The Bikira Maria Association comprises English-speaking Poor Clares in Africa and was canonically erected in 1995 . Currently it consists of seven sui juris monasteries and seven foundations found in different countries and these are: Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
This year Bikira Maria Association held its 9th General Assembly which also marked it’s 40 th anniversary at Kasisi retreat center on 5th to 19th May, 2025 with a theme “Theme: Clarian Contemplatives on the Synodal Journey: Definition, Identity, Purpose.”
The main objectives of this Assembly was;
To help us with the delibations, we were blessed with the presences of Br. Frederick Odhiambo, OFM, Provincial Minister of the Province of St. Francis in East Africa and of Br. Fabio Cesar Gomes, OFM, the General Delegate Promonialibus.
Our dream for the future is to become a Federation so as to prevent any monastery from being isolated, particularly on the huge continent of Africa. We seek to promote our Franciscan / Clarian spirituality in the Africa context. Thence, to support one another in the areas of fraternity, sustainability, and formation.
Sister Tumelo Limata, Assembly's Secretery
