A Day of Gratitude and Joy at Loyola House
By Fr. Mubangizi Odomaro, SJ
Friday, 13th December 2024, was designated at Loyola House as a special day to express gratitude to our collaborators. The celebration began with a special Mass animated by Scholastic Albert Gubanja, who selected excellent hymns, including a Portuguese Kyrie, the Lingala Nkembo na Tata for the Gloria, and Zaeni Matunda Mema for the recession. The Mass was presided over by Fr. Lawrence Kyaligonza.
In his characteristic humorous style, Fr. Kyaligonza enriched the homily with stories that emphasized the importance of appreciating the good we experience and avoiding negativity. He began by recounting how he was at a loss upon hearing that the cooks would not be available to prepare breakfast that morning, as he did not know how to make millet porridge. This anecdote underscored how easily we take such services for granted until they are unavailable. He elaborated on how all collaborators contribute significantly to our mission, each in their unique way, and noted that both collaborators and Jesuits build on the long legacy of those who have come before them.
Fr. Kyaligonza tied his reflection on positivity to the Gospel of the day, where Jesus expressed frustration with his generation for behaving like children shouting at each other in the marketplace, neither celebrating nor mourning appropriately. He emphasized the need for positive energy, contrasting it with the tendency to overrate past generations. He humorously critiqued the habit of boasting about past achievements, such as academic success, even when they might not have been as impressive as claimed.
As he concluded his moving homily, Fr. Kyaligonza shared a story about a monastery recruiting members. Aspirants underwent three years of cloistered life, during which they could only say four words annually to describe their experience. One aspirant said, “The room was cold” after the first year, “The food was bad” after the second year, and “The bed was hard” after the third year. The monk in charge rejected him, explaining that his inability to find anything positive during those years indicated he would not live a happy life as a monk. This story left the congregation in deep reflection.
After Mass, guests were ushered near the dining room, where refreshments were prepared. Albert, as MC, welcomed the guests and invited them and the community members to introduce themselves. Among the distinguished guests were two representatives from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), who were on a routine task with the Treasury. They were warmly welcomed to foster goodwill and clarified they were visiting as friends of the Jesuits. The gathering included staff and collaborators from Loyola House, the Province Curia, and the Development Office.
As Community Superior, Fr. Francis Anyanzu delivered a word of welcome and expressed appreciation to the collaborators for their dedication and efforts in making community life comfortable.
A sumptuous meal, accompanied by a rare assortment of drinks, was served to the guests. The DJ of the Day, Scholastic Adolfo Mudekereza, entertained the guests with a vibrant selection of music from across Africa. When he played “Kasongo yeye…” the crowd erupted in rapturous applause—for obvious reasons.
The celebration continued with LCM staff joining in. Guests were invited to stay and celebrate as long as they wished. Music played on as some guests showcased their dancing skills, while others enjoyed conversation and drinks of their choice. This memorable day left a lasting impression on the annals of the Loyola House community.
