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Official opening of the Comboni novitiate in Nampula
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
The Comboni Missionaries in Mozambique opened, on November 28, another formation house, the novitiate for candidates to the missionary life who wish to follow the charism of St. Daniel Comboni. “With great joy and hope - said the provincial superior, Father José Luis Rodríguez López - we have officially opened our Novitiate in Nampula. It is undoubtedly a great challenge, because the future will require the preparation of missionaries with the same characteristics of the hearts of Jesus and St. Daniel Comboni. If we succeed, in the future we will have men committed to the mission and the service of the poor. We will have witnesses of the Gospel. Men who live the experience of the mission in joy and brotherhood.” In the picture: After the homily, Fr. José Luis handed over to the novices the book of the Rule of Life and that of the Writings of Comboni.
The opening ceremony of the Comboni novitiate in Nampula, northern Mozambique, began at 11.00 am on 28 November, with a procession outside the chapel of the novitiate. Before this, the ten new young novices read the last words of the founder of the Comboni Missionaries, St. Daniel, by which he asked from his missionary courage and loyalty: “Have courage ... Swear you will be faithful to your vocation ... I die but my work will not die.”
The Mass, celebrated in the chapel, followed the procession. Father Jose Luis Rodriguez Lopez, provincial superior, presided over the Eucharist. He asked various questions to the novices to establish their vocational and missionary intentions before admitting them to this new two-years journey that will end with their first profession of religious vows, by which they will officially become part of the Institute. Father José Luis invited the novices “to experience the presence of Christ in their lives. A presence that, like a tattoo on the skin, no one will ever erase.” After the homily, he handed over to them the book of the Rule of Life and that of the Writings of Comboni.
Besides the formators, Father Leandro Leonardo Araya (father master) and Father José Júlio Martins Marques (his assistant), there were several confreres (representing the five dioceses in which the Comboni missionaries are present), Comboni Sisters and Comboni lay missionaries (CLM).
Before concluding the celebration, the Provincial thanked and asked for prayers for the novices and for their formators.
