Celebrating Sts. Arnold and Freinademetz

This week the SVD Family in Kenya – Tanzania Province gathered in the Common Formation Centre in Langata, Nairobi , to celebrate the life, mission and Sainthood of the two great men, who formed the foundations of the Congregation of the Divine Word Missionaries: Sts. Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz.

The first day the celebration began with a Lectio Divina led by Bro. Douglas Simonetti, SVD. the reflection was from John 15, “The vine and the Branches”.  After that, there  followed part 1 of the Brendan Memorial Lectures, given by Fr. Albert Fuchs, SVD. This is the first lecture of the kind. According to the provincial, these lectures will be a continuous programme of the province and will be given by different people on different topic on different occassions.

The first lecture was on Bibliolog/Bibliodrama, and the drama was on the story of Joseph and his family in Genesis 37.

On the second day, the celebrations began with a prayer led by the Eldoret District and followed thereafter by the part 2 of the lecture centered also on the Bibliodrama which included some dance and movements. Then there were some indoor games led by Fr. Eric Lacandula, SVD. Later in the afternoon there was a game of Volleyball between the senior confreres and the Students.

The climax was the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in which the new postulants were accepted, the installation of the Minor Orders of Acolytes and Lectors, the acceptance into the second novitiate and the presentation of the Mission Cross to Fr. Alex Owino, who will be leaving for his mission destination in Germany.

The Mass was presided by Fr. Laurensius Lelu Bau, SVD. The Homily was given by Fr. Peddy Castelino, SVD and con-celebrated by fr. Leo Fernando, SVD, who also presided the minor orders.

After the mass there was plenty of Nyama Choma (grilled meat) and lots of other delicacies to enjoy, as well as lot of entertainment and dance. It was indeed a lovely celebration.

Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD