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| Group Photo of Participants |
The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) has celebrated its 40thanniversary and the 16th assembly in style.
The long-awaited anniversary celebration of the consecrated women was held at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus, Pope Square on 17thAugust, 2014.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Patrick Chisanga of Mansa Diocese who is also the director of the religious in Zambia.
In his homily, Bishop Chisanga urged the sisters to be courageous and focused like the Canaanite woman, who proclaimed that the love of God cannot be bound and limited. Bishop Chisanga encouraged the sisters to challenge prejudice and deceptiveness in society.
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| Bishop Evans Chiyemba of Mongu & Bishop Patrick Chisanga of Mansa |
Welcoming the congregation, the Chairperson of ACWECA Sr. Margaret Aringo highlighted the major works the sisters are doing in the region. She said the sisters are the backbone of the church and society, who are involved in justice and peace issues, HIV and AIDS, orphanages, schools, health care and other developmental activities.
Sister Aringo also stated the challenges that the sisters go through in their work. She urged the sisters to continue being true witnesses in their apostolates.
During the celebration a papal congratulatory message was delivered to the congregation in the region. In the message the Holy Father encouraged the sisters to serve Christ with an undivided heart. Pope Francis’s message was conveyed to the Church in the Eastern and Central African region by the Papal Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia His Excellency, Julio Murat. The message was read by Right Reverend Evans Chinyemba, bishop of Mongu Diocese.
Meanwhile, Government representative at the occasion honourable Nkandu Luo, who is also minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs commended the Catholic Church for their great contribution to the development of the country through the work of the sisters.
Honourable Nkandu Luo said the developmental projects which the sisters were running is a testimony of their love for humanity.
She assured the sisters of Government support in their work. “You go about doing your work quietly, committed and dedicated. The results you produce in your schools, the smooth running of your health institutions and many other developments projects are a testimony of your love for humanity” she said.
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| Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo Secretary General AMECEA |
Present at the function were the Bishop of Mongu, Right Reverend Evans Chinyemba, AMECEA Secretary General representative Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) Secretary General Fr. Cleophas Lungu, donor partners, priests, religious and the laity.
The 16th ACWECA General Assembly is being held at Andrew Motel in Lusaka, Zambia from 16th to 29th August, 2014 under the theme “Go, do not be afraid and serve”. Some of the topics under discussion are leadership, transparency and accountability, civil law and cannon law.
The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) is an Association of Religious Catholic Sisters comprising of nine National sisterhood Associations drawn from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Source: Sr. Helen Kasaka