I can bear serious witness to the good spirit that animates this community, to the piety, virtue and apostolic zeal of its members.

In conclusion, I recommend to them unity, regularity, and fidelity to their exercises of piety.

At Tripoli –As soon as they arrive at Tripoli, the Fathers will make contact with the caravan masters going to R’damès, making out that they are travellers seeking to penetrate into the interior of the country to see if it is possible, ultimately, to establish business relations with France.

At Saint Charles, Lavigerie gathered the 23 novices of the White Sisters; he made them aware of the situation of war and lack of resources and gave them full liberty to return to their families, if they wished. Only one left.

I congratulate you for what you have already done and in particular for having had the good idea of establishing a second mission post outside the territories of King Mutesa.

Think of the reward that awaits you for even having given a cup of cold water in the Lord’s name, how much more then will you receive for all the pain and suffering your life as apostles has brought you

The second remark I would like to make concerning the allowance you will be given is that half of this sum must, in conscience, be used for ransoming and educating young Negroes and for baptizing children in danger of death

It is a battlefield of charity, where your arms will be your daily good deeds, where your defence will be gentleness and patience, where your preaching will be the power of your example and your final triumph will be the heroic sacrifice of your life.