ZAMBIA: Put God First, Religious Women Challenged
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| Fr. Charles Chilinda |
Religious
women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) region have been challenged to put
God first in their plans.
women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) region have been challenged to put
God first in their plans.
Speaking
when he celebrated Mass at the 16th ACWECA General Assembly, Fr.
Charles Chilinda urged the sisters to carry out Christ’s mission in society
today.
when he celebrated Mass at the 16th ACWECA General Assembly, Fr.
Charles Chilinda urged the sisters to carry out Christ’s mission in society
today.
Fr. Chilinda
challenged the sisters to have the vision of God in all discussions. “You’ve
been discussing here the issues of planning, money, management and many others,
how much of God and the vision of God were in your discussions; very little I suppose,”
he posed.
challenged the sisters to have the vision of God in all discussions. “You’ve
been discussing here the issues of planning, money, management and many others,
how much of God and the vision of God were in your discussions; very little I suppose,”
he posed.
Quoting Pope
Francis Message to Korean Bishops during his recent visit to that country, Fr
Chilinda said that the message perfectly suits the plenary gathering of the
sisters.
Francis Message to Korean Bishops during his recent visit to that country, Fr
Chilinda said that the message perfectly suits the plenary gathering of the
sisters.
The Holy
Father had said to the Korean bishops that “… the prophetic witness to the Gospel presents particular
challenges to the Church in Korea. The Church carries out her life in ministry
amid a prosperous yet, increasingly secularized and materialistic society. In
such circumstances it is tempting for pastoral ministers to adopt not only
effective models of management planning and organization drawn from the
business world but also a lifestyle and mentality guided more by worldly criteria
of success and indeed power, than by the criteria which Jesus sets out in the
Gospel. Woe to us if the cross is empty of its power to judge the wisdom of
this world. I beg you and your brother priests to reject this temptation in all
its forms…”
Father had said to the Korean bishops that “… the prophetic witness to the Gospel presents particular
challenges to the Church in Korea. The Church carries out her life in ministry
amid a prosperous yet, increasingly secularized and materialistic society. In
such circumstances it is tempting for pastoral ministers to adopt not only
effective models of management planning and organization drawn from the
business world but also a lifestyle and mentality guided more by worldly criteria
of success and indeed power, than by the criteria which Jesus sets out in the
Gospel. Woe to us if the cross is empty of its power to judge the wisdom of
this world. I beg you and your brother priests to reject this temptation in all
its forms…”
Fr. Chilinda
told the sisters to always bear in mind that they are earthenware vessels and servants
not of their individual congregations, ministries or charism but of Christ’s
Mission.
told the sisters to always bear in mind that they are earthenware vessels and servants
not of their individual congregations, ministries or charism but of Christ’s
Mission.
“It is not
about the congregation’s constitution or what your charism is; what is
important is Christ’s Mission,” he said adding that all religious Charisms are
nothing without Christ’s Mission because the charisms only get their own
character by being in Union with Christ’s Mission.
about the congregation’s constitution or what your charism is; what is
important is Christ’s Mission,” he said adding that all religious Charisms are
nothing without Christ’s Mission because the charisms only get their own
character by being in Union with Christ’s Mission.
Fr. Chilinda
called upon the sisters not to look for profit but to serve God‘s people
freely. He advised the sisters not to grumble and compare themselves with
others.
called upon the sisters not to look for profit but to serve God‘s people
freely. He advised the sisters not to grumble and compare themselves with
others.
He also
urged the Superior Generals to be good shepherds to the members of their
congregations.
urged the Superior Generals to be good shepherds to the members of their
congregations.
“We joined
sisterhood so that we could serve God’s people. But somewhere it changes, we
become more important than to serve God’s people”, he said. “We are called to
participate in doing God’s will.
sisterhood so that we could serve God’s people. But somewhere it changes, we
become more important than to serve God’s people”, he said. “We are called to
participate in doing God’s will.
Source: Sr. Helen Kasaka
