Province Assembly – Dodoma
By Fr. Kyaligonza, SJ
This year’s Province Assembly took place on 4th July at St. Peter Claver High School (SPCHS), a day after the meeting of Superiors and Directors of Work. The opening prayer was led by Fr. Leo Amani. It was a Thanksgiving prayer and song for the different graces God has granted to AOR and its members. In his opening remarks, the Provincial welcomed all the participants to the Assembly and thanked them for the sacrifices they had made to come. In addition to repeating the announcements he had made at the beginning of the meeting of Superiors and Directors, the Provincial applauded St. Ignatius Preparatory and Primary School for offering to provide transport for all the companions who would be attending the ordination of Deacon Julius Sajilo (from Ihumwa to K’Ndege and back), and Airport Parish Community for promising to pay the per diem of all the companions who would spend an extra day in Dodoma to attend the ordination.
Immediately after the Provincial’s opening remarks, Fr. Shigi, the Province Treasurer, gave a presentation about AOR’s sustainability process and strategies. He updated the participants on the SMART goals that were agreed upon during the 2023 Province Assembly, namely, strategic missioning of companions, reducing unnecessary costs, engaging in commercial farming, and seeking employment in non-Jesuit institutions. Fr. Shigi pointed out that the Arcae are generally in good shape; at this pronouncement, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. Fr. Mark Kimario, the Assistant Treasurer, briefly discussed the strategic measures and moves that have been used to achieve this milestone, namely, investing in local and international financial markets, diversification, and engaging in commercial farming in Thika, Arusha, Mwangaza, and Molo. Fr. Shigi then thanked the Provincial for his fundraising efforts, and all the companions and apostolates for the financial contributions they made to boost Arca Praevisionis (ref. Jesuit Health Fund and, the Phased Retirement Investment Scheme). Before concluding the session on sustainability, Frs. George Macharia and Gilbert Lasway were invited to update the assembly about the commercial farming initiatives in Thika and Mwangaza, and Arusha and Dodoma, respectively. It was the first time for most of us to survive a Treasurer’s presentation without developing goosebumps.
In his address to the assembly and later on Question and Answer session (instead of the usual Status of the Province) and Exhortation, the Provincial urged the participants (and by extension all AOR members) to start thinking of giving rather than perpetually receiving, get ready for responsibilities at the universal level of the Society and Church, count our blessings, and fight against what ties the province and Africa down. He concluded his exhortation by thanking God for the good shape in which AOR is, and all the companions for making AOR work. He reminded the participants of AOR’s commitment and responsibility of accompanying the youth, taking synodality seriously, keeping the global picture in view, embracing the reconciliation process, praying for peace in the Great Lakes Region, and taking safeguarding seriously. The Provincial’s sessions were interluded by three brief presentations: Fr. Kifle Wansamo updated the Assembly about the reconciliation process; Fr. James Lomulen presented to the Assembly Hakimani’s strategic plan of opening branches in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda; Fr. Faustine Binamungu Mukasa, on behalf of Fr. Silas Kipkorir who couldn’t attend the Assembly), informed the participants that the Province is in the process of revising/updating its Safeguarding Policy, and emphasized that communities and apostolates ought to budget and form teams for safeguarding, and take advantage of the safeguarding training opportunities at Hekima University College
As an interlude between the Assembly sessions and mass, Fr. James Mugwe treated the participants to an exciting documentary on the lives and apostolic achievements of this year’s jubilarians. The documentary was done by the Videography class of St. Joseph Technical Secondary School, Kangemi. After watching the documentary, preparations for mass started. The mass was celebrated in thanksgiving for the jubilarians. The main celebrant was Fr. Joseph Rodrigues; Fr. Joseph Afulo was the homilist, and Fr. Kizito Kiyimba gave a vote of thanks at the end of the mass. Frs. Michael Mungai, Kifle Wansamo, Joseph Afulo, and Kizito Kiyimba concelebrated, while Br. James Edema took the first reading. Two jubilarians, that is, Frs. George Ukken and Anthony D’Souza were celebrated in absentia. Of special mention and applause, before giving gifts to the jubilarians, was Fr. Leo Amani who was Novice Master for most of the jubilarians. Frs. Tesfaye Groum and Pullicino Joseph, and others who played significant roles in the formation of the jubilarians were equally applauded. Immediately after mass, the participants walked to OLQP community for cake slicing, a cocktail dinner that was spiced by appetizers and nyama choma, music and dance, and socials. Although there were sufficient drinks to keep the companions happy until cockcrow, everyone went to bed before midnight to avoid being late for the ordination mass of Dn. Julius Sajilo.
