Saturday the 7th of December 2024 was a day of great joy in our Cameroonian Province. Five of its members did their perpetual profession.
Brother Georges Olivier Namesso Lontsi, Brother Raoul Wepecbi Djoumbi, Brother Stephane Martail Boume Dassi, Brother Guy Christian Bayo and Brother Quentin Benjamin Mvondo Mvondo emitted their final vows into the congregation od the Priest of the Sacred Heart in the hands of Rev. Fr. David Tachago, provincial superior of Cameroon. A commitment which presupposes spiritual and emotional maturity. This took place Saturday the 7th of December 2024 during a Eucharistic celebration at St Michael the Arch Angel Parish Elig-Edzoa, Yaoundé, Cameroon. These Brothers are students in their fourth year of theology at St Cyprian’s School of Theology, Ngoya-Yaounde.
To express and actualize their full consecration to God and to unite their whole lives with the oblation of Christ, these brothers professed the evangelical counsels of celibacy, of poverty and of obedience (Cf LG 44, PC1) which frees them for true love in accord with the spirit of the beatitudes (LG 31), as Saint John puts it “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us” (1 John 4:16). Christ gave himself entirely to the Father and to people in a love without reserve. The profession of final vows is an expression of the gift of faith which grounds our hope. A faith which orders our life and inspires us to leave all to follow Christ in the midst of the challenges of the world. In this way, as Father Dehon expected, “his religious can be prophets of Love and Servants of reconciliation of people and the World in Christ” (Cf Csts 7).
While receiving their vows in the name of the Church, the provincial superior reminded the Brothers that in following Father Dehon, they have a mission to give witness to the love of Christ in a world seeking for a unity difficult to achieve and for new relationships amongst people. In this spirit, each one is called to assume his personal responsibility with regards to their chosen way of life. The superior thanked the different families present for the support they have been giving to these brothers throughout their formation and called on them to stand by them always.
Brothers, Georges Olivier, Stephane Martial, Raoul, Guy Christian and Quentin, we congratulate you on this bold decision and wish you all the best. May our Mother Mary intercede for you.
End of formation for Dehonian lay people
During this same celebration, 13 lay people, who have spent 4 years in Dehonian lay formation, made their official exit. By reciting the act of oblation and receiving the Dehonian cross, they were officially presented as Lay Dehonians. We encourage them in their commitment as Lay Dehonians.