance. These moments enabled everyone to renew their Christian commitments.
At the end of the retreat, we reached this conclusion: the greatest contribution a Christian couple can make to society lies in who they are, not in what they possess.
By the end of this retreat, one conviction had become clear: the greatest contribution a Christian couple can make to society does not lie in what they possess, but in who they are.
In a context marked by uncertainty, divisions and numerous human frailties, a family that loves, prays, forgives, welcomes and serves becomes a true oasis amidst the deserts of modernity.
Thus, the Nazarene Fraternities left Nanoro with a renewed call: to make every home a place where life is protected, where hope is nurtured and where the love of Christ is made visible. For it is through the daily witness of united, open and missionary families that the Gospel continues to transform the world.
H. Jean Parfait OUOBA. Secretary-General of the National Coordination of the Fraternities
