Photos provided by the Holy Cross Mission Center
This summer, the Congregation of Holy Cross held its second “Coming into the Land of Our Blessing” Final Vows Program. Offering an experience of international formation and retreat, the program was an opportunity for members of the Congregation to prepare for or reflect on their final religious vows while staying in France from June 27 to July 12, 2026.
Eighteen men participated, including the following men from mission locations supported by the Holy Cross Mission Center:
- Rev. Edson Onesmo Mwoleka, C.S.C., (EA);
- Deacon Noah Amuse Masika, C.S.C., (EA);
- Deacon Nishir Gabriel Rozario, C.S.C., (SHJ);
- Deacon Poul Nowas Dhan, C.S.C., (SHJ);
- Br. Lenin Immanuel, C.S.C., (SJ); and
- Br. Partho Urban Palma, C.S.C., (SJ).
Throughout their time in France, the men visited spiritual sites significant to the Congregation’s founder, Blessed Basil Moreau. Among these sites were Notre-Dame de l’Habit, a small 16th-century chapel once owned by Blessed Moreau, and Saint Peter’s Abbey in Solesmes, where the liturgical renewal influenced Blessed Moreau’s spirituality in the mid-19th century. The group also visited Laigné-en-Belin, Blessed Moreau’s hometown, and Ruillé-sur-Loir, the town where Fr. Jacques Dujarié founded the Sisters of Providence and the Brothers of St. Joseph. The latter community would eventually join with Blessed Moreau’s group of auxiliary priests to form the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Incorporated into the men’s site visits were times for reflection and formation. At La Solitude du Sauveur (The Solitude of the Savior), originally built by Blessed Moreau for the Congregation’s novitiate, the group reflected on God’s call and shared their personal vocation stories with each other. During their visits to Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix Church (where the Congregation was founded) and the Cathedral of St. Julien (the mother church of the Diocese of Le Mans, where Blessed Moreau was born, raised, and ordained), they received a presentation from Br. Jacob Eifrid, C.S.C., on Holy Cross’ charism and spirituality.
On the days between pilgrimage trips, the men engaged in formational explorations of a variety of themes related to the Congregation’s vocation and mission. These explorations covered topics such as Blessed Moreau’s understanding of the religious, the prophetic nature of religious vows, Blessed Moreau’s sense of mission and the mission of the Congregation today, the cross and prayer in Blessed Moreau’s life, self-awareness and growth, and living the heart of a missionary. Each topic was presented by a member of the Congregation either virtually or in person.
On the final three days of the program, participants were led through the Spiritual Exercises of Blessed Moreau (an adaptation of St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises) by the Congregation’s Third Assistant, Rev. Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C. As part of the spiritual exercises, each participant made a devotional renewal of his vows, and three American seminarians (Mr. Andrew Copp, C.S.C., Mr. Keenan Bross, C.S.C., and Mr. Timothy Paul Wymore, C.S.C.) renewed their Temporary Vows at the tomb of Blessed Moreau in anticipation of taking their Final Vows at the end of August.
Capitalizing on their time together, the men also enjoyed meaningful fellowship. On July 4, they put on a cultural night, sharing traditional songs and dances from their countries with each other. On the final day of the program, they visited Rev. Luc-Marie Bouvier, C.S.C. (MP), on his 90th birthday before concluding with a Mass at La Solitude that included a special blessing and sending of the religious.
The Holy Cross Mission Center is grateful to the Generalate and all who made possible this opportunity for men from around the world to come together for formation and fellowship. Please join us in holding these men of Holy Cross in prayer as they live out their vows, bringing hope wherever they go, by working to make God known, loved, and served.
Provided by Paula Lent, HCMC Office Coordinator, August 2026.
