Rafiki Newsletter is out
By Kafuku Aggrey, nSJ
Greetings from Gonzaga Gonza Jesuit novitiate- Arusha, Tanzania, where we are enjoying life in diversity!
The Gonzaga Gonza Jesuit community is delighted to share with you another edition of its newsletters (year book). “Following a dry spell which hit the Rafiki Team in 2023 due to unavoidable circumstances it is a pleasure to be back in the picture. Coming up with this magazine was not an easy task, we had to do a lot of discernment at every stage. It also required a tremendous sacrifice on the part of the whole community; in writing articles, providing moral support, contributions in terms of ideas and the endless prayers that were made. I can safely conclude that this is a result of our teamwork and collaboration.” Fr. Joe (chief editor)
This issue blends various articles that depict the unity in diversity that is characteristic of our life. It is our hope that readers will enjoy the diversity of what is presented.
Visitation of Fr. Provincial (SAP)
“These three strands come together in the account of conscience. For this reason, the account of conscience is the essential to the practice of obedience in the Society. A Jesuit reveals to his superior all that is happening in his soul, the graces that he has received and the temptations he had undergone, so that his superior can prudently and confidently send him on mission. The account is repeated annually so that the Jesuit and his superior can evaluate and confirm the mission together,” – (GC 35, D 4#111).
As a result, Fr. Leonard Chiti, SJ the Provincial of SAP came to our community for Manifestations for our companions ascribed to the Southern African Province. He met the companions and later the community for a ‘Meet a Jesuit Session’ in which he discussed the growth and set-backs of the Society and other issues.
We thank him for his visit and may God bless him in his endeavors.
The Visitation of the former Socius from Japan Province
“The society is apostolic”. This came to be manifested through the visitation of our companion from Japan who shared with us many things concerning the Japan Mission and in a way ‘recruiting’ companions who would be interested in the Japan mission. With a sense of humor he said, ‘If you desire being Fr. General one day, consider the Japan mission.’
We thank God for the light received through his visitation.
Meet a Jesuit session
It is inspiring when you here different stories from different Jesuits when you are in the novitiate. It brings hope, it encourages, and it keep the fire burning. So, it was a pleasure to have Father Jim from Carlifornia who stayed with us for a couple of days. Having him was a great pleasure and we appreciate his visit.
The Vikings stun the Missionaries of Africa
At Bobadilla Stadium, the stage was set on a much-anticipated clash. The White Fathers had a good track-record over the Jesuits though last year where they were defeated by the Jesuits. As expected, it was going to be a game of a magnitude. At this time, it was not going to be easy for the Missionaries of Africa to topple the Jesuits on their own backyard. The Vikings were seeking for “keeping the fire burning”.
The referee blew the whistle, both teams were confident on the ball. Their passings were magnificent. Within fifteen minutes of the game, Komba from missionaries of Africa, registered his first goal of the game through a well-played interchange with his team mate, from the sluggish defending of the Jesuits. The Missionaries made their intentions clear by controlling the game in the first fifteen minutes of the game. The Vikings defense proved to be resilient, they denied the White Fathers spaces to maneuver easily. They forced them to play wide and not penetrate through the Mid-field. In the dying minutes of the first half, a well-played piece of art displayed by the Jesuits, in quick one, two, they equalized through Misgana, nSJ (Ronaldo).
At the end of the first half, both teams had a fair share of possession. At the start of the second half, both teams made their substitutes in order to strengthen their attack. The Missionaries of Africa started the game brightly. They were posing threats against Jesuits’ defense. Thanks to the Vikings brilliant number one Antony Senda, nSJ who made a couple of fine saves. The Jesuits took control of the game as they were thrashing waves and attack after attack. On the seventy fifth minute of the game, the Vikings got a second goal through Denis Khana, nSJ.
The Vikings took control of the game. It became one way traffic in Missionaries’ box as Jesuits missed a number of clear-cut chances. The referee blew the final whistle. The Jesuits were victors. They both displayed good sportsmanship. And then, we kept a fire burning.
As a custom after the match both sets of teams came together for a thanksgiving session.
Other news
All is well in the novitiate as we are moving on with our daily routine. So far we are covering different topics from different lessons such as our Constitutions, Understanding the vows, The General Congregations. We thanks God who is keeping us safe as we are journeying in our vocation.
The weather in Arusha is dynamic these days sometimes hot sometimes cold but it is raining almost every day, so don’t forget to carry an umbrella when you happen to pass by here.
