Sr. Helen Kasaka, LSMI
The Little Sisters of Francis (LSOF), drawn from different communities within the Congregation in Tanzania were on Sunday 28th and Monday 29th trained in chapter facilitation.
The training which was organized by the Superior General of the Congregation, Sr. Bella Doreen Mwakaliku drew together administrative members, local superiors and heads of various institutions within and outside the congregation.
“I don’t want the chapter to come as a surprise. I want to create awareness so that everyone knows what is going on and get prepared for the chapter. For the Sisters, it’s a way of saying my turn is over, they need to be prepared to take over,” she said.
“I had taken one Sister for this course, but I saw that it is important for all of us to receive knowledge as a Congregation because one person is not enough,” she added.
The facilitator of the training, Sr. Wilhelmina Uhai Tunu (LSOSF) herself a theologian, formator and spiritual directress, working at ACWECA’s Secretariat said the training aims at enabling Religious institutes to prepare efficiently, creatively and effectively for general chapters.
“The training aims at educating participants on the importance of a general chapter, equipping them with knowledge, skills and tools for conducting effective general chapters in a culturally appropriate ways,” she said.
In her presentation, Sr. Wilhelmina,began by looking at the background of the general chapter and said the development of general chapters in Religious Institutes goes back to St Benedict who used to gather his monks in the monastery each week to read and discuss a chapter of their Rule. She said general chapter is an ancient and originally monastic practice which can be traced back to the sixth century. Benedict held the importance of each monk’s opinion being heard and most especially the youngest monk.
Sr. Wilhelmina explained that the daily meeting of the community of the monks for the purposes of discipline and administration was based on reading a chapter of the Rule of Life in a particular room which came to be known as the “Chapter Room” and the gatherings themselves were called“Chapters.
She said, gradually as the number of Benedictine Monasteries increased, it became a custom for representativesof the different monasteries to meet together for similar readings and discussions based on the Rule.
She also mentioned that by the 13th Century, church authorities saw the need for such meetings and discussions, they then declared that the custom of representatives gathering regularly to review their life be made mandatory for all religious Institutes.
Bearing witness to the importance and relevance of the training, Sr. Magdalene the Vicaress to the Superior General said the training was necessary as it had helped participants to gain more knowledge.
“Personally, as assistant to Mother Superior, I thank God for inspiring our Superior Sr Doreen Mwakaliku to have this idea of calling the ACWECA team to come and enrich the Congregation with their knowledge. We could select few people to go to Nairobi and have this knowledge but I appreciate so much the readiness of Sr Tunu, Sr, Helen Kasaka and Sr Christine Wairimu for accepting our invitation and being ready to come to us for two days in Dar salaam, Tanzania despite the Covid19 pandemic situation. Thank you for the great respect you have given us”.
Sr. Magdalena congratulated the facilitator for the way she presented the material.
“I congratulate Sr. Wilhelmina Uhai Tunu in a special way for the way she started the workshop with us. She was making sure that she moves with everybody despite the challenge of the language. She was able to mix English and Swahili in a way that nobody was left behind. The challenging questions and picture she was exposing to us were so powerful for reflection and we could learn many things through meditation and sharing,” she said.
Sr. Magdalene said she was very much inspired during the workshop by the psycho-spiritual dimension of leadership, mentoring in leadership, leadership elements and general chapter.
“I appreciated to hear how the general chapter started within the church, how it was adapted with other Religious congregations, and the impacts of the general chapter to a Congregation. Therefore, I thank God for the spiritual preparations of the coming chapter. I am sure this workshop is going to bear much fruit within our Congregation because of this knowledge we have received in this workshop. We will be able to discuss the matters concerning the charism, vison, mission, core values more strongly to keep the culture alive for the generations to come”.
Another participant Sr. Dorothea Mons appreciated the training and is very hopeful that the 2022 August General Chapter will be successful with the help of the Holy Spirit.
“I believe that with what we have learnt from the workshop, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, our general chapter will be of success and for the greater glory of God,” she said.
The training was conducted at the Mother House of the Congregation in Mbagala, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.