AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - Union of Superiors Major of women religious in Democratic Congo end their 14th plenary assembly

Kinshasa (Fides Service) - The week long 14th plenary assembly of the Union of Superiors Major of women religious in Democratic Congo ended on 13 November. A total 140 general and provincial superiors of congregations of women religious came from all over the country to reflect on the theme “confirming our charisma in the present context of the local Church and our country”.
In her opening address the Union’s outgoing national president Sr Pétronille Kayiba, Dominican Sister of the Rosary, said the aim was not to reinvent consecrated life or the special charisma of congregations, diocesan and international, but rather to discern how to live both with new impulse in the present situation of Democratic Congo.
In his homily during the opening Mass Bishop Daniel Nlandu auxiliary bishop of Kinshasa reminded the women religious that their consecration is the Lord’s gift to the Church. “Be a gift of God” - he urged them - for our people tempted to despair because of the social situation in our country. Women religious are called to spread hope” the Bishop said.
The Plenary also elected Sr. Euphrasie Beya a member of the diocesan congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph, servants of the Church founded in Kalemie-Kirungu diocese, as their new Union president and other sisters as new provincial representatives.
During the closing Mass on Sunday 13 November the main celebrant Scheut missionary Fr. Tembo Philibert, vice national president of the Union of Major Superiors of religious congregations of men, offered a lighted candle as a sign of communion to Sr Euphrasie Beya who shared the light with the Executive Committee and all the religious present. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/11/2005 righe 29 parole 302)