Apostles of Jesus Scholasticate
AFFILIATED TO URBANIAN UNIVERSITY – ROME
P. O. Box 30589 Nairobi 00100 GPO - Kenya. Tel: 254-020-891449. Fax: 254-020-882221/890498. E-mail: ajs@iconnect.co.ke
THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2009-2010 IN BRIEF
The academic year 2009-2010 can proudly be reckoned as a year of success in the Spiritual, Human and Intellectual formation of the Seminarians of both the Philosophicum and the Theologicum. The year was evenly punctuated by series of events that enhance the formation of the Seminarians. The year was officially opened on 7th August 2009 with a joint Eucharistic celebration for both the Philosophicum and the Theologicum in a colorful ceremony presided over by the Superior General Fr. Speratus Kamanzi AJ, flanked by Fr. Sylvester Arineitwe AJ, a former Superior General, the teaching staff and the formation teams of both the Philosophicum and the Theologicum.
On the 22nd August 2009, in celebration of the feast of Mary Queen of Apostles, four of our Seminarians consecrated themselves as perpetual members of the religious institute of the Apostles of Jesus. This event marked the 41st anniversary of the institute and the 31st perpetual profession in the institute. The newly perpetual professed were Deogratias Ssamba, Gerald Mugabi, Ignatius Mbabazi and Michael Mburu. They topped the number of the perpetually professed members of the institute to 393.
26thOctober-6th November 2009 was a period of workshop in the Apostles of Jesus Scholasticate. The workshop was centered on Pastoral Psychology facilitated by Mr. Patrick Strong from England. The themes treated included Hospital Chaplaincy, Conflict Management, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Grief and Bereavement, Stress and Burnout in ministry. This has now become an annual programme aimed at pastorally oriented preparation of the seminarians for the various pastoral ministries as they approach the end of their initial formation.
On 22nd November 2009, the Superior General admitted eight Second year students of theology into the Ministry of Lector in a colorful Eucharistic celebration in the Apostles of Jesus Philosophicum Chapel. In his homily the Superior General exalted the Lectors to model their lives on the word of God whose custodians they would become. He urged them to exercise the proclamation of the word of God with faith and commitment.
The 8th December 2009 was a day marked by color and pomp at the Apostles of Jesus Sacred Heart Shrine when the four newly perpetual professed members were raised to the order of Diaconate together with a Seminarian of the Diocese of Lodwar. The colorful liturgical celebration was presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Nairobi Rt. Rev David Kamau flanked by The Superior General and The Rector of the Theologicum Rev Fr. Dennis Mrosso AJ. The Bishop urged the newly ordained Deacons to offer service to the people of God and be docile to their Superiors and Bishops so that they may discern well the will of God. He also urged the faithful present to pray very much for newly ordained and all the Priests in this year of the Priests. The following day the Seminarians dispersed in different directions for the Christmas vacations with their families and home Christian communities. This marked the end of the first semester of the academic year.
The second semester of the academic year 2009-2010 was opened on the 7th January 2010 on the Sunday that marked the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. It was opened with joint Eucharistic Celebrations at the Apostles of Jesus Philosophicum Chapel presided over by Fr. Paul Onyango AJ, the Regional Superior of the Apostles of Jesus USA region. The Vicar General Fr. Stephen Malanga AJ, the Local Superior Cum Rector of Theologicum Rev Fr. Dennis Mrosso AJ and the Rector of the Philosophicum Rev Fr. Paul Turyamureba AJ were present in the celebration, together with the teaching Staff and members of the formation teams of both the Philosophicum and the Theologicum. The main celebrant urged the seminarians to live their own Baptism which is the foundation of their vocation every moment of their lives as they discern their vocation to Religious Life and Priesthood. Fr. Paul donated to the Seminarians New footballs as he stressed the importance of Sports in formation of Seminarians. He also emphasized to the Seminarians, the need to learn international Languages apart from English as a preparation, occasioned by the expansion of the mission territories to non Anglo Phone Countries.
The major activity that followed the official opening of the second semester was the Theologicum Sports Week that ran from 9th-16th February 2010.There was a lot of entertainment and fun in the entire period as all classes engaged in football tournament which ended with 2 to 1 win by the Fourth year Class over the Third year Class in the finals. Sports forms an important aspect of the formation of the Seminarians as it imparts not only physical development, but also social maturity since it is a means of socialization among the students.
Immediately after the sports week, the Seminary programme shifted to an intellectual formative event that ran from 17th-19th February 2010. It was a workshop on the theme: A PRIEST AT THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY. The workshop was organized by the office of the Academic Dean to help the Seminarians to reflect on Priesthood and to pray for the Priests as it was directed by the Holy Father in the year of Priests. It was facilitated by various Speakers, both Clerics and the Laity, giving different perspectives to the theme. This is also another annual programme in the Seminary. Every year the theme is centered on contemporary issues affecting the church. The aim of this annual academic workshop is to make the seminarians aware of what is happening in the Church and so get prepared to face the challenges that arise.
The 11th March 2010 was a day of excitement and fun as the Scholastics were out for a picnic at Kyamwilo Hills of wonder in Kangundo, Machakos District of the Eastern Province of Kenya. The office of the Rector organizes this day every year for seminarians to relax their minds and socialize among themselves outside the seminary environment to enhance their social and human formation.
On Easter Monday 5th April 2010, the eight second year theology students who were previously admitted to the ministry of lector were admitted to another lay ministry, the ministry of Acolyte. This is a canonical requirement for one to be ordained to priesthood. The Acolytes were instituted not only to fulfill this canonical requirement but also as a preparation for the one year pastoral experience in which they exercise this ministry to serve the people of God in which ever place they are sent.
The Scholasticate hosted the 11th joint graduation ceremony on the compound of the Apostles of Jesus Sacred Shrine on 22nd May 2010. In this conspicuous ceremony, Seminarians graduated with Diplomas and Bachelor Degrees in the disciplines of Philosophy and Religious Studies and Sacred Theology. This event was immediately followed by the five day retreat for all the seminarians in the Juniorate as a canonical and constitutional requirement for a preparation for the renewal of their religious consecration. Upon a successful completion of this Spiritual exercise, the seminarians renewed their religious consecration on the feast of Ugandan Martyrs, 3rd June 2010 in the Theologicum main Chapel that also houses the remains of our cofounders. It took place within a very marvelous Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Superior General and concelebrated by the Vicar General, Councilor for Education and Formation and a good number of Apostles of Jesus Priests. The liturgy was spiced by the seminarians of the Apostles of Jesus Kiserian Minor Seminary who took part in a beautiful liturgical dance. In the evening of the same day, the seminary organized a very get together Supper that hosted all the scholastics, the formation team and the Apostles of Jesus Mazzoldi community. It was a fare well to the eight second year theology students who left for one year pastoral experience in different places in East Africa and the Sudan the following day. It was also for the four Deacons who traveled to their homes for their Priestly ordinations in their native dioceses. Meanwhile the First year theology students went for their long vacations in their homes, the seventeen Third year theology students remained for their second novitiate programme to begin the next day.
On the next day 4th June 2010 the Councilor incharge of formation and Education officially launched the second novitiate programme for the third year students. He urged them to enter into this important stage of their formation as a preparation for perpetual commitment as members of the Apostles of Jesus, with the Zeal to meditate upon the choice they are about to make. Also present in this ceremony was the Rector of the Theologicum Rev Fr. Dennis Mrosso AJ. He urged the novices to read the constitutions of the Apostles of Jesus Meditatively and with a spirit of prayer and discernment because it will bind them for the rest of their lives once they make the perpetual commitment. The second novitiate programme is in progress directed by Fr. Cornelius Ssekito AJ, the Spiritual Father of the Apostles of Jesus Theologicum. We now look forward to the opening of the next academic year in the first week of August 2010 as we thank the almighty God for all the blessings he showered upon us in the academic year 2009-2010.
Prepared by Scholastic John Mundua, (Third Year Theology).
Certified by Rev. Fr. Dennis S. Mrosso, A.J
Rector
