Hope filled the grounds of the Holy Cross Novitiate in Lake Saaka, Uganda, on July 16th, as five novices of the Province of East Africa made their First Professions. The newly professed are: Mr. Richard Joel Laizer, C.S.C., Mr. Magezi Eric, C.S.C., Mr. Musani Benedict, C.S.C., Mr. Ojok Allan, C.S.C., and Mr. Denis Edward Sungu, C.S.C.
In the days leading up to the First Professions, Rev. Lulu Gabriel, C.S.C., directed the novices’ pre-profession retreat. He emphasized that each one had his own God-given “light” to offer as a Holy Cross religious. The novices’ First Vows were received by Br. Cleophas Kyomuhendo, C.S.C., Assistant Provincial and Novice
Master, while Rev. Fr. Lawrence Mwenya, C.S.C, Pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Dandora, presided at the Mass, with Fr. Peter Qorro, C.S.C., Vocations Director, and Fr. Benedict Mugisa, C.S.C., Assistant Novice Master, concelebrating.
The celebration continued after Mass with a delicious lunch that stretched into an evening social, with Holy Cross religious and other invited guests sharing their joy and gratitude.
After a brief time visiting family, the newly professed will continue their initial formation at McCauley Formation House in Nairobi, where they will also study theology at Tangaza College.
Taking their place at the novitiate are five new novices, who were officially received into the novitiate on July 22nd in a liturgy presided by Fr. Benedict.
We pray for our newly professed confreres and our new novices in East Africa. May they, and all of our men in formation, be able to say ever more with our Founder, “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.”
Provided by the General Administration of the Congregation of Holy Cross
August 2025
