ASEC News & Reflections

ASEC is serving Catholic Sisters in 10 sub-Saharan African countries, providing access to educational opportunities. There is much to celebrate regarding the work of ASEC and the impact of Sisters who are benefiting from our programs.

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Mgolole Orphanage Center, Tanzania is run by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters. It's known locally as

Celebrating the Ripple Effects of Service in Honor of MLK, Jr.

Jan 20, 2022: [none] What is the impact of one soul? Well, as demonstrated by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., one soul can impact the entire world. In 2022, we are still learning about the impact of his message.

Sr. Pat learned that Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a founder of a hospital in Africa, had formulated his philosophy of

Called Back To Reverence

Dec 20, 2021: [USA] Sr. Pat Bombard, BVM, on cultivating "Reverence for Life."

Sr. Mary Persico talking with an ASEC-sponsored CUEA graduate in Nairobi, Kenya (October, 2019).

On the Other Side of Reverence

Dec 13, 2021: [Kenya, USA] Sr. Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., President, Marywood University; ASEC Board of Directors Founding Member, reflects on her 2019 trip to Kenya, Africa, humbled and grateful for her experience of reverence.

Thank you to our amazing partners, donors and friends (Donations between 9/1/2020 and 8/31/2021)

Appreciation for ASEC Donors in 2021

Dec 6, 2021: [USA] Thank you to our amazing 2021 supporters! What we do is not possible without you. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.

Educated sisters are creating ripple effects by helping marginalized individuals in their communities.

Ripple Effects: Sisters Serving Individuals in Need

Dec 1, 2021: [Cameroon, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan] Catholic sisters in Africa see how using their education to help just one person can have an exponential positive effect on their communities.

Photos from Mama Kevina Hope Center for Children with Disabilities in Tanzania, provided by Sr. Swai (pictured left).

Getting the Right Education for Children with Disabilities

Nov 29, 2021: [Tanzania, Uganda] Equipped with confidence, skills and a psychology degree, Sr. Swai is helping physically and mentally disabled children in Africa get the early intervention services they need.

The virtue of charitable giving enables ASEC to be a blessing and a bridge for the women religious in Africa who receive training and education and, in turn, become shining Rays of Hope to the people they serve in their societies.

Catholic Sisters: Building Virtue Bridges

Nov 22, 2021: [USA] Although the challenges of the pandemic continue to impact development efforts, ASEC continues to build virtue bridges for women religious in Africa with many positive outcomes in 2020-21.

ASEC's last two service trips to Africa have been postponed due to COVID-19, but staff are continuously working to improve the program experience. We remain eager to resume the program once it's safe to do so.

ASEC Plans to Resume Service Learning Program "As Soon as Possible"

Nov 15, 2021: [USA] Although 2020 and 2021 service trips to Africa were cancelled, ASEC continues to build infrastructure and partnerships to enhance the service trip experience when it's safe to do so.

Through the Research Initiative, ASEC strives to increase the academic literature available on Catholic women religious in Africa and develop sisters as critical investigators.

Catholic Sisters: Critical Investigators and Capable Researchers for Africa

Nov 8, 2021: [Ghana, Uganda, USA] In 2021, the ASEC Research Initiative saw tremendous growth in the areas of academic publication and research-related webinars. Learn how ASEC is supporting African sisters' in their scholarly research.

ASEC Executive Director Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LMSIG, speaks to students of NativityMiguel on October 15, 2021 at the Marian Chapel in the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life on Marywood University's campus in Scranton, PA. Many thanks to Mr. Tim Casey, Principal of NativtyMiguel, for sharing photos from the discussion.

ASEC Executive Director Speaks to Students of NativityMiguel School of Scranton

Nov 3, 2021: [Uganda, USA] ASEC Executive Director Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG, speaks to students about her life, journey and experience as a religious sister from Uganda.

Sr. M. Tryphina Burchard, STH, ASEC Country Director (center), with two ASEC scholarship recipients during the 2021 Scholarship program orientation workshop in Tanzania.

Scholarship Program 2021: Bridging the Gap to Higher Education for Sisters in Africa

Nov 1, 2021: [Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia] A year in review of ASEC's Scholarship Program for women religious in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana, Kenya and Lesotho. Read about the program growth, celebrations and achievements as 2021 comes to an end.

Left: The newly blessed a sanctuary for the Holy Child Jesus in the Cathedral. Right: Sr. Nancy Kamau (Director of Development, ASEC), Jayson Boyers (President, Rosemont College) and Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia (Executive Director, ASEC) in front of the Joseph Sinnott Mansion is the Main Building at Rosemont College. The property was purchased for $250,000 by the Sisters of the Holy Child of Jesus in 1921 and later sold for $1 to Rosemont College in 1927.

ASEC Joins in Celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus

Oct 29, 2021: [USA] On October 16-17, 2021, representatives from ASEC traveled to Philadelphia, PA, to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, one of ASEC’s founding congregations.

Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco in Kenya provide support to their community during COVID-19.

ASEC Call for Universal Vaccination

Oct 26, 2021: [USA] ASEC calls for universal vaccination as a necessity and a human right for every individual across the globe.

HESA best-in-class graduates from Veritas University in Nigeria at the ASEC graduation celebration (2021).

Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) Program, 2021 Year in Review

Oct 25, 2021: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] A year in review of the Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program. Read HESA news, graduation announcements, student achievements and program growth.

Sr. Judith Atukwatse, OLGC, used the skills she learned in SLDI to start a vegetable and poultry project for her community in Uganda.

Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) Program, 2021 Year in Review

Oct 18, 2021: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia] A year in review of the Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) program. Read about milestones, news and experiences from 2021.

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