The Congregation of Holy Cross’s two Provinces in Africa celebrated their First Professions on Tuesday, July 16, at the Holy Cross Novitiate at Lake Saaka, Uganda. The Mass was held on the grounds of the Novitiate, with Br. Cleophas Kyomuhenda, C.S.C., Novice Master, receiving their vows. Fr. Lawrence Mwenya, C.S.C., Director of Vocations for the Province of East Africa, presided and preached.

Among those concelebrating were the two Assistant Novice Masters, Fr. Benedict Mugisa, C.S.C., and Fr. Serapio Wamara, C.S.C., who had helped accompany the novices during the year.

Two of the newly professed come from the Province of West Africa, which is headquartered in Brafoyaw, Ghana, and belong to the Brothers’ Society. They are Br. Kofi Ackon Kumah, C.S.C., and Br. Benjamin Prah, C.S.C.

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The other nine  newly professed are from the Province of East Africa, which is headquartered in Kampala, Uganda. All of them are for the Priests’ Society in Holy Cross. They are Mr. Owora Mark, C.S.C., Mr. Simon Mutasingwa Speratus, C.S.C., Mr. Collins Isaiah Msasizi, C.S.C., Mr. Andrew Baguma, C.S.C., Mr. James Nzomo Kaloki, C.S.C., Mr. Antony Kanti Mvungi, C.S.C., Mr. Leon Pius Wanambwa, C.S.C., Mr. Placid Rogath Farahan, C.S.C., and Mr. Martin Tuwei Kimutai, C.S.C.

Following the Mass, there was a small celebration, that included the friends, family, and other religious men and women from the Lake Saaka region who had attended the Mass.

The newly profess will now continue their initial formation at their respective houses of formation in their Provinces. Taking the place of the newly professed at the novitiate in Lake Saaka were five novices of the Province of East Africa. After two years of sending its novices to Lake Saaka, the Province of West Africa will now have its own novitiate again in Brafoyaw with four novices.