A group of 19 missionaries including a nun of Maltese descent, who were killed in Algeria two decades ago, will be beatified by Pope Francis this month.
Along with others, the missionaries had been given an ultimatum: leave the country or be targeted. They stayed on and were murdered during the Algerian Civil War between 1994 and 1996.
The group included Bishop Pierre Claverie OP, seven Trappist monks, four White Fathers, a Marist brother and six nuns including Sr Jeanne Littlejohn.
The cause for their beatification opened in 2007 and at the beginning of this year Pope Francis signed the decree confirming that they died in “odium fidei” (hatred of the faith) thus recognising them as martyrs. The ceremony of their beatification will take place on December 8 in the cathedral of the diocese of Oran, where Mgr. Claverie was bishop.
Sr Jeanne Littlejohn (left).Sr Littlejohn, whose parents were Maltese, was born in Tunis in 1933. In 1957, she entered the postulate and received the name of Angèle-Marie. She pronounced her first vows two years later and was sent to Algeria Belcourt where the sisters had an orphanage and a boarding school for girls, Aid to the Church in Need (Malta) told Times of Malta.
In 1964, when the Algiers School of Arts in Belcourt opened its doors, she moved there as an embroidery teacher, where she remained until her death.
Sr Angèle-Marie was deeply attached to Algeria, its people and the mission.
On Sunday, September 3, 1995, a sister shared her fear of the violence after Mass, but Sr Angèle-Marie replied: “We must not be afraid. We only live in the present moment... the rest is not ours.”
Ten minutes later, on the way home, she was killed with Sr Bibiane, her companion.
In an interview with ACN (Malta), Sr Yvonne Gera, a Maltese Franciscan Missionary of Mary who worked in Algeria for 22 years and knew each of the 19 martyrs personally, said: “They all worked with people; helping the poor, the sick, the children and despite the war, they did not leave. They continued taking care of people.”
According to Sr Yvonne, the Church suffered a lot in Algeria, but it kept a presence and welcomed everyone.
She encouraged missionaries working in war-torn countries: “If the people suffer, we suffer with them. It is our vocation and the Lord is always there to help us even in suffering or in martyrdom.”
On the occasion of the beatification of these martyrs, Aid to the Church in Need (Malta) will be issuing a booklet about their mission.
Those interested can call on 2148 7818 or send an email to info@acnmalta.org.