Two scholastics were preparing the refectory. Just to the right, in the kitchen, at least six other scholastics were busy, in groups of two or three, preparing the festive meal: washing the vegetables, washing them again, running to the store to look for condiments, tasting to check that the sauce was well seasoned, frying the meat and potatoes, keeping them in the oven to keep them warm, waiting for the flame to cook the rice, kneading the foufou, etc. The meal was served in the kitchen. The faces of these young missionaries were cheerful, but the rhythm of the work made them sweat and did not allow space for long conversations. In fact, there was only an hour and a half left before Mass, where they were all invited as protagonists. It was the celebration of St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers, and the renewal of the vows of eighteen Comboni scholastics of nine nationalities. Three others had renewed theirs six days before.
No one was present in the chapel. Silence reigned. In the corridors, one scholastic ran to the laundry to iron his crumpled cassock, another rushed to go and complete the details of the sacristy, yet another went back and forth reading and rereading the text of his profession formula. Everyone was busy preparing for the celebration.
The Comboni Missionaries from other communities were punctual, but they could be counted on their fingertips, since the present situation requires that no more than twenty people gather to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
At 11.00 a.m. the Eucharistic celebration began, presided over by Fr. Léonard Ndjadi, provincial superior of the Comboni Missionaries of Congo. During his homily he asked the young missionaries to welcome each one's vocation as a gift from God and to be aware of the demands of the religious and missionary vocation. He reminded them that the work of a Comboni religious is to care for his relationship with the Lord and to do his will, following the example of St. Joseph, who knew how to listen to the Word of God, who remained the model of work well done, from the most banal to the most important, who knew how to work for the glory of God and not to please people. Fr. Léonard concluded his intervention by encouraging the young missionaries on their journey and reminding them that today's world needs their witness.
The scholastics, the majority of whom were in white cassocks, then approached the hotel, one by one, to renew each one's vows and ask God's grace to be faithful to their commitments. The celebration of the Eucharist, which ended at 1:00 pm, was followed by a fraternal meal prepared by the scholastics themselves, because the situation of the pandemic has led the community to make the decision to take over the service of the kitchen, the laundry, etc.
Oscar Nyimbo from Malawi renewed his vows for the fourth time. He did not hide his joy: "I am very happy because, for me, renewing my vows means becoming aware of the gift of my vocation and the challenges of my life as a person, religious and missionary; I feel called to face them with the grace of God".
Efraín Castillo, of Ecuadorian nationality, finds in this celebration an opportunity to thank the Lord and to ask for the grace of holiness: "It is an opportunity to thank the Lord for the gift of the missionary vocation and to ask God to make me holy and capable, as Daniel Comboni wanted for his missionaries".
Ismael Oolio is from Uganda. After almost two years as a Comboni Missionary, he shares the feeling of satisfaction of his journey and asks for God's grace to live his vows: "Today I feel as if I am committing myself for the first time. In spite of my weaknesses, I feel where I dreamed of being since my childhood, in missionary life. I entrust myself to the Lord, because without him it will be very difficult for me to obey, to live chastity, poverty and to put myself at the service of the most abandoned."
Apart from the 21 missionaries who renewed their vows in Kintambo, at least a hundred other Comboni scholastics and Brothers have done so in their respective houses of formation and communities scattered throughout Africa, Europe and America. Through their vows, each of them expressed their desire to follow Christ and to place themselves at the service of the poorest, following the example of Comboni.
No one was present in the chapel. Silence reigned. In the corridors, one scholastic ran to the laundry to iron his crumpled cassock, another rushed to go and complete the details of the sacristy, yet another went back and forth reading and rereading the text of his profession formula. Everyone was busy preparing for the celebration.
The Comboni Missionaries from other communities were punctual, but they could be counted on their fingertips, since the present situation requires that no more than twenty people gather to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
At 11.00 a.m. the Eucharistic celebration began, presided over by Fr. Léonard Ndjadi, provincial superior of the Comboni Missionaries of Congo. During his homily he asked the young missionaries to welcome each one's vocation as a gift from God and to be aware of the demands of the religious and missionary vocation. He reminded them that the work of a Comboni religious is to care for his relationship with the Lord and to do his will, following the example of St. Joseph, who knew how to listen to the Word of God, who remained the model of work well done, from the most banal to the most important, who knew how to work for the glory of God and not to please people. Fr. Léonard concluded his intervention by encouraging the young missionaries on their journey and reminding them that today's world needs their witness.
The scholastics, the majority of whom were in white cassocks, then approached the hotel, one by one, to renew each one's vows and ask God's grace to be faithful to their commitments. The celebration of the Eucharist, which ended at 1:00 pm, was followed by a fraternal meal prepared by the scholastics themselves, because the situation of the pandemic has led the community to make the decision to take over the service of the kitchen, the laundry, etc.
Oscar Nyimbo from Malawi renewed his vows for the fourth time. He did not hide his joy: "I am very happy because, for me, renewing my vows means becoming aware of the gift of my vocation and the challenges of my life as a person, religious and missionary; I feel called to face them with the grace of God".
Efraín Castillo, of Ecuadorian nationality, finds in this celebration an opportunity to thank the Lord and to ask for the grace of holiness: "It is an opportunity to thank the Lord for the gift of the missionary vocation and to ask God to make me holy and capable, as Daniel Comboni wanted for his missionaries".
Ismael Oolio is from Uganda. After almost two years as a Comboni Missionary, he shares the feeling of satisfaction of his journey and asks for God's grace to live his vows: "Today I feel as if I am committing myself for the first time. In spite of my weaknesses, I feel where I dreamed of being since my childhood, in missionary life. I entrust myself to the Lord, because without him it will be very difficult for me to obey, to live chastity, poverty and to put myself at the service of the most abandoned."
Apart from the 21 missionaries who renewed their vows in Kintambo, at least a hundred other Comboni scholastics and Brothers have done so in their respective houses of formation and communities scattered throughout Africa, Europe and America. Through their vows, each of them expressed their desire to follow Christ and to place themselves at the service of the poorest, following the example of Comboni.
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