by Deogratias Mmana

Professor Emerita of New Testament and Gender Hermeneutics Sr.  Teresa Okure has challenged the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa, (ACWECA) that it is high time the association assumed responsibility to become mature and self reliant.

Sr. Okure said this on Tuesday during her zoom  presentation to the  ACWECA conference taking place in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The presentation was on holistic religious formation in view of living the charism of the congregation and the gospel values.

“I believe holistic religious formation invites us to recognise that it is time to assume responsibility to become mature, no longer satisfied to be babysat. Time to wake up, assume responsibility for personal, communal, regional and continental growth,” Sr. Okure said.

Sr. Okure suggested for ACWECA to consider having common formation programmes, a common institute for the formation of formators and common action to revive weak institutions.

She also challenged them to consider having a common project like Pan-African airline that would link the different countries of the continent.

Sr. Okure asked national associations of Catholic Sisters to address vices that rock their formation.

These vices include nationalism, tribalism, gender biases, class, different educational levels,  pride and overlooking down on other women while privileging the men.

For effective formation, she also urged the association to pay attention to formees by among others examining closely of their motives and orientation, giving them ways to assume the responsibility for their own life and sending them to formative communities for practical experience.

ACWECA is holding its 19th plenary assembly and celebrating a golden jubilee in Lilongwe.Malawi from August 19 to 24, 2024.