ACWECA/ETHIOPIA: Religious Women in Ethiopia Open a New Chapter
Sr. Bridgita S. Mwawasi
Unity among female religious Congregations in Ethiopia can promote the expected communion, participation and mission of the people of God in the Synodal Church, and in a special way contribute to the building of peace among the people of God in Ethiopia said the president of a newly launched conference of women religious in Ethiopia Sr. Lujina Gebrewold, on Saturday February 17, 2024.
The national association to be known as Consecrated Women Association of Ethiopia (CWAE) becomes the umbrella body of all the Congregations of Catholic Sisters in Ethiopia. Sr. Lujina said that this unity would strengthen the witness of love and communion of the Triune God in the Church of Ethiopia and beyond.
The launch was graced by His Eminence Berheneyesus Souraphiel, the Cardinal of Addis Ababa who also presided over the Eucharistic celebration to mark the day.
Cardinal Berheneyesus applauded the Sisters for the achievement and encouraged them to use the association to build each other as they courageously served the Church in Ethiopia. He said the association had been in the hearts of the Sisters for many years and that the launch is an indication of their dedication to it.
Incidentally, the launch was taking place at the same time the African Union was meeting in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. The Nuncio who could not attend the launch as he was attending the African Union meeting was represented by the Secretary to the Nunciature, Monsignor Massimo Catterin. In his speech, Monsignor Massimo commended the Religious women of Ethiopia for choosing to walk together.
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In the same words that Pope Francis addressed the participants at the general assembly of the Union of Major Superiors in Italy on 13th April last year, allow me to recall that in order to journey together, we need to let ourselves be educated by the spirit to a truly synodal mentality, entering with courage and freedom of heart into a conversion process, because synodality represents the main road for the Church, called to renew herself under the action of the and by listening to the word.”
He said that the Synodal path was not about having answers and making decisions, but about ‘setting out to listen to life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is the protagonist of the Synod’
Speaking during the launch, the President of the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa, Sr. Rosalia Sakayombo, lauded Cardinal Berhenayesus for always encouraging the Sisters in Ethiopia, arguing that CWAE would not be born without his encouragement and insightfulness.
Sr. Rosalia said that ACWECA marks 50 years of its existence this year, and that “ACWECA @ 50 is still giving birth”. She termed this development a sign of hope and continuity.
“We at ACWECA envision you, the consecrated women of Ethiopia to be an association of empowered women religious with enhanced evangelization tools”, said Sr. Rosalia.
She then invited all Religious women in Ethiopia to join hands in building CWAE and be a mark of unity for the people of God in Ethiopia. She thanked both the religious women and men in Ethiopia for working closely together and fostering solidarity among the religious pastoral agents in the country.
Women Religious have always been members of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious (CMRS) in Ethiopia. Though they will continue to be members of CMRS, Sr. Rosalia said that CWAE will “provide an extra space where women religious can share their personal experiences, connect with one another, enhance trust, build friendships and networking opportunities with other conferences of women religious in the ACWECA region as a way to witness to the Gospel values in their religious vocation”.
Bishop Markos Medhin, representative of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia in CMRS congratulated the Sisters for the courageous and bold step made in launching CWAE. He expressed optimism that this move would also strengthen CMRS and the various programs run by the Conference as a shared commitment of the men and women religious in Ethiopia.
Newly ordained Bishop Luke (formerly Abba Teshome) who has been the Secretary general to the Bishops Conference of Ethiopia said that women Religious contribute greatly in the life of the Church as they quietly and silently pray a lot and sometimes walk ‘even bare footed’ to reach out to the neediest of the society. In so doing they promote communion and collaboration, as well as share the joys and hopes of Christian living.
Others present at the launch were members of the executive bodies of CWAE and CMRS, as well as representatives of women religious congregations present in Ethiopia.
*ENDS*
