The Congregation of Holy Cross’s Province of East Africa held a symposium for Holy Cross Educators on 8-11 January at Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School in Jinja, Uganda. This was the first time that the province had gathered its educational institutions for such a conference, and over 100 religious and lay collaborators from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda participated.

Organized by the Province’s Education Committee at the direction of Fr. Caxton Peter Mayanja, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of East Africa, the symposium had the theme “Holy Cross Education in East Africa: The Work of Resurrection”.

The conference’s two full days, Friday and Saturday, were complete with a star-studded list of presenters, featuring both locally grown talent and experts from other sectors of the Congregation.

Read more about the work of Holy Cross in East Africa

Among the local voices were Fr. Prosper Atukwaste, C.S.C., who spoke on Catholic identity; Br. John Flood, C.S.C., who gave an overview of the educational ministry in the province; Fr. Henry Kajubi, C.S.C., who addressed community engagement; Fr. Richard Pottast, C.S.C., who explored how to enhance the Congregation’s visibility in its institutions; and Br. Patrick Tumwine, C.S.C., who presented on pedagogical methods for implementation.

Two graduates from our schools in the Province–Epau Emmanuel and Kajumba Rose–also shared their experiences of a Holy Cross Education.

Among the outside experts were Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General, and Br. Prodip Placid Gomes, C.S.C., Second General Assistant, both of whom attended in person. Br. Bednarczyk spoke on community as a means of evangelization, and Br. Gomes addressed spiritual and moral formation in Holy Cross educational institutions.

Other presenters, such as Br. John Paige, C.S.C., former Vicar General and First Assistant, who shared on the essence of the Holy Cross charism, and Dr. Marco Clark, President of Holy Cross College, who spoke on the call and experience of a Holy Cross Educator. Both presented via Zoom.

The symposium was not all work, however, as it was also punctuated by beautiful liturgies and an enjoyable boat ride to the source of the Nile on Friday afternoon.

All the participants expressed their gratitude for the symposium as well as their hope for future formation opportunities to help them continue educating minds and hearts.

“It is my priority as Provincial to ensure that our educators are not merely staff, but true ministers of the Holy Cross charism,” said Fr. Mayanja. “Together, we remain dedicated to the sacred ministry of transforming both minds and hearts. This symposium marks a new dawn for Holy Cross Education in East Africa.”