Perpetual religious profession of Emmanuel Likonye – A treasure in earthen ware jar

Fr John Baptist Opargiw, the Provincial Superior presided over the Holy Mass and on behalf of the Superior General, received the perpetual vows of Emmanuel in the presence of other confreres working in the Lowveld zone, two religious sisters, and a few parishioners of Maria Assumpta Parish in Acornhoek.

In his homily, Fr John Baptist reminded all present that the celebration of religious consecration “is indeed an unmerited gratuitous gesture of God’s love for us and for Emmanuel. It is indeed a grace, a gift that is a treasure in earthen ware jar. He reiterated the need to renew our ‘Yes’ to God every day of our life. And borrowing from the Scripture reading on the call of Samuel, Fr JB emphasized that God has never stopped calling people to serve Him. Emmanuel can indeed locate his own call among the biblical and historical call narratives of great figures such as Abraham, Moses, Peter, Paul, Mathew, Comboni and many others. Indeed, the perpetual profession of Emmanuel is a continuous reminder to all present that we are invited to offer God what is best, a living sacrifice, pure and undefiled.

Fr Opargiw put it so beautifully, “the religious profession we are celebrating today is a question of love. The quality of our love for God and for our brothers and sisters will help us live Chastity as a total self-giving for the good of others; it will also help us live Obedience humbly prioritizing God’s will and the common good over our personal desires and finally it will help us to live Poverty as an experience of a good work ethic, sharing, detachment from material possessions and dependence on God and on the community.”

After the Mass, all present partook in a meal prepared by the Comboni Community of Acornhoek.
Fr. Robert Ndungu