ACWECA: Expected delegates and guests at the 18th ACWECA Plenary Assembly
The Pre-COVID-19 ACWECA Chapter Preparatory Committee pose for a group photo outside Radix - the place of the Apostles of Jesus in Langata in Nairobi - Kenya.
Sr. Grace Candiru, MSMMC
For the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa, the Plenary Assembly is the top most organ of Association. This Assembly which is normally convened by the President of ACWECA is held once in every three years and is announced 12 months prior to the Assembly.
For the 18th ACWECA Plenary Assembly, things did not work as planned. Although the Assembly was convoked in August 2019, the plan to host it twelve months later in 2020 was thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It brings together a Council of delegates from ten (10) National Association of Sisterhoods from the English-speaking counties of Eastern and Central Africa, namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Since its inception in 1974, the Assembly has held 17 Plenary Assemblies.
This year, ACWECA is holding its 18th General to be coordinated from Nairobi, Kenya. And this year’s Plenary Assembly which will run from 23rd to 28th August 2021 will draw participants from all the member countries, observers, donors/partners and members of religious sisters from outside the ACWECA region.
It is estimated that over one hundred ninety-eight (198) delegates will attend the 2018 Plenary Assembly, and key among these is the Council of delegates who have voting powers. This delegation is comprised of Superiors General, country delegates, Provincial Superiors and Regional Superiors.
Also present at the Assembly will be a team of observers who will represent the International Union of Superiors Generals, Religious women from outside the ACWECA region and donor partners. This team will be expected to observe the proceedings of the Assembly and give a report.
Sr. Eneless Chimbali, former ACWECA Secretary General who is expected to lead the team of observers explained that the observers’ role was more advisory than of active participation. She said her team tries to take note of all the activities taking place during the Assembly and propose any lines of action especially for future references.
Other members who make up the team of observers are Sr. Prisca Mantenga of Zambia, Sr. Agnes Wamuyu of Kenya and Sr. Joyce Meyer of the USA.
The Assembly will also have high Ecclesial authorities, among them the Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL) His Eminence Joáo Braz Cardinal de Aviz from Rome, His Excellency Archbishop Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, Rt. Rev. David Kamau the Bishop in charge of Consecrated life at KCCB and the Apostolic Administrator of Nairobi Archdiocese, Most Rev. Fr. Anthony Makunde the Secretary General of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA), a representative from the Confederation of Major Religious Superiors in Africa and Madagascar (COMSAM) and Sr. Patricia Murray Secretary General of the International Union of Superiors General, UISG, Rome.
Also, in attendance will be some of ACWECA’s Cooperating partners, among them Sr. Jane Wakahiu from the Cornard N. Hilton Foundation in the USA, who will make a key presentation at the Assembly on the topic: “Planning for post COVID-19.”.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB will be represented by Ed Kiely and Fritz Zuger who will help to translate the Cardinal’s keynote address to the Assembly. Meanwhile other organisations like Hilton Fund for Sisters, Catholic Relief Services – CRS, Mission Aachen, OBOS Caritas Seoul Archdiocese, South Korea and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious – USA, among others too will be well represented.
In all, the Plenary Assembly will bring together representatives from the over 30,000 Religious Women serving in the region and other invited guests.
In order to enable them reflect deeply on the theme of the Assembly Re-awaken our prophetic role: A call for Reformation towards Holistic transformation in the Region Today, a keynote address shall be made by Cardinal de Aviz on role of the consecrated women in the region. Meanwhile, Sr. Mary Gitau shall make a presentation on The Prophetic Role for Women Religious before Sr. Jacinta Auma Opondo takes on A call for Reformation in the Region.
At the end of this Plenary Assembly, as is always the case, each of the National Associations is tasked to draw up action plans. This will help them to implement the resolutions taken by each member country. In this way the prophetic role of Religious life and their mission will continue to be deepened in the region.
