ZAMBIA: ZAS Set to Celebrate Diamond Jubilee
The Zambia Association of Sisterhoods (ZAS) is set to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee on Saturday, November 17 in a grand Eucharistic Celebrations to be presided over by the National Director for Religious Bishop Patrick Chisanga. The celebrations are scheduled to take place at Roma Assumption Parish in the capital Lusaka.
The Association has grown from 225 sisters over the past 60 years to approximately 1, 500 sisters representing 45 Congregations of both Indigenous and International Missionary Sisters. Bishop Chisanga has urged the Sisters to move and read the signs of time.
ZAS Executive Chairperson, Sr. Marianna Bbalo has noted that the association has grown both in its structure and implementation of various programmes. The workforce has increased with a full-fledged Secretariat.
“For the first time, we have a strategic plan which is guiding us in our operation and we are more focused. We have moved a milestone now as Kalundu study centre is being run by an inter-congregational team of sisters from different Congregations working together,” Sr. Bbalo said.
She explained that the study centre has been offering various on-going workshops throughout the year which have been very successful. She explained that beginning next year, the centre will carry on offering the Formation and leadership course to train more sisters in different fields to run ZAS and Congregations. The course will be up graded to a diploma level and affiliated to St. Bonaventure University College.
Sr. Bbalo was also happy that ZAS had won the approval of some donors who have sponsored various programmes in Capacity building strengthening the Capacity of Women Religious in Early Child Development (Score ECD), the Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) implemented by African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) and Care for Catholic Children (CCC).
“This is a great achievement, we also have other committees such as Prayer companions, care for the earth, Sister to sister, mentors and facilitators etc who are doing tremendous work on behalf of the Association, “she extolled.
This has had an impact in the life of the sisters themselves as they support each other and reach out to the community. The working together is not additive but multiplicative in promoting the reign of God.
In the past sixty years, the sisters have exhibited support for one another by standing together for what is right and good. This has been a visible witness in living their privilege and responsibility of being publicly Consecrated celibate women who love without borders, who dare to live simplicity in every aspect of their lives and relationships and who listen attentively to their Triune God in making every decision for their individual lives, for their Institutes and ministry.
ZAS is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee under the theme; “Celebrating with Gratitude God’s Faithfulness and Embracing the Future with Confidence”.
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By Srs. Beatrice Mwansa, (D.O.R) and Helen Kasaka, (LSMI)
