Scritto da Peter Kivuva | Categoria: A proposito di noi | Pubblicato il 30/10/2025
Perpetual profession signifies a permanent commitment of a religious to their institute, allowing them to remain in it. Canon 657 outlines the process of admission to perpetual profession after a temporary period, stating that a religious who requests it and is deemed suitable after completing their temporary profession will be admitted, otherwise, they will leave. Having also met the requirements of canon 658, the two brothers Peter (Kenya) and Sixtus (Nigeria) had written to request for this admission and it was dully given.
Having returned from holidays, they went for a spiritual preparation, a retreat held in the community of spiritan sisters in Uango led by one Fr. Jean Clotaire, a formator in St Mark major seminary in Bimbo. After a successful moment of reflection in the retreat, the brothers returned to the community the afternoon of Saturday 13th September, 2025. That particular date being a recollection day in our community, they too participated in the recollection led by the Superior General Fr. Jean Claude Nzembele. The same evening, they were taken through thorough exercises by Br. Hugo as to the procedures of the final vows to happen the following day.
The event was set during the second mass at Divine Mercy parish starting from 9 am, with a procession from Padre Pio complex school towards the church. Several priests attended, one deacon and many religious men and women, MADM members in large numbers as well as the faithful both within the parish and outside. The event was also beautified by the angelic voices of the parish choir and a live coverage by Radio Notre Dame. Everything went well, ranging from the entry in procession to the call and response of the candidates to the dedication of the brothers to intercession of all saints in the litany of all saints. In his homily, the General Father took his time to explain the rich theology of the cross, synthesizing it as Love of Jesus Christ to humanity. He even went further to address the brothers, urging them to be ambassadors of that same love to those they meet, inside the community as well as outside. He stressed that they (the brothers) should not forget that they are indicators to the Kingdom of heaven in the practical sense of being part of the citizens of that Kingdom. This state, he insisted is a present state in that it is now and, in the future, as well. To mean that one should not wait to lead a holy life in the near future. The time is here and now!
After the mass, followed a moment of photos with friends and visitors then lunch in the big hall in Padre Pio Complex School. The General Fr joined, with the two newly professed brothers at his sides, fathers present, the religious present and other invited guests. It was really a colorful and a memorable event that remains in the archives of Bangui community and the institute at large. We pray for the brothers to embrace a holy life, at the service of their brothers and sisters in honor of the evangelical councils that they pronounced definitively.
Special thanks to the superior General Rev Fr. Jean Claude Nzembele together with council for accepting to admit the brothers to the perpetual vows, to Rev Fr. Gerard Yapo for accompanying them as superior and formator, to Rev Fr. Stephane Malaba, Fr Julien Nzapa who formed them in the postulancy and novitiate, Fr Francis Xavier and Br. Hugo for accompanying them with words of encouragement during that journey. May the good Lord bless you.
