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In our current African continent, there is an urgent call for the reclaiming of the fast-dwindling dignity of religious sisters. Bishops from all over Africa have called upon religious congregations to step up in their onerous task of recruiting and producing quality personalities in the religious congregations. The lack of bearing in certain newly created religious congregations has led to total clamping on some of these houses in the West African Subregion under the aegis of RECOWA. While some congregations have responded to this call positively, others have remained at a standstill in their formation process. Some sisters have also single-handedly established institutions to guarantee quality formation for these young girls gathered from all corners of the world.

In this edition of our news, the Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA based in the city of the Vatican in faraway Italy has suddenly come across Sr Anne Arabome who according to him has taken the lead in establishing the first theological and spiritual formation centre in Namibia to empower religious women in their vocation.

Ongoing theological and spiritual formation training is now available for major Superiors in Windhoek, Namibia. According to Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2023, there is a notable and sustained growth in religious vocations in Africa. While this growth is a welcome gift, it creates a profound need for theological and spiritual formation programs for Catholic women religious who do not have access to pastoral higher education.

To adequately provide services to the marginalized and people living in poverty, these women who are giving their lives to the service of Christ deserve to have a solid foundation in theology, Scripture, spirituality, and leadership skills.

Sr Anne Arabome sss, a member of the Sisters of Social Service of Los Angeles, has responded to this need for the formation of women religious in Africa by founding the Sophia Institute for Theological Studies and Spiritual Formation in Namibia.

“The charism of the Sisters of Social Services empowers members to grow in their awareness of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s action in the world by engaging actively in the Church’s Social Mission. The Sophia Institute is an embodiment of this charism,” said Sr Anne.

RETURN TO AFRICA AS CALLING FOR WOMEN RELIGIOUS

After many years of service and ministry in the United States, she has returned to Africa to create innovative opportunities for the formation for African women religious that draw on unique African values and principles of religious living and spirituality.

“I have always had a strong sense of being called by God; this call has brought me back to Africa, specifically Namibia and southern Africa,” Sr Anne said about her motivation to start the Sophia Institute.

“The religious women in this area of Africa have limited opportunities for formation in theological studies and spirituality,” she lamented. “There are so many gifted, talented, and competent women religious who are passionate about the mission of the Church — bringing the light of Christ to others”, she said, adding that they need and deserve spiritual and theological support as well as help developing leadership skills.

She added that precisely this is the call of the Sophia Institute, which already offers a program for women who will be training other young women in religious life.

“This formation is virtual, reaching these women in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. And this is done at a minimal financial cost,” said Sr Anne.

EXPERT WITH PASSION FOR MINISTRY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Sr Anne’s portfolio of experience and expertise in Ignatian spirituality and theology includes an eight-year stint as Associate Director of the Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Marquette University in Wisconsin.

She has been part of the faculty in Hekima, Nairobi, offering classes in anthropology, spirituality, and religious life as part of the Sister-Scholars program. Sr Anne has a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the University of Roehampton in the UK as well as a Doctorate in Ministry and Spirituality from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Sr Anne’s initiative straddles two continents as she coordinates an intercultural living and theological studies program for religious African women in collaboration with the Ignatian Spirituality Centre, in Glasgow, Scotland.

“I have a passion for ministry, social justice, and scholarship, with a focus on the spiritual lives of African women and Ignatian spirituality,” said Sr Anne. She added that she is inspired by the synodal model in the training of African leaders, saying she has “incorporated the values, principles, and practice of synodality into my mission of formation.”

EMPOWERING AND RECLAIMING THE DIGNITY OF AFRICAN SISTERS

Reflecting on the journey so far, Sr Anne shared her ardent hopes for the Sophia Institute.

“I have a dream that this initiative will be a means for empowering and reclaiming the dignity and beauty of African women religious and their communities through creative and contextualized theological reflection, formation, renewal, spiritual accompaniment, and Ignatian retreats,” she said.

“This is an exciting adventure,” concluded Sr Anne. “I do experience the Presence of One who is much greater than myself who has called me to journey with women religious. In this way, I am carrying out the social mission of the Church.”

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
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