Report from Central African Zone Sr. Bernadette Tricoit OP Zonal Coordinator, Central Africa Two Years of Dominican Collaboration in Central Africa

The DSA Coordination Team of Cameroon, and Justice Coordinator. Standing from left, Sr. Bernadette, Sr. Isabel Pedrosa, Sr. Petronille Kayiba (J&P) and Sr. Marie Dominique Tshika. Seated - Sr. Lidia Schulz.

There is an exciting amount of new collaboration among the Dominican sisters in the Central region, centered in Cameroon. In 1998 they established a secretariat and organized a meeting of the many Dominican entities in Cameroon. The meeting was attended by 45 sisters of 12 different nationalities. Perhaps the greatest joy was to meet other Dominican Sisters, coming together for a common cause. They also created a commission for justice and peace. They pledged themselves to working closer with each other and to spreading their collaboration beyond Cameroon to neighboring countries.

The Participants of the J&P meeting in Cameroon.

The region comprises Cameroon, The Republic of Central Africa, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, though the last four have not yet been in contact with Sr. Bernadette. In total there are 15 congregations, 3 monasteries and 2 lay fraternities ministering in the zone.

Among the many good things happening, there are also some difficulties. Political instability and poverty keep the sisters from being able to work together. Also, some congregations do not seem to be motivated to work with DSA.