ACWECA PLENARY:Go Down the Mountain and Meet the People: Archbishop Tambala Calls ACWECA Delegates
Stella Zulu
The President of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, who is also the Archbishop for Lilongwe Archdiocese, has asked Religious sisters under the Association for Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) to engage in a deeper reflection about consecrated life which he said its primary purpose is to be with Jesus Christ.
Archbishop Tambala said this today during the Opening Mass for the 19th Assembly for ACWECA at CIVO Stadium in Lilongwe, an event which also marked the celebration of ACWECA’s 50 years of Existence (Golden Jubilee)
“My dear Sisters, the primary purpose for consecrated life is to be with Jesus Christ, when this fails, there is no consecrated life. There is a lot of noise in the world today and if we are not careful, we will get lost. As consecrated Women and Men, which voice do we listen to?” Asked Archbishop Tambala
He continued that, consecrated life faces many challenges including the temptation of admiring, looking and caring for its comfort which he said makes it forget its purpose of evangelisation. He said this has to be reflected upon seriously as the Assembly has come at a time the Church in Malawi is engaging in various activities that would make the work of evangelisation effective.
“Are we comfortable that we don’t want to get down the mountain to meet and care for people? Let us take down the tents we build around ourselves and fulfill our Spiritual and Gospel values”. Said the ECM President
In her remarks, the President for ACWECA, Rev Sr. Rosalia Sakayombo said the Assembly will look back at the last 50years of its existence and thank God for his faithfulness which has enabled the association to stand until now.
“We have stood the test of time for 50 years now as an association, when ACWECA started, the needs were different from what they are now, and that is why in these few days we will look back and reflect and say where are we being called to in the next years? What is the Church asking of us so that we become more and more relevant among the needs of today?” Said Sr. Sakayombo
She continued that ACWECA’s mission is implanted in the middle of people and therefore there is need to realign its work to the challenges that people are facing today but also reflect on issues that are affecting formation in order to identify challenges affecting religious life currently.
“Sisters come from families and issues of broken families, suicide, and improper use of the media affect the sister’s lives. Therefore, we want to learn how others have lived their lives amid all of these.” She said.
Sr. Sakayombo also thanked Catholics in Malawi for their financial and emotional sacrifices made during the preparations of the meeting which she said will make the Assembly a success.
The ACWECA’s 19th Assembly is is being held under the theme Transformative Holistic Formation for Authentic living towards a deeper Evangelisation in the ACWECA Region and beyond. In attendance during the opening were the Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia, His Excellency Guan Luca Perici, ECM Arch/Bishops, Bishop Gabriel Msipu from Chipata diocese and the Secretary General for AMECEA, Rev Fr. Anthony Makunde among others.
