ACWECA: Pope Francis Sends Apostolic Blessings As 18th ACWECA Plenary Assembly Kicks off Virtually
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As the 18th Plenary Assembly for the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) commences on Monday, August 23, Pope Francis has sent his Apostolic blessings to the Religious Women, asking for Mother Mary’s intercession throughout the five-day period of the assembly.
“The Holy Father Francis cordially imparts Apostolic blessings to the members of Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa-ACWECA, invoking through the intercession of the Virgin Mary an abundance of Divine graces,” reads the message from His Holiness as read by ACWECA Vice President Sr. Adelina Muguna, the Superior General of the Nazareth Sisters of Annunciation.
Speaking during official opening of the assembly that was slated for August 2020, but postponed due to unprecedented challenges occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic, ACWECA President Sr. Mary Cecilia Njeri highlighted that the Association “had to come up with an alternative plan and hold the assembly virtually.”
In her speech, stressing on the theme of the assembly “Re-awaken our prophetic role: A call for reformation towards holistic transformation in the region today” Sr. Njeri the Superior General of the Little Sisters of St. Francis (LSOSF) emphasized that in relation to the protracted pandemic, “the theme of the assembly is timely and could not have come at a better time than now.”
“This current situation that has led to health emergencies, poverty, inequality, loss of jobs and hopelessness, has impacted on our ministries (and) has made this call more urgent and real,” Sr. Njeri narrated to over 160 participants who were following the session online with some few participants on site at Dimesse Retreat Centre, Nairobi.
“In the midst of all these,” recounts Sr. Njeri who has been at the helm of the LSOSF congregation since 2016, “the biggest challenge that we leaders of women religious institutes beginning from our own institutes and the wider society as a whole, face today more than ever is to show that we care.”
“I wish to assure you that these five days are designed precisely to do that, that is to show that we care,” adds Sr. Njeri who was elected at the end of the 17th Plenary Assembly that was help in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to head the Association aimed to promote effective leadership for the Association, National Associations, Individual Institutes, and to provide research, education and capacity building for women Religious in areas of need.
Giving her remarks on Monday as she officially opened the assembly which is normally conducted after every three years, Sr. Njeri disclosed some of the key sub-themes to be presented during the five-day Plenary Assembly meant to instill in participants the significance of the main theme of the assembly saying, “We shall have presentations from well sourced experts who will deepen our understating from various topics including; the Prophetic role for women Religious, a call for reformation in the region, holistic transformation in Religious life today and collaborative networks for collective impact; a unifying lesson from Covid-19 pandemic.”
“All these presentations will help us come up with solutions to mitigate our people’s anxieties,” she explained and continued, “Dear delegates I see this assembly as an excellent opportunity for us to come up with solutions and a driver for many positive impacts in our ministry to the people we serve.”
As she further asked participants to contribute actively for the success and smooth deliberations during the plenary, Sr. Njeri underscored that other ACWECA cooperative partners will also share good will messages with the Consecrated women after which “the presentations will help to form a base for action plans that national Associations will draw up towards the end of the plenary assembly and the Council of delegates will come up with a way forward for ACWECA for the next three years.
Prior to closure of the assembly, the last day will be dedicated to “Action plans and election of new ACWECA President, after which the Council of delegates will choose the country which will host the 19th ACWECA Plenary Assembly,” concluded Sr. Njeri.
