ACWECA: Former Secretary General Calls on Members Collaboration on Matters Pertaining to the Association
ACWECA former Secretary General Sr. Eneless Chimbali making a presentation to the ACWECA 18th Plenary Assembly
Ginaba Lino
The outgoing secretary General of the association of consecrated women in Eastern and Central Africa or (ACWECA) on 26 of August 2021 calls on all members of the association not do work alone whenever the work is for the betterment of the association.
The farmer secretary general Rev. Sr. Eneless Chimbali while delivering her speech stressed that, during her time as ACWECA Secretary General, she never undervalued combined efforts in discernment.
“One thing that I have learned so much for the time when I was in ACWECA is to never undervalue combined effort. In ACWECA, I learned to discern and not to rash in making decision; and to look up to God and see what he says. In ACWECA, we think and discern about many things together. I do not remember anything that I did alone, as Mother Theresa says, “Never do alone what can be done well together”
Sr. Eneless, during her officially handing over as Secretary General of ACWECA, shared what she took away as her treasure.
“Now Srs. Cecilia my Mother President, Sr Hellen, the ACWECA Staff, Council of Delegates of the 18th plenary Assembly, I’m officially handing over and departing from the Secretariat and the leadership of ACWECA. The work that I was expected to do is done but before I conclude, I want to share with you what I took as a treasure and what I used to make decisions today and for my future mission. This is what trainers of Chapter Facilitation were using during their training session. Today, I want to use the same as my departing message, maybe you can gain something out of it as I did. They used to say that as you facilitate a Chapter, consider community of all life, the future generation and those made poor by society”.
Sr. Eneless stated that concentrating on the ecosystem, the complex connections and good environment are things which Sisters can promote to ensure that they care for the community.
“Everything deserves to have a better life and we need to acknowledge that we live interdependent of each other. The ministry of each Religious needs to take care of the community. Religious life is for all – the poor, the rich, the vulnerable and the environment”.
She asked for their imagination to enter into a journey in a desert, forest, sea or lake and invite the needy.
“On the future generation, I will ask you the same in your imagination: to enter into a journey in a desert, forest, sea or lake and ask yourselves, ‘what do you see?’ Look at your Congregation, your association, ACWECA: 10 or 20 years from now what do you see? Are you afraid of the future? Are you afraid of what you have seen in your imagination?”
She urged the Association members to be mentors so that people can look at ACWECA and see hope, adding that as the Association continues to develop actions for the countries and at ACWECA level, they should consider integrity.
We have achieved so much and made ACWECA an organization that can be trusted,” she said.
Sr. Eneless was endorsed as ACWECA Secretary General during the 16th Plenary Assembly in August, 2014 in Zambia as the Association reflected on the Theme “Go, do not be afraid and serve.” She left ACWECA Secretariat in January 2020, but has officially handed over on Thursday 16 August 2021 in the 18th plenary Assembly in Nairobi Kenya.
