From May 26 to June 2, 2024, UISG held the Second Symposium of Women Religious Theologians in Nemi (Rome, Italy).

Designed as a platform for women religious theologians, the symposium aimed to nurture theological reflection on religious life by making it contextual and practical.

We asked some participants to share a personal reflection on the symposium through both video and written interviews.

Below, we present the one by Sister Anthonia Bolanle, from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel.

"I am Sr. Anthonia Bolanle Ojo, a member and the Vicar General of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel. I am a Moral theologian with specialization in Social Ethics. I was a formator and a lecturer of Moral Theology in Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, Nigeria.

Presently, I am involved in the administration of my congregation and also work with Caritas Nigeria on a humanitarian project on agriculture and vocational skills in Ekiti State, Nigeria. This project deals with human empowerment, giving people, most especially the vulnerable in society the reason to live a meaningful life. This brings out my mission as a religious and as a Moral Theologian – doing theology with humanity at the center.

The gathering of twenty-nine (29) Women Religious Theologian from different continents for a symposium titled “Enlarge the Space of your tent Isaiah 54” organized by the International Union of Superior Generals (UISG) which took place in Nemi, Italy, from 26th May to 2nd June 2024, was a light for the future of women religious theologians in the world. The symposium was an opportunity to acquire more knowledge from the participants from different fields of theology during the presentation by all the participants.

The symposium became more enriching with the presentations by Sr Nathalie Becquart, xmcj on Synodality, Sr. Marren Rose, ibvm on Religious Life Challenges, Sr. Mary Barron, ola on Challenges and Hopes for Consecrated Life and Sr Antonietta Papa, Figlie di Marie Missionarie on Challenges in Religious Life. All these discussed both the internal and external challenges facing religious life today which include: democratic shift and decline of vocation, formation of young women in wholistic and personal ways, facing the reality of abuse (sexual abuse and abuse of power and authority), worldliness, male dominated society, etc.

With these changes in today’s society, women religious theologians are to respond to these challenges by being aware of our radical calling to mission, by responding in our various social contexts (Inculturation) and by doing theology in a synodal way (doing theology together).

The symposium challenges us as women religious theologians to do theology together and to impact people with our theology. It calls us to a mission to envision Christ, most especially to the poor.

As women religious theologians, the symposium is a wake-up call to us all to identify our place in the Church and to be more proactive in our mission of impacting people with our theology.

This symposium is a call to us, despite language difference and different continents, and different theological fields, to reflect together, to work together and create a common fold together. It is also an encouragement for more young women religious to study theology and to see a Church where women religious theologians are very relevant.

With this symposium, I hope to see this group of women religious theologians collaborate by reflecting and working together and to always be ready to do theology in our different contexts even in the face of challenges. I hope to see this group to be a voice and a uniting force for other women religious theologian in the world."