The Congregation of Holy Cross celebrates with the District of East Afric and their ten novices who made their First Profession of Religious Vows on July 16, 2021. The ceremony took place at the Holy Cross Novitiate, in beautiful Lake Saaka, Uganda.

Fr. Cyprian Binaka, C.S.C., Superior of the District of East Africa, preached that as God called Samuel to bring the vision and the message of God to the Israelites, so too are the ten new religious called to bring the message of God to the world. Fr. Binaka also received the vows of the District’s newest members. 

Read about Fr. Temba Leopold, C.S.C.'s Vocation Story

The ten newly professed are: Mr. Andrew Ajuna, C.S.C., Mr. Victor Akampa, C.S.C., Br. Francis Asaba, C.S.C., Mr. Paul Kilian Bajuta, C.S.C., Mr. Enock Gabiro, C.S.C., Mr. Issack Makere, C.S.C., Mr. Noah Masiga, C.S.C., Mr. Richard Birungi Sekasanke, C.S.C., Mr. Deus Tayebwa, C.S.C., and Mr. Philibert Mugabe, C.S.C. They hail from the three countries where Holy Cross serves in East Africa: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. 

Although guests were limited because of COVID restrictions, the few people who were able to attend had a spirit-filled celebration immediately following the ceremony. It was a time both to give thanks to God for these young men who have committed their lives to Jesus in Holy Cross and to ask God for blessings upon them.

The ten newly professed will now continue their religious formation at the District's McCauley House of Formation in Nairobi, Kenya, where they will also study theology.