ACWECA: Responsibility as Service: Cardinal Berhaneyesus to Women Religious Leaders in Ethiopia
Sr. Brigita Samba
“Community leadership is a big responsibility, but it is an honourable service”. This was said by the Archbishop of Addis Ababa, His Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel, on Tuesday, July 22, at the Conference of Major Religious Superiors (CMRS) offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Cardinal was speaking to Major Superiors of Congregations under the Consecrated Women Association of Ethiopia (CWAE) who had assembled for a week-long training on various leadership aspects as a way of building their capacity to better lead their Congregations, communities, and institutions under their care.
The week-long training was organized by the Leadership for Mission program of the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA), in collaboration with CWAE and CMRS offices. This is in line with the vision of ACWECA to strengthen religious life in the region and to empower catholic Sisters for deeper evangelization in the region.
The women religious reflected on and discussed their role as leaders in not only their religious institutes, but also in the Church and society of Ethiopia, where the people of God look upon them for guidance and as role models as they witness the love of God and the gospel values in Ethiopia.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus thanked the leadership and delegation of ACWECA for believing in the women religious in Ethiopia and committing to strengthening the young association of CWAE, saying that CWAE is barely 2 years old and needs to be nurtured in order to achieve its mission in Ethiopia.
The Cardinal requested special prayers for peace in the country and in the region. He also thanked the superiors for all the work they do in Ethiopia that emanates from who they are, as consecrated women in the Church. He said the Catholic Church in the country appreciates the apostolate of the Sisters and their closeness to the people of God in the country.
The Cardinal encouraged the Sisters to strengthen formation processes and learn from others as they prepared the young Sisters for mission around the world, saying there were many issues affecting society today that the Sisters need to be prepared to address. These issues range from trafficking in persons, increasing urban poverty, refugee crisis, migration, where people need to be accompanied in their journey of life, and to be given hope when they feel they have little to hope for.
He also encouraged the Sisters to appreciate the blessings happening in the country, like the advancement of technology that is facilitating better communication and togetherness in society. He also mentioned as a blessing the appointment of the new Apostolic Nuncio for Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia, Brian Ngozi Udaigwe, and requested the Sisters to pray for him in his mission.
