Southern Africa Consecrated Life leaders: Together with one heart, gratitude and hope

by Fr Vaclav Klement SDB · November 10, 2025

Southern Africa-LCCL executive board

By Fr Vaclav Klement – The annual executive meeting of LCCL-South Africa (Leadership of Consecrated Life) was held at Carmel Retreat House in Benoni, Johannesburg (Nov 6-8), convoked by Sr Zelna Oosthuizen, RSG (LCCL-SA President) and attended by 9 executive board members – 5 religious sisters, two religious brothers and two religious priests.

It was a true ‘experience of a personal, interactive encounter’, sharing stories and serious evaluation and planning for the year ahead of the 14 portfolios of the religious conference, comprising 100+ religious congregations in Botswana, eSwatini and South Africa.

As Sr Zelna shares, it was a moment to give life to all portfolios, to respond to the LCCL members. The executive members meet every second month online to check on their follow up of the following portfolios: Catholic Health Association, Catholic Education, Communication, Talitha Kum (against human trafficking), Missions-Evangelization, Justice and Peace (including Laudato Si), Finance, Initial and ongoing formation of religious, Safeguarding, Joint Witness – Troika (Bishops and Religious Superiors), and Youth.

From the intense sharing emerges a strong need to strengthen the synergy and joint working with the respective desks or offices of the SACBC (Bishops Conference), invest in the formation of its members (assisted by the Hilton Foundation), connect and involve some 20-30 congregations not yet fully engaged in the LCCL-SA network and foster a common journey at each diocesan level.

The executive members returned a few times to the powerful and inspiring experience of COMSAM (Confederation of Major Superiors Africa Madagascar) 2025 Symposium and AGM, hosted by LCCL-SA together with the Southern African Regional Conference of Major Superiors (covering 8 countries of IMBISA).

Looking forward to 2026, the executive members are preparing a Formation course for the new missionaries coming to Southern Africa (August), LCCL-SA Youth Synod (January), Training of basic digital communication skills (January) and a variety of webinars or other formation opportunities prepared by various portfolios.

The executive team have also started concrete preparations for the Regional General Assembly (Angola, January 2026) and especially for the LCCL AMG (Annual General Assembly, Johannesburg, March 2026) that is open to all 100 congregations present in the three countries of LCCL-SA and represents 2100 consecrated men and women, both members of religious congregations and societies of apostolic life.

Although the religious life in Southern Africa faces many challenges, including a few vocations, struggles to maintain their educational institution, forming their lay associates and keeping up with an unstable social life, the religious face the future with faith and hope. A symbolic group photo on the Carmel shrine Boat of the Jubilee of Hope expressed a joyful, committed attitude of LCCL-SA leadership. ‘We continue as companions on our journey of hope’, confessed their President, Sr Zelna Oosthuizen, RGS.