Offer credible witness: Pope Francis urges African nuns

(Vatican Radio) The Holy Father Pope Francis has asked members of the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) to deepen the bonds of friendship and communion among themselves so that they may offer a more convincing witness to society and the Church. He has also called on them to embrace a united apostolate to the poor, the sick and the marginalised.

In his message signed by Monsignor Paolo Borgia to the President of ACWECA, Sr Prisca Matenga, D.O.R, the Holy Father extended his prayerful good wishes to her and all religious women gathered for the 17th ACWECA Plenary Assembly.

“The Holy Father is moreover confident that this assembly will be an opportunity to rediscover the freshness of the Gospel, from which new avenues arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words with new meaning for today’s world,” read part of the message.

Pope Francis entrusted the participants of the ACWECA Plenary Assembly to the maternal protection of Mary, Mother of the Church, and gladly imparted his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge and joy in the Lord.

The ACWECA 17th Plenary Assembly commenced on Sunday 27 August at the Tanzania Episcopal Conference's Kurasini centre in Dar-es-Salaam. The Plenary ends on 2 September. 

João Cardinal Bráz de Aviz, the Holy See’s Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, delivered the message of the Holy Father to the Plenary. The Cardinal also presided over the opening ceremonies at the gathering by celebrating the Holy Mass. 

(AMECEA Online News Reporter, Dar es Salaam –Tanzania)