Here I am Lord

Entrustment, Renewal of Vows and First Profession

On the 7th September, 2011 in the chapel of the Odumase community in a simple but meaningful ceremony, 15 new novices for 2011-2012 were entrustment one by one to their new novice master Fr. Silvio Roggia SDB. The provincial Fr. Jorge SDB who presided over the ceremony addressed the novices and spoke to them about the nature of the Salesian vocation. He remarked that the young are God’s gift to the Salesian family: they are not merely beneficiaries of our activity; they are our vocation, they are the first and principle targets of our mission. He emphasized that the year of novitiate- unlike any of the other years in formation- is a very beautiful year where each novice has the opportunity to deepen his motivation and choice for this way of life and to become expert in the life of Don Bosco.

Next, Fr Jorge invited each novice to approach their new novice master and by placing his hands in those of the novice master declare his intention to place himself completely under his guidance in a spirit of openness and humility. Each of the new novices was then presented with a copy of the African Bible.

In addition, four post-novices namely: Acquaye Anthony, Dike Kenneth, Enu Bernard, John Paul Aneke and Okon Cornelius also renewed their religious vows for a further year during the ceremony.

The newly Professed Salesians with the Provincial Fr George Crisafulli (centre), the novice Maste Fr Silvio Roggia (left) and their assistant Fr Sam Obu (lower middle) together with other confreres in fornt of the Church of Mary Help of Christians.

The following day in the parish church of Mary, Help of Christians and on the Nativity of Mary, Our Mother the community rejoiced and welcomed 16 newly professed Salesians to the congregation. During the Eucharistic celebration Fr. Jorge addressed the newly professed and told them “today you will say your first yes to God”. Mary was also faithful to her “yes” till the end.  He remarked that faithfulness to God requires consistency to live in accordance with what one believes; to be faithful to the constitutions and charism of the congregation; and to adapt one’s own life to accept misunderstandings and sufferings and persecutions that are part and parcel of our daily life. This, he highlighted is consistency. Similarly, he added that faithfulness also requires constancy. It is easy to be consistent for a day or two. It is difficult and important to be consistent for one’s whole life.

Likewise, he pointed out that it is easy to be consistent in an hour of enthusiasm; it is difficult however to be in the hour of tribulation. And only consistency that lasts throughout the whole of life can be called faithfulness.

He appealed to the newly professed to look to Mary’s fiat at the annunciation which finds its fullness in the silent fiat that she repeated at the foot of the cross. Immediately after the celebration of the Eucharist there was a reception in the parish hall for the newly professed Salesians.

Many of the young people from various oratories provided entertainment, dances and made presentations to the newly professed. Later on that evening an evening, a celebration at the Simon Srugi community was held to mark the occasion whereby parents and friends were in attendance to welcome the newly professed to the congregation. What a beautiful end to end such a special occasion! We wish the newly professed confreres every joy and happiness on the road ahead and assure them of our constant prayers for their intentions.

At the end of the Profession Mass the new set of Novices where presented to the Parishoners. They are 16 in all coming from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and also one from Ireland.