In 2024, the African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) commemorated 25 years of empowering women religious through education. Under the Jubilee theme “Igniting Hope, Building Bridges, Creating Impact,” anniversary celebrations spanned across several African countries and concluded with a gala in the United States.
Jubilee Joy Across Africa
The Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI), ASEC’s flagship program, took center stage in the anniversary festivities. Throughout 2024, ASEC groups gathered in graduations that honored sisters who completed training in finance, administration, and technology, fields critical to sustaining ministries and serving communities.
The year’s celebrations began in January at the Holistic Education Centre in Morogoro, Tanzania, where ASEC’s USA staff, Nicole Vilogi-DiPietro, Dr. Rosemary Shaver, and Dr. Tara Lopatofsky, joined ASEC Executive Director Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG, to oversee the first 25th anniversary celebration. This event reflected on ASEC’s journey and strengthened partnerships supporting sisters’ education across the region.
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SLDI graduates celebrate ASEC’s 25th Anniversary in Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Late summer and early fall marked a busy season of SLDI graduations across several countries. In August, Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria all hosted vibrant celebrations. Cameroon’s event was colorful and full of gratitude, with local leaders joined by U.S. staff members Dr. Rosemary Shaver and Dr. Sneh Akruvala. The program featured a jubilee cake-cutting ceremony that brought together bishops, ASEC leaders, and program facilitators to honor the achievements of graduating sisters. On the same day, Ghana honored its SLDI graduates in a celebration reflecting ASEC’s commitment to forming leaders who transform their communities. Nigeria’s event united sisters and partners to recognize their growth in leadership and administration, with ASEC Board Chair Sr. Barbara Spears, SNJM, joining in prayer and congratulating graduates for their dedication to service.
ASEC’s Jubilee celebrations continued across Africa with SLDI graduations in Lesotho, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Malawi, and Zambia.
In September, the celebrations continued with Zambia’s SLDI graduation, attended by Board Member Sr. Rosalia Sakayombo, SHS, who emphasized the graduates’ responsibility to apply their training for the greater good of their communities. In attendance at Malawi’s celebration was Board Member Brighid Blake, who congratulated graduates for using their new knowledge from SLDI to implement projects across their country. Lesotho’s graduation brought sisters from across the region together, now better equipped to lead in education, health care, and social development and and was attended by ASEC staff members Sr. Lina Wanjiku Ndugu’u, SE, and Sr. Clarisse Remjika Jaiwo, SST. Uganda’s ceremony was both a graduation and a moment of growing solidarity, and Brighid Blake joined in recognizing the graduates’ accomplishments. South Sudan’s graduation at the beginning of October closed the early fall season, praising graduates who are leading with renewed confidence and skills, and was attended by Sr. Lina and Sr. Clarisse along with the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, who served as the presider and guest of honor.
The winter months marked the final celebrations of the anniversary year. In December, Kenya hosted the last SLDI graduation ceremony, attended by ASEC Executive Director Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG; Board Member Mary Gautier; Mission Advancement Director Sr. Nancy Kamau, LSOSF; and partners.
(Left to right) Igniting Hope, Building Bridges, Creating Impact: ASEC at 25 Gala Honorees Sr. Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, Sr. Anne Munley, IHM, and Sr. Mary Reap, IHM
A Grand Finale in the United States
The highlight of the jubilee year came in December, when ASEC hosted its first-ever Gala at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA. This elegant evening brought together friends, partners, and supporters under the theme “Igniting Hope, Building Bridges, Creating Impact.” Guests celebrated ASEC’s accomplishments, honored the Founding Mothers, Sr. Anne Munley, IHM; Sr. Carol Jean Vale, SSJ; and Sr. Mary Reap, IHM, and renewed commitments to support education for Catholic sisters in Africa. The gala not only commemorated 25 years of service but also launched a future-oriented vision: to broaden ASEC’s reach and deepen its impact for generations to come.
From the first gathering in Morogoro to the gala in Philadelphia, ASEC’s Silver Jubilee affirmed a global community committed to educating and accompanying Catholic sisters for transformative ministry.
