Ten novices say ‘Yes’ to God’s call on their first profession of vows

It takes at least eighteen months to take the first profession of vows in the Novitiate. During this period, the novices undergo a formation process discerning their calling and their ability to live religious life in community. As their openness to the grace of God and neighbor, they reach the point of concretely and publicly consecrating to God. July 3, 2021 was a special day for the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the Lwanga District as ten young men took their first vows. The profession ceremony was held during a festive Eucharistic celebration at the De La Salle International Novitiate, Nairobi, Kenya.

A hymn invoking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was sung including the Honneur a toi in honour of the Founder. All the Brothers celebrated and gave thanks to God renewing their own vows. The chief celebrant of the day reminded the newly professed Brothers that ‘They entered the Novitiate to learn, therefore, they should learn how to serve’. Jesus invites us to what he called ‘Three T’s’, that is, Total self- giving, Total self-emptiness and Total self- surrendering.  During his exhortation, the Brother Visitor thanked God for keeping everyone alive. He encouraged all to be ever ready to fix their eyes on Jesus in a world that is full of selfishness, greedy, poverty, injustice, illiteracy and where the young people are neglected. Therefore, the world needs the witness given by people, especially these ten young Brothers who love God by saying yes to Jesus.

The vow ceremony ended in praises, and the ten newly professed Brothers are now with their family.

Novice Jude Oguname