Namibia: Religious sister founds first theological and spiritual training center
Vatican news
Religious vocations in Namibia are on the rise, creating an urgent need for adequate formation of sisters. Responding to this call, Sister Anne Arabome took the initiative to create the first theological and spiritual training center in Namibia to empower religious sisters in their vocation.
By Sr. Michelle Njeri, OSF
Continuing training in theological and spiritual formation is now available for major superiors in Windhoek, Namibia.
According to Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae In 2023, we will see notable and sustained growth in religious vocations in Africa. While this growth is a welcome gift, it creates a deep need for theological and spiritual training programs for Catholic nuns who do not have access to higher pastoral education.
In order to provide adequate services to marginalized people and those living in poverty, these women who give their lives in service to Christ deserve to have a strong foundation in theology, scripture, spirituality and leadership skills.
Sister Anne Arabome, SSS, a member of the Sisters of Social Service of Los Angeles, responded to this need for training of nuns in Africa by founding the Sophia Institute of Theological Studies and Spiritual Formation in Namibia.
“The charism of the Social Services Sisters allows members to grow in their awareness of the Holy Spirit and the action of the Spirit in the world by actively engaging in the social mission of the Church. The Sophia Institute is an embodiment of this charisma,” said Sister Anne.
Return to Africa as a call to nuns
After many years of service and ministry in the United States, she returned to Africa to create innovative training opportunities for African women religious that draw on unique African values and principles of religious life and spirituality .
“I have always had a strong feeling of being called by God; this calling took me back to Africa, particularly Namibia and Southern Africa,” Sister Anne said of her motivation for establishing the Sophia Institute.
“Nuns in this region of Africa have limited opportunities for training in theological studies and spirituality,” she lamented. “There are so many gifted, talented and competent religious sisters who are passionate about the mission of the Church: bringing the light of Christ to others. They need and deserve spiritual, theological, and leadership support.
She added that this is precisely the call of the Sophia Institute, which already offers a program for women who will train other young women in religious life.
“This training is virtual and reaches these women in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. And this with minimal financial cost,” said Sister Anne.
Expert passionate about ministry and social justice
Sister Anne’s portfolio of experience and expertise in Ignatian spirituality and theology includes an eight-year tenure as associate director of the Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Marquette University in Wisconsin.
She was a faculty member at Hekima, Nairobi, offering courses in anthropology, spirituality and religious life through the Sister-Scholars program. Sr Anne holds a doctorate. in Systematic Theology from the University of Roehampton in the United Kingdom as well as a doctorate in ministry and spirituality from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.
Sister Anne’s initiative spans two continents as she also coordinates a program of intercultural living and theological studies for African nuns in collaboration with the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, 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,” Sister Anne said. She added that she draws inspiration from the synodal model in training African leaders, saying she has “integrated the values, principles and practice of synodality into my training mission.”
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 dream that this initiative will be a way to empower and recover the dignity and beauty of African religious sisters and their communities through creative and contextualized theological reflection, formation, renewal, spiritual accompaniment and Ignatian retreats” , she said.
“It’s an exciting adventure,” Sister Anne concluded. “I experience the Presence of the One who is much greater than me and who called me to walk with the nuns. In this way, I carry out the social mission of the Church.
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