Thankful to God for a Successful Last Semester, My Experience as Head of Department, participation in the International Conference on African Women Theologians, and Looking forward to the New Academic Year with Hope
As a Department (Pastoral and Spiritual Theology), we give thanks to God for His care upon us all through (Psalm 107:1). My first semester as a Head of Department of Pastoral and Spiritual Theology has been busy with planning for the Department, as well as participation in the organization of different conferences, including Conference on Women Theologians.
It was a joy to see women from all over Africa and beyond come to share their experiences as women theologians; the shared experiences, the rich academic papers presented, and the joy of just being together in such a wonderful forum were tremendous. Last semester also marked the conclusion of yearlong celebrations of Hekima @40, whose theme and activities inspired and encouraged us to keep going as we move the institution from better to better.
As we hope for God’s divine providence for the academic year 2024-2025, our Pastoral and Spiritual Theology Department has several activities planned for the new academic year. Among these are several conferences on pastoral and liturgical issues.
During my holiday, I attended a conference in Nairobi on a program for cervical cancer and HPV vaccination, with the theme ‘Uniting Faith and Science to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Africa’. The three-day conference took place from June 11 to 13, 2024, and my area of concern for the presentation was “Addressing Religious and Cultural Concerns in Vaccine Acceptance.”
This conference aimed to equip health professionals and policymakers with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance their outreach efforts, ensuring that vaccine campaigns are inclusive and considerate of the diverse societal fabric. The conference also aimed to foster stronger community engagement by building trust and understanding, crucial elements for successful public health campaigns. It addressed and discussed cultural and religious concerns and translated the discussions into actionable insights that can lead to improved health outcomes.
I have also written other articles, especially on SCCs (Small Christian Communities), focusing on the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) as it marks 50 years since the founding of SCCs. The title was “Small Christian Communities as a Tool for Promoting African Values on Communal Living”. AMECEA celebrates this Golden Jubilee in the context of the 2021-2024 ongoing Synodal Process in the worldwide Catholic Church. Small Christian Communities are synodal because they reflect a synodal way of life: walking together and the African values of community, teamwork, and sharing.
I look forward to the new Academic year, 2024 – 2025, with hope and praying (Matthew 21: 22) for the grace and strength to accomplish all our activities.
Sr. Mary Wambua Nzilani