At Inaugural Research Symposium, Catholic Sisters in Africa Urged to Illuminate Continent’s “darkest places”

Pointing out areas that need the attention of women Religious, especially those looking to engage in empirical studies, the Italian-born Vatican diplomat said, “You are called to illuminate the darkest places, conflicts, human trafficking, domestic violence, inequality, at different levels.”

“Do not hide the light you bear. Africa needs your light. Not the light of human success, but the light of discreet charity, gratuitous love, gospel wisdom,” he told the Catholic Sisters.

He said that good deeds by a single women Religious in a remote place can transform the whole world. “Shine, even if you are few. Shine, even when it is costly. God has kindled you for this. Be transparent. Let us be the transparency of God,” Mons. Luciano said.

Credit: ACI Africa

“A small community can transform an entire village. And a village can transform a town. And a town can transform a city. And a city can transform the world,” he said, and continued, “A Religious Sister in a school, in a hospital, in a mission, in a very remote area, without electricity, without network, even without fresh water, can be like a lit candle in a dark room.”

Organized by the  Centre for Research in Religious Life and Apostolate (CERRA-Africa), the June 10-12 research symposium has brought together researchers from various ICLSAL across Africa and CERRA-Africa’s collaborators from other continents, who are set to speak about their experiences in their apostolates and ministries.

The symposium, the first of its kind in Africa, is an opportunity for Catholic Sisters engaged in research to collaborate with each other and with others, and to identify challenges in Religious Life for future initiatives.

Participants in the three-day symposium organized under the theme, “Creating Global Impact through Sustainable Development” are presenting their experiences in religious formation, education, pastoral care, healthcare, care for the elderly, and other social services.

A section of participants at the CERRA-Africa research symposium in Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: ACI Africa

In his homily on the first day of the symposium, Mons. Luciano described the event as “a time of dialogue and discernment of the gifted mission of women's Religious Life in Africa.”

“This symposium is a kairos, a favourable time in which the Spirit speaks to the Church through the voice and the life of Consecrated women. It is also a time to look within with charity, discerning honestly both light and shadows of our personal life, of the life of our society where we are,” the Chargé d’Affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya said.

In his address to the women Religious involved in empirical studies, Mons. Labanca said, “Your contribution to development is not only technical or organizational. It is not a question of organization, of strategies. It is a deeply spiritual, prophetic and transformative task that moves from ourselves.”

According to the Vatican diplomat, true development is not measured only by economic indicators, but by the capacity to generate life, freedom, dignity and hope.

He invited the participants in the symposium to live the three-day event “as a time of reflection and renewal.”

A section of participants at the CERRA-Africa research symposium in Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: ACI Africa

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Mons. Luciano urged the women Religious already engaged in research, and those at the symposium seeking to understand how to conduct empirical studies to first seek to be “deeply rooted in Christ” and to seek to be relevant in the societies where they serve.

To be relevant, Mons. Luciano said, Catholic Sisters must also seek to be the “salt” of the world.

“Salt preserves from corruption. Purifies. Gives flavour. It is discreet but essential,” he said, and posed, “Is our Religious Life not like this? Discreet but essential. Giving flavour to the place where we are. Fighting corruption. Do we fight corruption in the place where we live? In the service we have for the Church? This is the way to become relevant in this society and in the Church.”

“Salt without flavour, Jesus says, is good for nothing. A strong reminder to live with consistency and fidelity our consecrated life,” he said.

Mons. Luciano also thanked the women Religious from various African countries gathering for the symposium for saying ‘Yes’ to God even amid their difficult circumstances.

Mons. Luciano Labanca, the Charge d’Affaires at Kenya’s Apostolic Nunciature receives a gift from Sr. Josephine Kangogo from CERRA-Africa. Credit: ACI Africa

He said, “In this African context, vibrant and alive, so often marked by insecurity as well, instability and social contradictions, the very fact of a man or a woman offering his life or her life to God and to others in poverty, chastity and obedience is already a powerful and credible proclamation to this generation today.”

The official from the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya described Religious Life as “not a privilege removed from reality, but an immersion into the heart of historical challenges.”

“We have been called, but our call doesn't save us from the challenges of our daily life. Our call is not just a way to get privileges, immunities, as we say about the diplomats. But being religious means to be in the heart of the challenges even deeper,” he said.

The Nairobi-based Chargé d’Affaires said that Africa, a continent that he described as young and rich in human and spiritual resources, needs the Consecrated. “The continent needs women and men who are mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, who generate hope, defend life at all costs, accompany youth and heal society's wounds. And there are many wounds in our society,” he said.

In her opening remarks at the symposium, the Director of CERRA-Africa, Sr. Dr. Candida Mukundi, lauded the high turn out to the event, which she said had taken a lot of dedication to organize.

Sr. Candida described CERRA-Africa as “a Church-based action research centre where Sisters are committed to supporting evangelization.”

The Kenyan-born member of the Congregation of the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi (ASN) said that the inspiration behind CERRA-Africa was the need for the Church in Africa to make decisions that are based on data and evidence.

Participants at the CERRA-Africa research symposium in Nairobi, Kenya pose for a photo. Credit: ACI Africa

“It is importance to serve, but it is also important to reflect and find out what our people need, and address that,” she said, adding that the uniqueness of CERRA-Africa is the organization’s ability “to reflect and seek solutions” at the end of every research.

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the June 10 event, Sr. Maureen Chepkoech Tuwei expressed her eagerness to learn from the best researchers at the symposium.

Sr. Maureen said that she had been engaged in empirical studies for two years.

“I am researching on the rate of employee turnover in remote areas,” the Kenyan member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Mother of Christ (IHM) said.

She explained, “We Religious Sisters work and also employ people to work with us. Many people are resigning owing to lack of job satisfaction and many other issues. We are doing studies to find better ways to improve this situation.”