The two Final Professions Masses during May 2025 revealed the increasing international communion within the Congregation of Holy Cross. The celebrations—first in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 2 May, and then in Nairobi, Kenya, on 24 May—both had a mixture of seminarians from the Province of East Africa and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province (Bangladesh). These mixed Final Vows Masses were a product of an interchange in the two provinces’ initial formation program that has been taking place for several years.
The celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province on 2 May was held at Moreau House in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with the Most Rev. Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI, Archbishop of Dhaka, presiding. Present for the celebration was Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General of the Congregation, who was in Bangladesh on a wider two-week pastoral visit to the Holy Cross communities and apostolates in the country.
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The seminarians professing Final Vows that day included two men from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province—Mr. Nayan Joseph Gomes, C.S.C., and Mr. Tharson Francis Mrong, C.S.C.—and two from the Province of East Africa—Mr. Francis Amukasa, C.S.C., and Mr. Bwamble Deusi, C.S.C., who have been in Bangladesh for their pastoral years. Br. Bednarczyk received the vows of all four, who then received their Final Profession crosses to wear with their habits as a sign of their definitive incorporation into the congregation.
The following day, the two seminarians from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, Nayan and Thason, were ordained deacons by Most. Rev. Immanuel K. Rozario, Bishop of the Diocese of Barisal. Francis and Bwambale were waiting to be ordained at the celebration in Kenya later in the month.
The Province of East Africa held its Mass of Final Profession on 24 May at McCauley Formation House in Nairobi, Kenya. Of the five professing Final Vows, three were from the Province of East Africa—Mr. Onesmo Mwoleka, C.S.C., Mr. Joseph Isingoma, C.S.C., and Mr. Katongole Ronald, C.S.C. —and two from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province—Mr. Jerome Suting, C.S.C., and Mr. Sushil Ignatius Soren, C.S.C., both of whom had done their post-novitiate formation in Kenya.
The celebration actually began the night before, 23 May, with the installation of lectors and acolytes at the seminary. In the same liturgy, the habits and profession that the men professing Final Vows would receive the next day were blessed.
Fr. Peter Caxton Mayanja, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of East Africa, presided at the Mass of Final Profession, with Fr. George K. Rozario, C.S.C., Superior of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, at his side concelebrating. Each received the Final Professions of the members of their respective Provinces.
The Holy Cross Family, complete with priests, brothers, and sisters, was well represented. They all joined the family, friends, as well as other religious and clergy, in the celebration.
The following day, 25 May, was the Deaconate Ordination, at which the Most Rev. John Mbinda, CSSp, Bishop of the Diocese of Lodwar, presided. In addition to the five who had professed Final Vows the day before, Bwambale and Francis, who had made their Final Profession in Bangladesh on 2 May, were also ordained deacons, bringing the total ordained that day to seven.
The liturgies were marked by vibrant music, deep moments of prayer, and an overwhelming sense of unity, joy, and hope. Both days, there were also festive receptions, complete with impressive cakes and dancing, to give thanks to God and celebrate the vocations of these men.
Deacon Francis Amukasa, C.S.C., a member of the Province of East Africa, comes from Nairobi, Kenya. A man of many languages, Francis speaks Luhya, Rutooro, Mandi, English, and Kiswahili. He professed First Vows on 16 July 2020. His pastoral year in Bangladesh has “enriched [me] with cross-cultural competencies to enable [me] to interact and minister in any pastoral setting.” Francis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Theology from the Queen of Apostles Center and Tangaza University, respectively. He has helped in schools, worked with small Christian communities, and served in parishes such as Karinde Church, St. Felistas Parish in Utegi, and St. Paul’s Parish in Pirgacha, Bangladesh. He has a special devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
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Deacon Bwambale Deusi, C.S.C., a member of the Province of East Africa, is a native of Ibanda, Kasese, in Uganda. He took First Vows on 16 July 2020. Bwambale holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Queen of Apostles Philosophy Center in Jinja. He also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Tangaza University. Bwambale is a deeply reflective person. He loves solitude, meditation, quiet prayer, and spiritual readings. Being a community-minded person, his life speaks to the respect he has for each community member. Bwambale has served in places like Juvenile Remand Home and Katojo Maximum Security Prison, and he also has ministered to the sick in the hospital. He has worked in both parish and school settings, teaching catechism and working with youth groups.
Deacon Nayan Joseph Gomes, C.S.C., a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, hails from Kadomtoly, Foiljana, in Bangladesh. He pronounced First Vows on 27 July 2018. Community and ministry are at the heart of Nayan’s religious life. As a religious, Nayan is of the view that he is “not to be confined to some particular sphere of life but to elapse any borderline to reach out to believers and non-believers.” Nayan has served in Holy Cross Church, Luxmibazar Parish in Dhaka, and St. Augustine Church, Mothbari Parish in Gazipur. There, he has taught catechism and morality to the youth. Nayan is creative in organizing prayer, values Eucharistic Adoration, and has a special devotion to Mother Mary.
Deacon Joseph Isingoma, C.S.C., a member of the Province of East Africa, was born in Masindi, Uganda. He made First Vows on 16 July 2020. Joseph graduated from Queen of Apostles Philosophy Center and Tangaza University with Bachelor’s Degrees in Philosophy and Theology, respectively. Joseph has learned of the “rich nourishment in praying the breviary as a way of raising my voice to God.” He also has a special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Joseph has had a variety of pastoral experiences, including working with Holy Cross Family Ministries, teaching catechism in schools, conducting Communion Services, and visiting the sick and the imprisoned.
Deacon Tharson Francis Mrong, C.S.C., a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, is a native of Haria Kuna, Sreebordi, in Bangladesh. He took First Vows on 27 July 2018. Tharson has a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Blessed Sacrament. He speaks Garo, Bangla, and English. Tharson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Notre Dame College in Dhaka. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at Holy Spirit Major Seminary in Dhaka. Tharson likes to read about the saints, as their witness “shapes my spiritual life.” The hospitality that others give and the friendly nature of people have challenged him to be an authentic religious who brings Christ to others.
Deacon Edson Onesmo Mwoleka, C.S.C., a member of the Province of East Africa, hails from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. He pronounced First Vows on 16 July 2020. He loves the poor and the vulnerable, often visiting the sick and accompanying priests on long distances to celebrate the Eucharist with the marginalized. In 2019, Edson completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and in 2024 earned a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology from Tangaza University. He has worked with Holy Cross Family Ministries in Kitete, Tanzania. He has also been involved in the training of catechists, working with the choir, and accompanying the Brother André Vocations Club at St. Andre Bessette Parish in Gulu, Uganda.
Deacon Katongole Ronald, C.S.C., a member of the Province of East Africa, is from Luwero, Uganda. He pronounced First Vows on 16 July 2020. He completed his philosophical studies at Queen of Apostles Center in Jinja and earned a Bachelor’s in Sacred Theology at Tangaza University. Ronald finds strength in community. He served the community in different capacities, like Students’ Coordinator, House Secretary, and Community Project Manager. As an active member of community, Ronald learned that “leadership requires patience, listening, and humility.” Having worked with small Christian communities, the Lay Apostolic Movement, the youth, the elderly, and the sick, Ronald has “grown in zeal and love for ministry.”
Deacon Sushil Ignatius Soren, C.S.C., a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, is from Dinajpur, Bangladesh. He pronounced First Vows on 26 July 2019. Ignatius is intellectually gifted. In 2018, he completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Notre Dame University in Bangladesh, winning the most prestigious “Vice Chancellor Gold Medal.” After his philosophical studies at the Holy Spirit Major Seminary in Dhaka, he continued with his theological studies at Tangaza University in Nairobi, Kenya. In East Africa, he has worked at Holy Cross Parish in Dandora, Kenya, assisted at St. John Paul II Peace and Justice Centre in Kampala, Uganda, and helped out at Kenya National Referral Hospital.
Deacon Jerome Suting, C.S.C., a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, is from Moulvibazar, Sylhet, in Bangladesh. He took First Vows on 26 July 2019. Jerome has a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. He speaks Khasi, Garo, Bangla, and English. Jerome holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Notre Dame College and a certificate in philosophy from Holy Spirit Seminary, both in Dhaka, as well as a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Tangaza University in Nairobi, Kenya. Jerome has good leadership skills. His pastoral experiences have included Queen of Peace Parish in Eldoret, Kenya; Shanti Raj Catholic Church in Bandarban, Bangladesh; and Peyton House in Dandora, Kenya.