Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Religious women in Kenya under their umbrella body Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK), have rolled out series of online workshops for nuns across the country to help them cope with Covid-19 pandemic which has changed the pattern of their daily life.
“We are delighted to carry on our mission. We continue giving support to Congregations which are members of the Association since our mission is to give support and promote holistic formation of women Religious for authentic witness,” AOSK Executive Secretary Sr. Pasilisa Namikoye LSOSF said while giving opening remarks to participants on Saturday, May 23.
“With the lockdown during this time of pandemic, the Sisters are in their communities, so the Association thought they should be supported in terms of reaching out to them and helping them in their emotional wellbeing, on how they need to behave during this time and how they can be rejuvenated,” Sr. Namikoye clarified.
Sr. Namikoye, explained further in an interview with AMECEA Online that “People are working from home and some of the sisters are not used to that system, hence the need to reach out and motivate them.”
AOSK has so far reached out to three different categories of Religious nuns during the month of May and anticipates to continue with other groups and other programs.
“We grouped the Sisters into categories because everyone wants to associate with her group,” Sr. Namikoye disclosed and explained, “We already had workshop for those aged 35-45 years which is the age of mid-life transition actually; the next was for Congregational superiors and house administrators; and finally, for those who are 46 years and above, those in the afternoon of their life.”
She added, “Right now the next group is for those who are 34 years and below. This is a younger generation. We want them to have self-awareness exercises and know how they can go about this Covid-19 as young Religious because they are just locked within the house.”
According to Sr. Namikoye, part of the Associations objective; “to enhance holistic formation and capacity of women religious in Kenya,” onsite workshop could have been carried out but the situation in the country made the leadership team “think outside the box, and go extra mile to have the workshops online.”
“Through these online workshops, we have received many participants and almost each group had over 260 attendees. Probably we could have received few participants if it was to be done on-site,” the Executive Secretary underscored.
Other than the refresher workshops, the Association is planning for an online retreat which is open to all Religious women irrespective of age, of which Sr. Namikoye said, “We didn’t plan to have the retreat but the Sisters have requested that they need to have some spiritual input.”
Sharing her impressions with AMECEA Online about the workshop she attended, the Superior General of Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSJ) Sr. Mary Goretty Ochieng’ said, “I liked the workshop. They shared with us how superiors can keep emotionally balanced and not let their feelings control them, especially at this time of Covid-19 when Superiors and Sisters are in the house most of the time.”
“The workshop greatly helped me to rediscover myself, renew my ability to manage challenges and changes in my present life including COVID-19 pandemic,” another participant Sr. Anne Owuor (FSSA) told AMECEA online.
Another nun who attended the workshop for the Religious women in the age bracket of 46 years and above said, “I appreciated the facilitator’s initiative on how to handle COVID-19 with a maintained sense of normalcy and steady emotions.”
AOSK has approximately 158 Congregations in Kenya and 6,000 nuns.