MALAWI: AWRIM 63rd Plenary Assembly Emphasize on Collaboration and Partnership
During Opening Mass
Sr. Immaculate Tusingwire, MMS
The Association of Women in Religious Institutes of Malawi (AWRIM), on 6th February 2023 commenced their 63rd Plenary Assembly at St. John’s Msamba Parish, Lilongwe Diocese, under the theme, “Strengthen Pastoral Care in the Church through Collaboration and Partnership”.
The Bishop chair for the Religious men and women at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Rt. Rev. John Ryan has invited the Sisters to be evangelizers and to engage in ecological education and spirituality guided by the two encyclical Letters of Pope Francis, ‘The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium) and Laudato Si’ (on care for our common home).
During the opening Mass, Bishop Ryan of Mzuzu Diocese presented to five Religious Sisters from different congregations certificates for completing a Spiritual Direction course that was sponsored by AWRIM.
“If you are not with the local church, you are not Church”, Bishop Ryan emphasized as he called for genuine partnership between AWRIM, the Association of Men Religious in Malawi (AMRIM) and the Association of Diocesan Clergy of Malawi (ADCOM).
In her welcome remarks, the Executive Board Chairperson of AWRIM Sr. Agnes Cecilia Jonas noted that given the problems encountered in the modern world, the Associations activities need to be strengthened more through collaboration and partnership adding that “without collaboration and partnership, nothing works in this world”.
The opening plenary session was attended by different stakeholders and a few guests who also addressed the assembly and presented on different topics related to the plenary theme. Among the guests were the Secretary General for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Fr. Alfred Chaima, the Vice Chancellor Catholic University Fr. George Buleya, ECM’s National Pastoral Secretary Fr. Joseph Sikwese, AMRIM’s National Chairperson Fr. Bill Turnbull and representatives from the National Laity Council.
Addressing the participants, the Secretary General, Fr. Alfred Chaima thanked AWRIM on behalf of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) for recognizing the importance of working with the Conference especially at the Secretariat and urged the Sisters to continue with the same spirit as the Secretariat is for everyone. In this regard, he encouraged capacity building among religious so that they will be able to render better services.
While sharing on the research that was done on ‘Building the Catholic faith in Malawi through primary and secondary evangelization’ ECM National Pastoral Secretary, Fr. Joseph Sikwese reminded the assembly that the primary mission and life of the church is evangelization.
“The Church exists in order to Evangelize”, he said.
The 63rd Plenary Assembly concluded with the Superiors General who were representing 44 congregations across Malawi coming up with some resolutions. The Secretary General of AWRIM, Sr. Bernadette Munyenyembe said that AWRIM needs to be proactive in evangelization and pastoral ministries by responding to the current and emerging needs of the society and the church.
At the conclusion of the Plenary, some Sisters had a chance to watch the “The Letter”, a Laudato Si’ film featuring Pope Francis as the protagonist of care for Mother Earth, and five leaders representing the voices of Indigenous people, the youth, the poor and the wildlife.
