By Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA

At the First Regional Chapter of the Nairobi Region, held from 13th – 15th November 2025 at Rosa Mystica Spiritual Center, Sr. Jacinta Auma Opondo a member of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna (FSSA), sharing on the Pope Francis’ New Wine in New Wineskins, the ninth major magisterial document on consecrated life reminded members of Nairobi region that authentic renewal must touch every dimension of religious life; identity, spirituality, governance, and mission.
Sr. Jacinta, who serves as the Vice Chancellor of Hekima University College, urged members of the Nairobi region to embody “new wineskins,” capable of holding the vitality of the Spirit without bursting under the pressure of outdated structures and attitudes.
In her presentation, she stressed that Consecrated life, as presented in New Wine in New Wineskins, is no longer understood as a privileged “state of perfection” set apart from the rest of the Church; rather, it is inherently prophetic and added that religious are called to denounce whatever contradicts God’s will and to witness courageously to the values of the Kingdom.
“The consecrated life today calls the religious to fearlessly denounce all that is contrary to the Divine will and manifest a way of life that points to the coming Kingdom of God even at the risk of martyrdom,” she said.
Speaking on the issue of Charism, Sr. Jacinta emphasized the importance of reconnecting with the founding charism of each institute and underscored that founders and foundresses responded radically to the Spirit in their own historical contexts, and that same Spirit continues to guide communities today and added that when institutes lose touch with their charismatic roots, consecrated life risks becoming generic, institutionalized, and spiritually hollow.
She further said that true renewal demands a deep spiritual life, and prayer cannot be reduced to routine observance or lifeless repetition. Religious are called to be contemplatives and mystics, discerning God’s presence in everyday life.
Instead of seeking security in stability and predictability, Sr. Jacinta noted that consecrated persons are invited to embrace liminality—a way of living “on the move,” like the Israelites in the desert, religious are called to trust God’s guidance even when the path ahead is uncertain. This openness allows the Spirit to lead communities into new and unexpected forms of mission.
According to Sr. Jacinta, NWiNW calls religious institutes to move beyond traditional and central ministries toward the peripheries of human existence. She highlighted that peripheries are marked by misery, oppression, loneliness, and fear.
Each institute must uniquely live its charism. Uniformity weakens consecrated life, while diversity of charisms enriches the Church. Sr. Jacinta underscored that this diversity reflects the creativity of the Spirit and the manifold ways God continues to act in the world.
She added that authentic authority is exercised not as domination but as service. Superiors are called to listen attentively, accompany members, and nurture hope, and governance should foster growth, responsibility, and shared discernment rather than rigid control.
“Consecrated life must actively reject clericalism, relationships within religious communities should be grounded in equal dignity, mutual respect, and genuine fraternity, and hierarchical attitudes that diminish others undermine the very witness religious life is meant to offer,” Sr. Jacinta said.
Alongside the call to renewal, the documents identify distortions that weaken consecrated life—what Pope Francis terms “watered-down wine.” Sr. Jacinta, in her 15th November 2025 presentation, outlined several of these challenges.
She narrated that many institutes face a vocation and identity crisis, marked by declining numbers and weakened commitment linked not to external hostility but to inauthentic community life, excessive apostolic demands, and a focus on numerical growth for security rather than fidelity.
Formation emerging as another critical area of concern, Sr. Jacinta noted that improvised programs, undervaluation of formation ministry, lack of trained formators, and superficial ongoing formation fail to prepare members for the demands of consecrated life today.
She also said that human and affective immaturity also takes its toll, leading to unhealthy obedience, rebellion, internal conflicts, and dependence. These tensions are frequently compounded by misuse of authority, including centralized governance, manipulation, lobbying, and leaders remaining indefinitely in power.