The Inter-African Novitiate, the Cenacle, our Alma Mater, on February 26, 2025, had the great joy of receiving the Superior General, Father Philip Benzy Romician, and Father Anaclet Bambala, the Vicar General, in the African tradition of Teranga, in which the novitiate community welcomed and shared African solidarity with songs, dance, and rhythmic gestures. These symbolise for us paternity and sonship to welcome our reverend fathers.

The Superior General and his Vicar, when meeting the novices on Friday, February 28, reminded us that the future of the Congregation, and particularly that of Africa, is in our hands. In view of this they emphasised the need to allow ourselves to be initiated first into religious life and then into the SSS lifestyle.

The first initiation is into the consecrated life, which is practised in three dimensions: the evangelical counsels, community life, and the life of prayer. And the second initiation is into the SSS lifestyle. This comprises a whole of three elements: the Rule of Life, a deep knowledge of the holy Founder, and a full experience of the Eucharistic mystery. They also asked us to cultivate certain values, including: work, humility, hospitality, honesty, interna-tionality, joy, and the habit of reading at least one chapter of the Bible a day, because being a Eucharistic person entails loving the Word of God.

The Vicar General, who is responsible for formation in Africa, in turn met with the members of each of the establishments, and also the novitiate in order to offer advice regarding formation: internationality, collaboration and clarifications on certain situations in our establishments in Africa.

On Sunday, March 2, the visit of the Superior General and his Vicar to the novitiate concluded. Reverend Father César Da Cruz José, the Novice Master, sincerely thanked Father General and his Vicar for visiting the novitiate in the midst of their multiple tasks. He emphasized that their visit to the novitiate is a sign of strengthening, commitment, and shared responsibility.

Prayer for the General Curia is one of the duties of our novitiate. After a fraternal meal followed by activities and creativity, Father General gave us his paternal blessing.

Father César da Cruz José, sss
Master of Novices