Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
A Catholic nun has called for deliberate efforts to instill a culture of inclusion among young people, emphasizing that the future of the Church and society depends on raising a generation that sees men and women as collaborators in God’s mission.
In an interview with AMECEA Online on Wednesday, September 03, after a couple of presentations at an ongoing conference in Hekima University College (HUC) themed: “African women theologians and synodality,” Sr. Agnes Kamau of the Visitation Daughters of Mary congregation said young people must be formed early to view human dignity beyond gender roles.
“We need to inculcate in the young people how to look at issues from the aspect of the Gospel. The Gospel is not about creating division or rather gap between men and women, but about the human person created in the image and likeness of God,” the Kenyan nun said.
As an alumna of HUC where she studied theology and one who serves as a youth coordinator and social worker in Kenya’s Ngong Diocese, Sr. Kamau explained that her ministry gives her the opportunity to influence young minds before negative stereotypes take root. She noted that even in the life of Jesus, women played an essential role in sustaining and supporting Jesus’ mission.
Reflecting on the conference discussions, she highlighted that Jesus himself worked alongside women, who supported and sustained his ministry with their gifts and resources saying, “Jesus did not only appoint male ministers he was accompanied by women ministers too,” she noted, urging the Church to recognize and value the contributions of women in its mission.
The nun promised to translate the insights gained at the conference into her ministry by deepening youth formation in inclusive values, inspired by synodality and the call to journey together.
“If we can change the narrative of who is to do what, we can help the young see that both men and women are collaborators in ministry. This is the vision we must pass on to future generations,” she affirmed.
The conference aimed to create space for women to share their experiences, challenges, opportunities, and aspirations, is a follow-up to the first Women Theologians Conference convened in 2023 at HUC. It has been organized by HUC in collaboration with the Doctoral Scholarship for African Women Theologians, the Conrad Hilton Foundation, and Watawa wa Taa, a forum where sisters from various congregations in different countries come together for a meaningful experience of connection, dialogue, and mutual support through monthly sharing.