Kimwenza, Congo

Greetings and Salutations!  As the saying goes a journey of a thousand steps starts with one step. The much-anticipated semester commenced last week with an exquisite and glamorous opening ceremony which was dated on 15^th October 2024. For others it was business as usual, while to others majorly the nouveaux scholastics, euphoria and fervour to kickstart the academic year were tattooed all over their faces. As the custom and ritual of the place, the opening ceremony was the climax to the array of events that had preceded; which were, orientation to the freshmen and women (religious) to philosophical school, environs and the way of proceeding. Then followed seminars on Child-safeguarding and conflict resolution. Finally, to the nouveaux members of the community, initiation and explanation onto way of proceeding was done at length in addition to hierarchical functioning of St. Peter Canisius Kimwenza.

Where rubber meets the road, just to shed light onto few nitty gritty that transpired on the course of the day were; the event was opened by Rector of Universite Loyola Du Congo (ULC) Fr. Ferdinand Muhigirwa, SJ who presided over the colourful event. It trailed few speeches from different faculties head, wishing each and every one a fruitful, efficacious and blessed academic year 2024-2025. The celebration of Holy Liturgy followed next which was presided over by Fr. Modekamba, SJ, Rector St Peter Canisus, who on his part showered tonnes of insight and inspiration onto each and every other person who was commencing the academic year and promising his prayers throughout the academic year.  It proceeded to festivities, which later followed sporting activities among different faculties.

Into other matters, we had an initiation ceremony as scholastics from AOR, which as custom is used as an initiation to usher in the new members to the club in addition to encouraging them to brace and prop ahead, for the incoming academic year. The event was on 13^th of October in Bomongo just across the many banks of Congo river.

The semester is a week old, albeit the marathon has just started as scholastic brace themselves up for the academic year. Keep us in your prayers as we do the same over here. Aurevoir.