Sr. Helen Kasaka, LSMI

“We have noticed that Religious women are such a consolidated group and in all our conferences, you are very effective. We are very grateful for that and the accompaniment of your work in the Church,” Bishop Charles Kasonde, President of the Association of Member Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) commended in his opening remarks.

He made this revelation during the first-ever meeting between the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) and the Association of Members Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) executive members on November 22, 2022, at Roussel House of the Donum Dei Missionary Sisters in Karen, Kenya.

The meeting which attracted Bishops and Major Superiors of Sisters was held under the theme “Journeying together in the spirit of synodality in responding to the mission of the church in the AMECEA region.”

The meeting was convened in the spirit of journeying together as promulgated by the process of Synod on Synodality. It was aimed at recognizing the function of different members of the Church which comprises the Bishops, the Religious men and women, and the laity.

Bishop Kasonde said that there are still limping links with Religious men in the region, and added that the vocation to the Brotherhood is almost dying yet they shouldn’t allow that to happen.

“We need to find a way of supporting the linkages between the Religious Brothers and the priests so that anything that restrains our journeying together is addressed on time. Priests especially are easily consumed in the priesthood, but we want them to come out and exercise their role and emulate the Consecrated women in our church. It is this collaboration that we want to harness on this journey of synodality,” Bishop Kasonde remarked.

We need to find a way of supporting the linkages the Religious Brothers and the priests so that that anything that restrains our journeying together is addressed in a timely manner. Priests especially are easily consumed in the priesthood, but we want them to come out and exercise their role and emulate the Consecrated women in our church. It is this collaboration that we want to harness on this journey of synodality,” Bishop Kasonde remarked

Rt. Rev. Kasonde further commented on the laity in the Church and lauded the women’s organizations for being very strong in the Bishop’s Conferences. He urged the men who are lagging to also come out and exercise their rights and responsibility.

He remarked that in some of the Conferences and dioceses, they are doing well but still, a lot ought to be done.

“As a family of God, there is a need to recognize the various members and evaluate how they are working,” the AMECEA President said while insisting that they will continue persuading these efforts of evangelization through different members.

The encounter also discussed the children who are called the “Holy Childhood” in the number of conferences and dioceses, parishes; the youth aged 15-25 years who are very active; and those in the 26-35-year bracket who are young adults and that is where a lot of exoduses from the Church is.

The coming together of the leadership of the two associations in the journey of Synodality is to recognize their relatedness before God and also the gifts that God has given to each body so that they can move together.

He also recognized and appreciated the efforts of the Hilton Foundation which has given great hope to ACWECA and AMECEA. It has educated many Religious women that have increased the number of graduates. He added that education is power and a sure way of emancipation, promotion of human life, and veritable contributions to Religious life and the Church.

“The Hilton foundation has enabled us to achieve what we are doing and for that reason, we want to recognize and thank them,” he said.

“We encourage you the Mothers General representing others to ensure that you continue giving service to a number of our Sisters so that they can be educated under the post-graduated education program because once you educate one, you are educating the congregation.” Bishop Kasonde noted.

He emphasized that in the process of synodality, the Holy Father designed a program starting with the Religious members of the Church to the families, small Christian communities, outstations, the parishes, the deaneries, the dioceses, the nation, and now at a regional level t there is a collection of synthesis which is yet to be engraved in the Conferences.

According to the AMECEA President, Pope Francis extended the synodal process of the general session that was slated for October 2023 to 2024 so that the consultation that is going on is of quality and relevant to the Church amidst the challenges that are there.

According to Bishop Kasonde, the process of synodality is a moment of grace that God has given through Pope Francis, as a Catholic Church they take time to revisit their identity of who they are before God and others, a time to reflect on their relationships within the Church and the relationship with members outside the church, in the different Christian denominations and also different religious groupings.

The president summed up by reminding all members that the meeting was important because it brought them together. It is an opportunity to redefine their journey together so that they move together by the grace of God guided by the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Experience of participants

Commenting on the meeting between the two associations, Archbishop Martin Kivuva, President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and Archbishop of Mombasa Diocese had this to say:

“We join hands, especially in the area of evangelization and supporting the Church. We find it necessary to look at the areas where the Pope is asking us to walk in the same direction in the synod of synodality. The conclusion of this forum being born today in Nairobi is a great moment and we want to continue this forum on a yearly basis so that we can resolve the walk in the same direction. I take this opportunity to congratulate the organizers of this meeting.”The Rt. Rev. Kivuva said.

Sr. Agnes Cecilia Jonas the Superior General of Teresian Sisters currently serving as Vice president of ACWECA and President of the Association of Women in Religious Institutes of Malawi (AWRIM) said that it is the first meeting in the history of the Church in Africa and it was a beautiful encounter. She added that other issues discussed included the institution of marriage, the exercise of authority in the church, the self-sustainability of the church ministries, and how globalization is affecting Religious life.

“Above all, it was a free and honest discussion between the Bishops and mother Superiors.” Sr. Cecilia Jonas said.

Sr. Rosalia Sakayombo, President of ACWECA and Superior General of the Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Zambia also expressed her appreciation that they met with Bishops to discuss how to work together authentically in the Church without leaving anyone behind.

“We are going to ensure that the different parts of our society are taken care of in the discussions not only of sisters but also priests and the laity.” Sr. Sakayombo said.

She prays that these meetings are held often between ACWECA and AMECEA to discuss their issues because this has never been a trend before.