Fr. Mboya Celebrates 20 Years of Jesuit life in St. Ignatius' Room
By Vincent Opiyo, SJ
“I remember telling you frequently… that any member of the Society intending to write to us here ought to write out a main letter that can be shown to anybody…” These words were penned by St. Ignatius of Loyola to Peter Faber and other Jesuits on 10 December 1542 from his room on Piazza del Gesù in Rome. Ignatius wrote many more letters from that very room, which still stands today as a silent witness to the mission of the founder of the little Society of Jesus.
On 10 July 2026, that historic room became the setting for another memorable moment. Fr. Joseph Mboya, SJ celebrated the 20th anniversary of his entry into the Society of Jesus, surrounded by companions from the Collegio Internazionale del Gesù and the neighbouring community, that is, the Pontificium Institutum Biblicum in Deacons Alvin Mulinge, SJ and Yves from the AOC Province. One could almost imagine Ignatius smiling at such a gathering of three neighbouring communities, perhaps reaching for his pen once again – this time, guess, to underline frequent reunions as companions.
In his homily, Fr. Mboya was grateful to God’s faithful companionship throughout his Jesuit journey. Reflecting on twenty years in the Society and ten years of priesthood, he highlighted three enduring gifts: availability for mission, humility and confidence in God’s merciful love.
Drawing from the day’s readings, he encouraged everyone to cultivate deep discernment by holding together holy wisdom and genuine humility. For St. Ignatius, humility meant being willing to embrace humiliation for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom. Such a life also demands holy boldness, the spirit described in General Congregation 32, Decree 27: never settling for the status quo but always seeking the magis…
Fr. Mboya’s own journey reflects that spirit. From the novitiate in Arusha to philosophy studies in Zimbabwe, through regency in Ethiopia where he had to minister in a foreign language, and later theology in Madrid—again embracing a new language—his vocation has been shaped by courage, perseverance and what he described as “a certain apostolic aggressiveness.” In doing so, he also became the first AORian scholastic to pursue theology in Madrid, opening the way for those who would follow after him.
After entrusting ourselves to the intercession of St. Ignatius in the very room where he surrendered his spirit to God, giving profound meaning to the Suscipe, we gathered in the refectory for a joyful lunch.
Perhaps the other richest part of the celebration was not only the meal but the fellowship around the table. We shared stories, laughter and encouragement as companions reunited in Rome. Time slipped by unnoticed as our chiacchiere continued. Like many African gatherings, we expected darkness to signal the end of the day, but Rome’s long summer evening had other plans. In the end, it was the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter final pitting Spain and Belgium that finally sent us on our way, as everyone hurried home to cheer their favourite teams from the comfort of their communities. It was a fitting end to a day filled with gratitude, fraternity and shared joy.
As Ignatius often concluded his letters:
“May Jesus Christ our Lord be in our souls with an abundance of his spiritual gifts. Amen.”
