With joy and gratitude, the Congregation in the District of East Africa celebrated the First Profession of Vows bynine young men onThursday, July 16, 2015(the Anniversary of the Unification of Brothers and Priests into the one District of East Africa).
One newly professed (Bwambale Barnabas) is a brother in the Moreau Province; the others are all members of the U.S. Province.
This class consists of three religious from each of the three countries of the District: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Bwambale Barnabas, C.S.C.
Erasto Moshi Mao, C.S.C.
Fedinard Odiwuor Aliet, C.S.C.
Kityo Gerald, C.S.C.
Nichodemus Hassan Guerino, C.S.C.
Paul Musyoki Wavinya, C.S.C.
Peter A. Qorro, C.S.C.
Ssemaganda John Baptist, C.S.C.
Innocent Wambua Muasya, C.S.C
The vows were received by Fr. Bernard Amani, C.S.C., District Steward. He also presided at preached at the Mass.
In his homily, Fr. Amani reflected on the Gospel reading chosen by the novices the parable of the vine and branches (John 15). He spoke of the novitiate year as a time of pruning a pruning of the heart, mind and intentions “so you may conform to the life of the one who speaks to you Christ himself.” And, he expressed confidence that those to be professed had been prepared well and were ready “to be branches, remaining in the one who called (them) to Holy Cross.”
Following the profession of their vows, the newly professed sang together a special Song of Dedication which they had written to ask the help of St. Andre Bessette as they seek to live their vows faithfully. This class has developed a special devotion to St. Andre, one of them even using existing materials to compose a brief life of our saint in the Kiswahili language.
Holy Cross priests, brothers and sisters from near and far surrounded the newly professed with prayer and blessings, welcoming them into their new family. The celebratory lunch for all was held on the beautiful grounds of the novitiate, located on Lake Saaka at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains. Celebrations continued into the evening with roasted goat and chicken, and, of course, dancing!
After a brief time visiting family, all will proceed to McCauley Formation House in Nairobi to continue their formation. The seminarians will study theology at Tangaza College which Holy Cross and five other religious communities founded almost 30 years ago and which has grown into the largest institution for training church ministers and priests in Africa. The brother will enroll for an education degree at the Catholic University of East Africa which Servant of God Vincent McCauley was instrumental in founding.
Pleaseremember our young African brothers in your prayers, as they take these important steps in their formation in Holy Cross.
