Association of the Religious from East Africa
By Collins Obonyo, SJ
Happy New Year to everyone. It is my hope that you have entered into 2024 with grace, joy, and zeal to continue the Lord’s work. We, in Kimwenza have crossed over full of energy and hope. These past few weeks have been full of activity here and there, within and without the community, to mark the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
We had the AREA (Association of the Religious from East Africa) meeting on the 30th December 2023. It was held at the Blessed Anuarite Parish in Luyeye, Kinshasa, and attended by members from different congregations. It was time to remember as the association did an evaluation of the activities of the past year, had a mass together, and had other activities. It goes without saying that there were East African delicacies which we shared and the tunes from various countries to which we not only listened but also danced. Generally, it was a great moment to mark the end of the year for us and to get to interact with other East Africans doing their missions here in Kinshasa.
Back in the community, the weekend was a special moment full of activities marking the end of the year and the New Year celebrations. The 31st December, the members were busy making preparations here and there. The moment would come in the night when at 9 PM we all gathered in the community chapel for Adoration. This moment of silent prayer and personal thanksgiving lasted an hour. After, we gathered in the Canisius square where the aperitif, the famous N’taba, was descended upon with the joys of the end of the year and the hope of coming one. It was a solemn moment as the members des equipes used it to present their intentions to the community and the Lord. Later, at exactly 0000 hours, the Te Deum broke the airwaves to usher in the New Year. We then dispersed, each one happy and hopeful, to our different rooms for resting.
On the January 1, 2024, the mass was held at 11:00 AM in the community chapel. We were joined by all the Jesuits working in Plateau, to celebrate the fraternity we share in the mission. Also, we were joined by other religious from different congregations around and the lay people. The joyful voices, the drum beats, the piano keys, and the guitar strings all harmoniously ascended into the air, from time to time, expressing the joy of the New Year. Many could not resist the beats and sway from side to side, clapping and singing along. It was a beautiful liturgy. We continue thanking the Lord for his graces thus far.
