AMECEA/ACWECA: Regional Bodies Assess One-Year Synodal Collaboration

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

At a review meeting between the Association of Member Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA), the two regional bodies shared their synodal progress after a one-year journey together.

At a virtual session that brought together participants from AMECEA, ACWECA, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, participants gave a brief on the joint project on Synod on Synodality that has been ongoing between the two regional bodies.

Sharing with representatives from Hilton Foundation; Sr Jane Wakahiu an associate Vice-president of program operations and head of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Catholic Sisters Initiative, and Ms. Angelique Mutombo, Senior Program Office, Catholic Sisters (Africa), the ACWECA Secretary General (SG) Sr. Bridgita Samba Mwawasi highlighted some of the achievements realized after the joint activities.

“We have done several activities together as ACWECA and AMECA team. The staff first came together to build mutual relationships and proposed strategies for a way forward,” Sr. Samba narrated, highlighting that the project managed to meet with the Diocesan and national associations’ contact persons (synodal team) who were key in collecting data from the people of God from where the synodal working document was compiled.

The ACWECA SG also disclosed that members of the project on synod on synodality further convened a meeting with other secretaries General from national conferences to combine efforts on the mission and complement each other.

Additionally, the ACWECA and AMECEA teams met twice with the AMECEA board in 2022 and 2023 and shared better ways for collaboration which Sr. Samba says has enhanced the Spirit of unity and relationship between the people working for the Church in Eastern and Central Africa and has also increase a sense of belonging and ownership in the common space the Church.

The member of the congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph, (SSJ) Mombasa, acknowledged the two members from the AMECEA secretariat who joined the first phase of the synod in Rome Fr. Anthony Makunde and Fr. Andrew Kaufa who shared their experience about the synod after their return.

Fr. Kaufa the AMECEA’s Coordinator for Social Communications department shared that the synod highlighted a participatory and inclusive approach in the Church and the delegates appreciated the fact they were listened to and their voices were heard.

Speaking during the same virtual meeting on Tuesday, February 6, Fr. Makunde the Secretary General of AMECEA appreciated the collaboration between AMECEA and ACWECA and promised that the two regional bodies are set to continue with the second phase of the project.

“We anticipate bringing together the ACWECA and AMECEA executive board members for another meeting, the contact persons from conferences and to Continue creating awareness about synod at the grassroots,” Fr. Makunde said adding that, “we will use social media platforms to spread information on Synodality.”

Sr. Wakahiu on her part appreciated the collaboration between AMECEA and ACWECA and more especially the support from Conrad Hilton that enabled all the activities to be realized.

She asked the team to be ready to disseminate the information from the document that will be published at the end of the second phase of the synod that will take place October 2024.