AMECEA: Talk Series to Consecrated Persons on Psycho-social and Spiritual Care, Calls for Renewed Wellbeing
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Amid Covid-19 pandemic that has significantly impacted on the social, economic, mental and spiritual life of people across the globe, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) through the department responsible for Promoting Integral Human Development (PIHD), has through talk series on psycho-social and spiritual care called for a renewed well-being of Consecrated persons who are equally affected by the pandemic.
Speaking to the Religious and clergy at a virtual session on Wednesday, July 28, the facilitator Fr. Marcellin Ouédraogo noted that “Covid-19 has affected the biological structure of the Religious in terms of physical and mental health,” hence their “psychological wellbeing needs to be renewed because some might have developed some particular stresses which can go to some traumatic experiences.”
“Covid-19 not only affects physical health, psychological wellbeing, social lives, and technological engagements, but also our spiritual lives,” Fr. Ouédraogo a diocesan priest from Burkina Faso disclosed adding that “Putting a pause in religious activities; Congregating, fellowship, or assembly which is the very essence of expressing one’s spirituality in religious sense, is a life-changing experience in many people’s spirituality.”
According to Fr. Ouédraogo, “Pastors of souls, Imams, gurus, rabbis, and other religious leaders are not finding the pandemic experience and regulations funny as they touch directly on their caring duties, responsibilities, and livelihood just like many others in the workforce on whom they depend.”
The pandemic which has led to isolation, lockdown, quarantine and imposing of curfew in some situations “Can affect and has affected our relationships as community members and lead to traumas and disorientation,” Fr. Ouédraogo said.
He calls upon the consecrated persons to take care of their mental health, social and, spiritual life by “avoiding loneliness and boredom, creating time to recreate, being creative to keep busy and creating time for communion and fellowship with others for spiritual support.”
During his presentation to dozens of consecrated persons from various countries, Fr. Ouédraogo who is currently studying Psycho-Spiritual counselling at Kenya’s Marist International University College has further encouraged the lay faithful to support and care for the Religious and clergy.
“Because of the state of their life, Religious men and women are more stressed in normal situation and it’s worse in such situations like Covid-19 pandemic,” the facilitator said.
“They are more vulnerable in matter of depression and stress hence the need for care from the laity,” he added.
“The laity may need to understand that they are living in families while the Religious have their family members and spiritual families so the task is more difficult than theirs,” he highlighted expressing the need for supporting the consecrated persons.
According to AMECEA PIHD Coordinator Fr. Paul Mung’athia Igweta who convened the virtual conference themed “Psycho-social Wellness and Psycho-Spiritual counseling for Clergy and Religious in the midst of Covid Crisis,” the talk series which are being organized with support from the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) are meant to mitigate Covid-19 effects on the Religious and clergy but also to equip them with knowledge so they too can support others experiencing the same challenges.
“After the Religious and clergy follow these talks on psychosocial and spiritual care, we hope they will be in a position to enlighten other people too on their wellbeing,” Fr. Igweta narrated.
