Currently, on the list of our novices under formation are novices from Tanzania, Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda. It is our tradition that upon entering the novitiate, novices begin a Pallottine religious experience guided by their formators, who usually offer them accompaniment and opportunities for possible growth, maturity, conscious bonding in harmony with the spirit of the Pallottine Congregation.
The proximity of our novitiate house to three other religious formation houses: the Franciscan Conventual Friars novitiate, the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth Novitiate and the novitiate of the Sisters of the Precious Blood is a great blessing for togetherness; the novices share their spiritual formation and experiences. These include talent development exercises related to drawing, music or singing to be harnessed for the good of the Congregation. Many novices have so far shown to be highly talented artists and skilled craftswomen/craftsmen. Those with music abilities do also have the opportunity to follow the youth choir in the parish, and sometimes have their choir rehearsals together. They are usually very rich in collaboration and openness. The formators of these four Congregations do prepare a program together such as: Praying the Rosary and Vespers together during the months of May and October, pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy and organizing a fraternity day together once in a year. Another activity that brings them together is collaboration during the ceremony of First Profession. Each time any of the four Congregations has the ceremony of first religious Profession, all the novices take charge of the liturgy, the decoration of the Church as well as preparation for entertainment. Sometimes harvest products like fruits and vegetables from gardens of the various novitiates are exchanged amicably.
Also this year, we have planned together how to honour our Mother Mary during the month of October, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. To drive this forward, the various houses of formation have decided to gather every Friday at one of the communities to pray the Rosary and say Evening Prayers together. The rotational plan started with St. Elizabeth Sisters, followed by our community last Friday. So far, it has come off as a very enriching experience. The formees do prepare very well and sing the psalms with angelic voices. Tomorrow it will be in the community of the Precious Blood Sisters and we will close the month of the Rosary in the community of the Conventual Friars. Together, we also were able to have choir practices for the first profession of St. Elizabeth novices. We hope that with this collaboration and cooperation, by observing the values of consecrated life, the spirit of togetherness will strengthen all our formation houses.
Formation team:
Sr. Odile Mukandayisenga SAC, Novice Mistress
Sr. Basilissa Jacob SAC, Assistant Mistress
Sr. Letsia Herman Henerco SAC
Photos: Fr. Francis Mutuku, Friars Conventual
