(04/02/08) Sr. Annunciata Kagaba (Testimony)
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BIKIRA MARIA ASSOCIATION
ENGLISH SPEAKING MONASTERIES OF AFRICA
MISSION OF THE POOR CLARE LIFE IN THE WORLD TODAY
WITNESS FROM AFRICA
“Among all the other gifts which we have received and continue to receive daily…..from our
Benefactor, the Father of Mercies, the greatest is our vocation.”
This vocation is inspired by a spirit of deep desire for God which is fulfilled in silence,
prayer and adoration.
It is lived out in a great love of community, in constant self-giving and in loving
relationships.
It is manifested by a realistic attraction to what is simple, poor and humble.
It is an ever growing zeal for the spreading of God’s Kingdom through a life of joyful
penance.
Time and again Mother Church, through her many exhortations, has challenged and
encouraged contemplatives never to depart from this beautiful vocation to which the Spirit
of the Lord has called us, “however pressing work may be.”
Many of our brothers of the 1st Order, in search of their own contemplative dimension,
constantly call us to remain faithful to our identity and our charism.
It is in so doing that we are a strong support to them as they go about the world announcing
the Good News of the Kingdom. Poor Clares keep the fire in the hearth of the family; they
keep the roots well and deeply anchored, thus drawing up life into the tree of the Church,
from where it is distributed in multiple branches by life-giving service to humanity.
POOR CLARE LIFE IN AFRICA
When foundations were made in Africa by flourishing Poor Clare monasteries from other
continents it was around the time of the Second Vatican Council. This was a time when the
idea was becoming widespread that the full dimension of the Church was not complete in
mission countries as long as contemplative life was missing. Thus, our monasteries came into
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existence; some African Monasteries already in their turn have made foundation, and there
is still great scope for many more.
The good news proclaimed to those inspired by the Clarian way of life is that, “The Son of
God became for us the Way which our Father Francis, his true lover and imitator, has shown
and taught us by word and example.” (Test.Cl.) We are disciples of the Son of God all our
life. “Daring to live the Gospel.”
This was handed down to us by our foundresses as they lived it out through the teaching of
the Gospel, the Rule, the Constitutions, the Writings of Francis and Clare and the traditions
of their own individual monasteries.
However, they planted the seed in a new soil, another climate, environment and culture and
the sprouting plant, though being of the same kind, developed different colours and shapes.
In other words, Africa became a school from which the foundresses broadened their
experience and learned many lessons. This was manifested by endurance, flexibility, the
ability to survive with very little, resourcefulness in times of want, a sense of family which
extended to all humanity and a spirit of celebration….This development gave a new outlook
to the lives of the sisters.
For us life is full and practical. That is why, though it is so focused on prayer, we begin with
the most
CONCRETE ASPECTS OF OUR LIFE.
Most of our monasteries are in rural or semi-rural areas.
Electricity (for those who have it) is not very reliable. This means that the use of
modern technology is moderated by its frequent absence. And for our basic needs we
must find alternatives to generate power and we often appreciate the flame of a candle
in darkness.
Besides sewing church vestments, baking altar bread, small scale projects of animal
and poultry farming to generate some income we also grow what is necessary for our
sustenance from firewood to food. We are in touch with Mother Earth, digging with
hoes, sowing, planting, weeding, harvesting, drying and preparing the grain and
preparing the daily meals with fresh food from the garden.
During dry seasons “precious sister water” has to be fetched from far in buckets and
must always be boiled and filtered for drinking.
As it is often difficult to obtain medical attention we take great care of our sisters.
Some of them are regularly affected by malaria or diseases that our hospitals are not
equipped to treat. But no one is ever left in need of loving service.
This is basically Formation as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
who is our greatest formator and who took our nature and became like us. We, in turn,
embrace this life of poverty and minority in solidarity with all the children of God,
especially those deprived of the essentials of life and who earn very little for their hard
labour. This is often the case with our own families and makes our vows of poverty and
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enclosure truly sacrificial. But as we work joyfully and devotedly, as our Mother Clare
asks us, we carry them in prayer. This is why we are here in our monasteries, willingly
enclosed.
PRAYER
Yes, prayer. One of the great contributions Clarian life in Africa brings to the Church and
the world is the delight the sisters take in praising and worshipping God. In the midst of
difficulties like wars and plagues which bring untold suffering, Poor Clares never cease to
praise, sing and dance for God. They are rooted in the faith and hope that assure them that
God, source of all good, transcends and transforms all evil. This is a source of
encouragement and comfort for their brothers and sisters who come in great numbers to pray
at the monasteries bringing their heavy loads of intentions or their heartfelt thanksgiving for
graces received.
As much as the sisters are part of the efforts of the development and poverty eradication of
their countries by their small and, often hidden, contributions, their simple life is in sharp
contrast with the mad race for status, wealth and power of their societies. St Francis and St
Clare by their very lives give a clear statement that being in Him who was, who is and who is
to come is enough and it is in Him alone that everything else finds its meaning and direction.
ASSOCIATIONS
In 1985, on the advice of Mother Church, an English Speaking Poor Clare association was
formed and, soon after, a French Speaking one. At this time, the member monasteries of the
English speaking Association number eleven plus three non-associated members who meet
with us (the French-speaking has about the same number).
In spite of the wide distances that separate the monasteries, the Association is a support in
living out our contemplative life at the heart of the Church and of the world while respecting
each community’s autonomy. It has drawn the sisters together in a way that is very concrete
as the daughters of our Mother Clare.
The Assemblies of the Association are occasions for
Listening to input and discussions
Sharing on different topics prepared in the communities ahead of time
Reflecting on common concerns
Electing the new Association Council, preparing seminars and updating the
Association Statutes etc.
Because the monasteries are so far apart we try to cover all necessary topics while we are
together as it is very difficult to communicate once back at home.
Although each Monastery keeps its autonomy we share much in common. Over the years we
have been able to address many topics and have been greatly enriched by our exchanges in
liturgy, music, art, knowledge and skills of all sorts. Is this not a humble yet real way of
fostering unity on our continent?
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FORMATORS SEMINAR
Each Monastery has its own formation programme but, for many years, the concern of how
best to help the sisters entrusted with the important charge of diligently forming the young
kept coming up at Association Meetings.
The difficulty in Africa is that very many sisters fall into the category of the young. To quote
one of our elders, “Abundant vocations are the joy and only wealth of our young African
monasteries but problems abound. The limited possibilities of education, particularly the
scarcity of secondary education for girls; the extreme poverty of families; moral dangers for
girls both at home and at work – all these factors mean that some monasteries accept
aspirants as young as fifteen years of age.” In general those received would be between 18
and 20. From this beginning until the candidate is solidly formed on all levels – human,
spiritual, psychological and can be a support for others - a considerable time will elapse.
It must be understood too that the medium of language used for teaching is not the mother
tongue of the sisters. Therefore not much will be assimilated during the initial formation
stage. Much more time is needed in later years for on-going formation. This is crucial and it
is very important that the teaching given should be done systematically following a syllabus
and having workshops that encourage interaction and exchanges.
At the General Assembly in 1999, where Father Herbert Schneider ofm graced us with his
presence, it was decided to hold an Association Formators Seminar every two years. This
was with the financial support of donors.
At the end of the year 2000 the first seminar was hosted by one of our monasteries
for one full month. A Benedictine monk, doctor and psychologist helped the
participants to appreciate monastic life and deepen their spiritual and human
development. Fr Herbert Schneider inaugurated the seminar and gave talks for three
days.
In 2005 a second seminar took place. This was facilitated by two friars, Bishop W.
Slattery ofm, Fr Robert Stewart ofm (who has since become our religious assistant)
and one of our own Poor Clare sisters, our elder Mother Veronica Namoyo.
The third seminar is planned for Abbesses and novice mistresses. The facilitators
will be Fr Aidan McGrath ofm and a Franciscan Sister Margaret Taylor.
ONE FAMILY OF GOD SPREAD OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH
As I finish I want to stress that if we have been credible and have tried in weak and humble
ways to be signs of hope, peace, love and faith in the midst of a society whose values are
often opposed to Gospel values, then it is thanks to the generosity of you, our brothers and
sisters from other continents.
Your own conviction of our special charism has been a source of inspiration to us
directly or indirectly. So that we too have been able to follow in the footprints of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, “joyfully and prudently in the path of happiness.”
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Franciscan Organisations among others, Poor Clare Federations or individual
monasteries have assisted in funding the General Assemblies and Seminars.
Monasteries have also, on many occasions, extended help to individual monasteries in
different needs.
There have been rare encounters when some sisters from Europe attended our
Assemblies as observers and our own sisters attended theirs. Each time this was a
source of great edification and encouragement.
Our Brothers in St Francis and St Clare, God reward you for your special care and
solicitude towards us by providing for our spiritual and material needs: you have been
very generous.
The Minister Generals, through the brothers entrusted with the Office of Pro
Monialibus and Religious Assistants and through their visits, letters and spiritual
messages, have constantly watched over us in the way both Francis and Clare desired
it for their family. To all we express our deepest thanks.
May this Extraordinary Assembly from which we do not expect new juridical
structures but rather mutual knowledge, mutual appreciation and esteem, mutual
encouragement and support to better fulfill our vocation, prove to be part of the
mysterious action of the Spirit in our days drawing all creation, in Christ to the
Father.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
On behalf of the Members of
Bikira Maria Association
English-Speaking Poor Clare in Africa
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