Women religious

Vincentian Father Emmanuel Typamm addresses assembly (Photos by Tom Fox)

KAMPALA, UGANDA -- As a gathering of Catholic religious leaders began its first full day of deliberations here they found themselves caught between their dreams and harsh realities that could very well overwhelm those dreams.

Hope and good intentions run up against quite modest resources in Africa.

Sister Romina

The following is the welcoming address by COMSAM President Our Lady of Good Counsel Sister Romina Nyemera, delivered at the Uganda shrine of the martyrs on Feb. 4, 2012:

The Prefect of the Congregation of Institute of Consecrated life and Societies of Apostolic life (CICLSAL) Archbishop Joao Bras de Aviz (Cardinal-elect), the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, His Excellency, Paul Tschang In Nam, priests, members of COMSAM from Africa and Madagascar, donors, well-wishers and friends of COMSAM, the religious men and women living and working in Uganda, ladies and gentlemen.

Editor's note: The following talk was given by Sister Margaret Aringo Jan. 28, 2012 at the launching of the ACWECA five year strategic plan at the Catholic University of East Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.

Your Excellency Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, your Grace, Archbishop Tarcisio Ziyaye, the Chairman of AMECEA, Your grace Most Rev. Raphael Ndingi Mwana a Nzeki, my Lord Bishop Philip Anyolo, His Excellency the Prime Minister Hon. Raila Odinga Amolo, the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University Rev. Dr. Pius Rutechura and the entire University staff, ACWECA Executive members, major superiors present, religious men and women our partners in mission, AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Ferdinard Lugonzo and the entire AMECEA staff, government officials, representatives of the Catholic Women and Men Associations, distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen . . . . I begin by wishing you a grace filled year 2012.

Dominican Sisters Ardeth Platte and Carol Gilbert share smiles Jan. 12 outside Jonah House in west Baltimore. When not in jail, their home is the faith-based community of peace activists. The women have been arrested dozens of times on charges related to their demonstrations against war and nuclear weapons. (CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

BALTIMORE -- They call themselves peacemakers, following in the footsteps of the nonviolent Jesus.

Dominican Sisters Carol Gilbert and Ardeth Platte, members of the Jonah House community in Baltimore since 1995, have spent decades crisscrossing the United States opposing war and acting to bring to life the biblical call to "beat swords into plowshares" in symbolically disarming nuclear weapons and other tools of war. Their actions -- as feeble as they might seem -- have led to countless years in prison.

They say there is no better calling.

"I think being a good Catholic calls us to do these things," Gilbert told Catholic News Service at Jonah House on the grounds of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's St. Peter's Cemetery, where the nuns and other community members are caretakers.

"We talk about being faithful, living lives of faithfulness, being faithful to the Gospel. I think what the nonviolent Jesus was all about was faithfulness," she said.

"What is so important for people to understand (is) that in being faithful, God speaks," Platte continued. "We never know when we do an action where it's going to go, who it's going to touch, what it's going to speak to others."