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| (ACWECA) Executive board Committee |
The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) has expressed concerned with the growing Religious Intolerance and Fundamentalism that is happening in this 21st century.
Speaking with AMECEA Online News in Nairobi recently, the Chairperson of ACWECA Sr. Margaret Aringo said that many of the countries which make the association face this problem and the impact of these problems also affects the Women Religious. “This is the reason we have decided thatto choose this subject as one of the topics of discussion during the study session of the 16th Plenary Assembly in Lusaka Zambia in August this year”.
Among the ACWECA Countries facing challenges to do with religious radicalism and fundamentalism include Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Sr. Aringo explained that the theme for the forthcoming plenary: “Go, do not be afraid and serve” was taken from Pope Francis' talk with the youth in Brazil. All the other topics for the Plenary have been arranged in such a way that they are able to address this theme. She said that this growing religious extremism and intolerance is also related to other problems affecting our people, which include conflicts and hunger have a great impact on our life as Women Religious.” She went to say that as Women Religious they would like to witness to the work of the Spirit of the Lord even when serving people who are affected by the turmoil around them.
Concerning preparations for the ACWECA 16th Plenary in August, Sr. Aringo said that ACWECA has contacted all its friends and partners who have already shown great support and commitment to attend it. Among those who have been invited are delegates from the International Superiors General Union.
Among the facilitators at the Plenary are Sr. Joyce Maya from the USA and two sisters from Zambia who belong to international congregations. ACWECA has also engaged the national office of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Zambia to help the Plenary reflect on some of the social economic programs that would have a transforming impact in the lives of the people in the region.
Sr. Aringo appealed for support from partners and other people of good will, to help them to cover some of the expenses for the Plenary. “We need moral, spiritual and material (financial) support so that we may be able to have a successful Plenary,” she said.
The ACWECA Vice-Chairperson and a representative from Zambia Sr. Theresa Nyoni of the Congregation of Little Sisters of St. Francis from Zambia also said fund raising is the key issue in their preparations for the plenary. She said that they have sent out requests for people to come forward and support them financially.
Sr. Nyoni said that the venue for their plenary has been identified. That is Andrew’s Motel which is a big hotel in Lusaka, with a capacity for over a hundred people. She said that the official opening of the plenary will be on 17th August and on this particular day, the sisters will be celebrating 40 years of the existence of ACWECA. The plenary will end on 28th August 2014.
Source: AMECEA Social Communications