Serve Christ with an undivided heart, Pope Francis tells nuns in Africa

Serve Christ with an undivided heart, Pope Francis tells nuns in Africa

The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) has celebrated its 40th anniversary and the 16th Plenary Assembly over the weekend.  The long-awaited anniversary celebration of the consecrated women was held at Zambia’s Lusaka Cathedral of the Child Jesus, Pope Square.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has urged the religious women in Eastern and Central Africa to serve Christ with an undivided heart.  Pope Francis’ message was conveyed to the religious women, gathered in Lusaka, by the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, Archbishop Julio Murat.  The message, to the sisters, was read by Right Reverend Evans Chinyemba, Zambia’s Bishop of Mongu Diocese. 

During the colourful Eucharistic celebration, various tunes, mainly in English, one of the widely spoken languages in the region, were sang to the delight of worshippers at seeing so many religious women in one place. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Patrick Chisanga of Mansa Diocese who is also the Bishop Director for the Religious in Zambia.

In his homily, Bishop Chisanga urged the religious sisters to be courageous and focused like the Canaanite woman, who proclaimed that the love of God cannot be bound and limited.  He encouraged the sisters to challenge prejudice and deceptiveness in society.

Welcoming the ‘nuns’ from nine different African countries, the Chairperson of ACWECA, Sr. Margaret Aringo highlighted the major apostolates the sisters are doing in the region. She said the sisters are the backbone of the Church and society in Africa. They are involved in justice and peace issues; HIV and AIDS; orphanages, schools, health-care and other developmental activities. Sister Aringo also recounted the challenges that the sisters go through in their apostolates. She urged the sisters to continue being true witnesses challenges notwithstanding.

The Zambian Government Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Professor Nkandu Luo, who represented Government, commended the Catholic Church in Africa for the great contribution to the development agenda. Professor Luo said the developmental projects which the sisters were running, in Africa, are a testimony of their love for humanity. She assured the sisters, at least those in Zambia, that Government supports their work. “You go about doing your work quietly, committed and dedicated. The results you produce in your schools, the smooth running of your health institutions and many other developments projects are a testimony of your love for humanity” she said.

On the same occasion, the Nairobi-based AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo also addressed the sisters. He congratulated the association (ACWECA) for clocking 40 years and encouraged the sisters to serve without fear and discover new ways of evangelization. He added that the sisters should continue to read the signs of the time and create true synergies in working together as one family of God. “Life begins at 40, so we congratulate you and we are telling you as AMECEA that life (for your association) begins here and now. We promise you our support and commitment to the work of all women religious for the betterment of the region”, Fr. Lugonzo said.

Present at the anniversary celebrations were the Bishop of Mongu in Zambia, Right Reverend Evans Chinyemba OMI, Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) Secretary General Fr. Cleophas Lungu, donors, partners, scores of Zambian priests, religious and the laity.

The 16th ACWECA Plenary Assembly is being held at Andrews Motel in Lusaka, Zambia from 16 to 29 August under the theme “Go, do not be afraid and serve”. Some of the topics under discussion are leadership, transparency and accountability, civil law and canon law.

The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) is a body of Catholic Religious sisters comprising nine (9) national sisterhood associations drawn from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

 (Sr. Helen Kasaka, ACWECA publicity committee)

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