Religious Life “not about personal ambition”: Assumption Sisters of Nairobi Superior Cautions against Disobedience

She challenged women and men Religious to align their “worldviews” with the charisms, visions, and missions of their respective ICLSAL, especially those starting off Religious Life.

“The biggest challenge is with the younger ones; the older Sisters have settled into systems, but the younger ones arrive with very different worldviews,” the Kenyan ASN Superior General said.

Not prioritizing Religious Orders’ worldviews has resulted in some women and men Religious having challenges with living the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, Sr. Wahungu said during the August 15 interview at ASN Uzima Centre, Thika in the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN), where four ASN members celebrated their Silver Jubilee, one her Diamond Jubilee, and two others made their Perpetual Profession.

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Obedience has become a challenge on the part of a section of women and men Religious, Sr. Wahungu observed with concern, adding, “Many today interpret obedience differently; some even openly refuse assignments.”

As a way forward, the Nairobi-based ASN Superior General called upon formators to engage candidates for Religious Life, so the latter are guided to abandon personal ambitions and seek the will of God in community living.

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Formators have a role in helping candidates for Religious Life discern their vocation, Sr. Wahungu said, and added, “Our mission is to serve according to the signs of the time; discernment always involves three: the individual Sister, the Congregation, and the Church.”

She expressed optimism about the ability of aspirants to ICLSAL to adjust their worldviews from secular to Christian.

Underscoring the need of new members to ICLSAL, the ASN Superior General said, “I am very positive about their presence, because if the Church is to continue, we must integrate them into our systems.”

Earlier, in his speech during the August 15 celebrations, the ASN Chaplain cautioned against attachments.  

Fr. Peterlis Olang' Ongo'ondo said that with detachment, women and men Religious “will be happy in life” and that they “will have many opportunities to serve in the Congregation.” He emphasized,

Caption:Fr. Peterlis Olang' Ongo'ondo. Credit:ACI Africa

“Detach yourself from many other things and live according to the means the community can provide,” Fr. Olang’ said.

For him, “The moment you allow the virus of individualism to take over the control of you, you will always live in tension and conflict because you will not be content with the little that the community can provide.”

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In the August 15 interview, the ASN Superior General shared about the changes they have made in the formation and discernment process of those aspiring to join the 70-year-old Religious Order.

“We have extended the period of formation. It used to be three years, but now it is four,” Sr. Wahungu said, and explained, “New aspirants stay with us for several months, then return home. They then come back for a longer stay and eventually enter the Canonical year. This lengthened process gives them more time for discernment.”

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She added, “That is why formation includes years of discernment—to reach the point of desiring perpetual profession, not for material gain but for lifelong service.”

Founded in 1955, ASN, officially known as “Sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Nairobi”, reportedly came from the need “to have an African women's religious congregation dedicated to serving the local church and people.”

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The founder, Archbishop John Joseph (JJ) McCarthy of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp./Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers) and first Local Ordinary of ADN had the vision “to establish an Order of African Sisters who understood the local culture and could best serve the needs of the community.”

The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA), also referred to as White Sisters, formed the pioneer ASN members.

Officially recognized as a Pontifical Rite Order in 1998, ASN members’ mission is rooted in participating in the redeeming role of Jesus Christ, particularly in the service of the underprivileged and in the fostering of human dignity through a variety of ministries, including education, healthcare, and social work.