Synod on Synodality Bearing Fruits in Africa, Catholic Sister at Conclusion of G20 Interfaith Forum in South Africa

The Malawian member of the Religious Institute of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary (SBVM) said that seeing people from different religious backgrounds gather to discuss critical issues of concern to their communities and share their experiences is “one of the signs” that the fruits of Synodality are becoming more visible.

“We challenged ourselves to say we are in the days of the Jubilee Year of Hope,” she said, stressing the need for religious leaders to draw inspiration from the on-going Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope and commit to lead by example as agents of hope.

Credit: Sr. Agnes Njeri/Hilton Foundation

She noted that religious leaders can inspire hope by “being the agents of change, agents of the Good News” and by using their own life as an example so that those they lead can recognize the hope they embody and acknowledge the presence of God.

 “Are we the ones to give hope, or should we wait for another?” she posed, and offered, “No, we have to be the source of hope.”

In the August 14 interview, Sr. Chimbali, who was part of a delegation of women Religious from African countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Zambia weighed in on peace building initiatives in Africa.

Credit: Sr. Agnes Njeri/Hilton Foundation

“I was given a task to speak about the role of women in peacebuilding and sustainable communities,” said the Assistant Superior General of SBVM in Malawi, adding, “My takeaway is women can become a resource for the many challenges that the world experiences.”

Stressing that peace is not merely the absence of war, Sr. Chimbali expressed concern that corruption, poor governance, and lack of moral integrity continue to undermine harmony across the African continent.

“Most of the people who are in government or involved in issues of corruption are believers. What is it that we as faith-based people have not done? I think the formation of conscience and the change of heart. There’s no real conversion of the mind, the soul, and the action,” she said.

Credit: Sr. Agnes Njeri/Hilton Foundation

The AACSS official underscored the need for deeper moral formation and holistic education to foster what she termed “a total formation of the human person”.

She also highlighted the importance of harnessing available resources, including technology, and actively involving young people in peace and development initiatives noting that their engagement is vital in addressing pressing global challenges.

The Malawian-born Catholic nun said she was “happy to see many sisters, about 10 of us, present” and taking part in discussions on education, health, migration, and peace during the five-day gathering that was organized ahead of the G20 Summit scheduled for November 22–23.

Credit: Sr. Agnes Njeri/Hilton Foundation

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“We have not been left behind as Catholic Sisters,” she said, underlining the importance of continued involvement by women Religious in shaping responses to societal needs.

The former Secretary General of the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) said Sisters want to be part and parcel of the process of addressing societal needs. 

Credit: Sr. Agnes Njeri/Hilton Foundation

“We don't want to be left behind,” she stated, observing that participation in such forums reflects the spirit of Synodality, inclusivity, and interreligious dialogue that the Church seeks to promote.

Sr. Chimbali affirmed the commitment of Catholic sisters to participate in future platforms where solutions to global challenges are discussed, saying, “We’ll be there to discuss these things. We can solve these challenges together.”

Credit: Sr. Agnes Njeri/Hilton Foundation

“The biggest thing that we are asking, especially the leaders in Africa, is to pay attention to the needs of the people in their countries. Pay attention to the challenges that women are going through. We are talking about the issues of migration. We are talking about the issues of hunger,” said Sr. Chimbali in her appeal to G20 leaders.

She urged the G20 leaders to shed the fear that necessary changes could undermine their own security or influence.

She said, “One thing that has been said clearly is that the system or the structure we are using to create these problems shouldn’t be the same system to solve them. That will not work. It’s about doing away with the fear that, if we change this, maybe I won’t be able to get peace.”