In Namibia, the first institute of theological and spiritual formation for consecrated women
Religious vocations in the African country are on the rise, creating an urgent need for appropriate formation of nuns
Responding to this call, Sister Anne Arabome took the initiative to establish the first center dedicated to empowering women religious about their vocation
(by Sister Michelle Njeri, OSF)
Ongoing theological and spiritual formation is now available for major superiors in Windhoek, Namibia.
According to the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2023, there is a remarkable and sustained growth in religious vocations in Africa. Although this growth is a welcome gift, it creates a deep need for programs of theological and spiritual formation for Catholic women religious who do not have access to pastoral higher education.
In order to provide adequate services to the marginalized and people living in poverty, these women who are giving their lives in the service of Christ deserve to have a solid foundation in theology, Sacred Scripture, spirituality and management skills.
Sister Anne Arabome, a member of the Los Angeles Sisters of Social Service, responded to this need for the formation of women religious in Africa by founding the Sophia Institute for Theological Studies and Spiritual Formation in Namibia.
“The charism of the Social Service Sisters enables members to grow in their awareness of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s action in the world, actively engaging in the social mission of the Church. The Sophia Institute is the embodiment of this charism,” said Sister Anne.
Return to Africa: a call for women religious
After many years of service and ministry in the United States, she returned to Africa to create innovative formation opportunities for African women religious that draw on unique African values and principles of religious life and spirituality.
“I always had a strong sense of being called by God; this call brought me back to Africa, particularly Namibia and southern Africa,” Sister Anne said about her motivation to start Sophia Institute.
“Women religious in this part of Africa have limited opportunities for formation in theological studies and spirituality,” she asserted. “There are so many gifted, talented and competent women religious who are passionate about the Church’s mission of bringing the light of Christ to others. They need and deserve spiritual, theological and leadership skills support.”
He added that this is precisely the vocation of Sophia Institute, which already offers a program for women to train other young women in religious life. “The training is virtual and reaches these women in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. All of this is done at a minimal financial cost,” said Sister Anne.
Passion for ministry and social justice
Sister Anne’s experience and expertise in Ignatian spirituality and theology include an eight-year stint as associate director of the Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Marquette University in Wisconsin.
She has been on the faculty at Hekima, Nairobi, offering classes in anthropology, spirituality and religious life as part of the Sister-Scholars program. Sister Anne has a Ph.D. 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 in Chicago.
Sister Anne’s initiative spans two continents as she also coordinates a cross-cultural life and theological studies program for African women religious in collaboration with the Ignatian Spirituality Center 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,” said Sister Anne.
She added that she is inspired by the synodal model in the formation of African managers, believing that she has “incorporated the values, principles and practice of synodality into my mission of formation.”
Empowering and reclaiming the dignity of African sisters
Reflecting on the journey so far, Sister Anne shared her ardent hopes for the Sophia Institute. “I have a dream that this initiative will be a means of empowering and reclaiming the dignity and beauty of African women religious and their communities through creative and contextualized theological reflection, formation, renewal, spiritual accompaniment and Ignatian retreats,” she hoped.
“This is an exciting adventure,” Sister Anne concluded. “I experience the presence of the One who is much greater than I am and who has called me to walk with the religious. In this way, I am carrying out the social mission of the Church.”