As it happened, it turned out that the visit of our Superior General coincided with the date of the celebration of the first vows of one of our novice brothers, Noce Gracia Régis Louganana. On Saturday, 11 February 2023, the Superior General therefore presided over this celebration.
In accord with number 56 of the Rule of Life “At the conclusion of the novitiate, if there are sure and positive signs that a candidate is called to our way of life, he shall be admitted to temporary profession. If such signs are not evident, the provincial superior can prolong the time of the novitiate by six months”, the novitiate experience for Brother Noce was extended by six months. Today he has entered the great charismatic Eymardian family as one of its members.
On this day, the Cardinal Emile Biayenda Region and with it the whole Congregation greatly rejoices in welcoming into our midst Brother Noce, who increases the number of our religious. As an African proverb says: “good wine gladdens the heart of man”. This is what was expressed in the homily of the Superior General, who exhorted the brother to be good wine before the Lord, that is, a worthy servant of the Lord. Starting from the texts about Samuel’s vocation of (1 Sam 3: 7-10) and the letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians (Gal 2:18-21), the General reminded the brother to be attentive to the Lord’s voice, rather than to worldly solicitations. “You are a servant of God and not a servant of the world,” he said. Moreover, he recommended the brother to make Paul's words his own, following the example of our Holy Founder: "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal 2:20) .
Taking the floor in his turn, Brother Noce expressed his gratitude to the General for having received his first vows and for the words addressed to him. He then thanked the Regional Superior and his Council for their care and trust. He added an expression of gratitude for his parents’ manifold advice and encouragement. He then thanked all who were present at this celebration, as well as Father Casimir his director during this time.
Finally, Brother Noce also expressed special appreciation for the preacher of his retreat, Father Jacques s.j, who focused his preaching on the theme of vocation and explained the meaning of the three evangelical counsels, inviting him to be consistent in his commitment and to centre his life on the word of God and the SSS mission.
We wish Brother a life of wellbeing spent in the service of God and humankind through commitment in the Eymardian family!
Brother Emerlin Mbongo, sss
Scholastic
