As children, they were brought from Senegal to France for their education with the assistance of Anne-Marie Javouhey, founding nun of the order of Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny.

According to French historian Georges Goyau, Moussa, Boilat, and Fridoil trained under the guidance of Mother Javouhey at the seminary she established in 1825 in Bailleul, Oise, and transferred to Limoux, Aude in 1829.

[6][7] They eventually completed their theological studies at the Seminary of the Holy Spirit (French: Séminaire du Saint Esprit) in Paris in 1838.

[9] Moussa celebrated Mass at the Palace of Fontainebleau in the presence of King Louis-Philippe and Queen Marie Amelie of Bourbon-Orléans.

[13] In the summer of 1846, Moussa's arrival in Paris brought joy to Javouhey, followed by visits to the nuncio, the King, the Queen, and Madame Adélaïde.