There are 52 young men currently doing their Novitiate programme as Brothers of Edmund Rice at six Novitiate houses around the globe. Four of these Novitiates are in Africa, one in Ireland, and one in India. Two are within the Presentation Brothers family, and four among the Christian Brothers. 28 Novices are in their first year and 24 in their second year. The Novices come from 9 different countries, and the team members are drawn from a dozen countries. Here are more details…
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Christian Brothers – 18 Novices
1st year Novices, as photographed on their Initiation Day in February 2012:
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(standing, l to r) Kakono Kapalu Trobisch (23) from Zambia |
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(sitting, l to r): Steven Abu Kargbo (23) from Sierra Leone
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The team at the ISC (International Spirituality Centre) presently consists of Brothers Senan D’Souza (Novitiate Director) from India, Dominic Sassi from England, Titus Kallon from Sierra Leone, Milton Lawrence (presently Director of the ISC) from India, Presentation Sister Sue McGregor from New Zealand, and Ignatius Chincotta (Nano Nagle House) from Gibraltar. Later in the year, Chris Nhete from Zimbabwe will take over as ISC Director, and Henry McGann from Ireland will also join the team.
KONGO-LOGRE, GHANA – Presentation Brothers – 8 Novices
1st year Novices photographed with a team-member and a visitor:
(standing, l to r)
Brother Godfrey Kuubagr (Director of Novices) from Ghana
Maxwell Orkuma (29) from Nigeria
Siobhan (visiting from Ireland)
McSimon Tobias Azenda (33) from Nigeria
(sitting, l to r)
Leonard Derbie (32) from Ghana
James O’vhiunou Abraham (26) from Nigeria
Sebastian Walieryir Dery (25) from Ghana
John Innocent Obiabo (25) from Nigeria
2nd year Novices (not in photo), completing their Novitiate in August 2012:
Vitalis Maabobrkuu (31) from Ghana
Vincent Danikuu (28) from Ghana.
KILLARNEY, IRELAND – Presentation Brothers – 2 Novices
2nd year Novices, completing their Novitiate in August 2012, with postulants:
Augustine Dassah (29) 2nd year novice from Ghana
Ratnaraj Selvarathinam (22) postulant
Theiva Sebastiyam Pillai (30) postulant
Callistus Nero (28) 2nd year novice from Ghana.
The formation team consists of Brothers Barry Noel (Director) from Grenada/St Lucia and Richard English from Ireland. Also in the community are Brothers Claver Flood and Terence Hurley, both from Ireland, and two Postulants from Sri Lanka due to begin Novitiate in September 2012 – the first Sri Lankans to join the Presentation Brothers.
BHOPAL, INDIA – Christian Brothers – 5 novices
1st and 2nd year Novices with team members:
(back row, l to r)
Brother Tommy Samuel (team)
Brother Walter Vaz (team)
Gangadhar Rao (22) 2nd year, from Southern India, completing at Christmas 2012
(front row, l to r – 1st year Novices who commenced on 16 April 2012)
Nilesh Toppo (21) from Chattisgarh
Mahendra Gamit (21) from Gujarat
Sudhir Toppo (22) from Chattisgarh
Anil Ganta (21) from Southern India.
The team consists of Brothers Tommy Samuel (Director) and Walter Vaz.
TAMALE, GHANA – Christian Brothers – 10 Novices
2nd year Novices, completing 1 December 2012, with team members:
(standing, l to r)
Brother Tony Shanahan (team)
Lewis Musonda (24) from Zambia
Christian Hazeley (30) from Sierra Leone
Belamino Muunga (22) from Zambia (behind)
Nature Busiku (27) from Zambia
Amos Sibo (28) from Kenya
Romano Rambu (34) from Kenya
Brother Con Cerejo (team)
Paul Septimus Sama (since departed)
Daniel Phiri (29) from Zambia
Brother Kevin Delaney (team)
Elly Sakwa (23) from Kenya
(in front)
Blaise Semoso (30) from Papua New Guinea
Victor Piniau (28) from Papua New Guinea
The team consists of Brothers Tony Shanahan (Director) and Kevin Delaney, both Australian-born members of the East African District, and Con Cerejo, an Indian-born member of the West African District.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Christian Brothers – 9 Novices
2nd year Novices:
(back row, l to r)
James Mwenda (26) from Kenya
Francis Muma (26) from Zambia
Martin Khaemba (29) from Kenya
Humphrey Mulenga (27) from Zambia
David Ngombu (22) from Sierra Leone
Tony Foday (24) from Sierra Leone
(front row, l to r)
Elijah Chomba (24) from Zambia
Francis Ngaujia (27) from Sierra Leone
Ignitious Kabwe (22) from Zambia.
The team consists of Brothers George Massay (Director) from Tanzania, Hugh Moloney from Ireland, and Richard DeMaria from the United States of America.
Before coming to the Novitiate, Novices have already undergone a discernment period and a pre-novitiate programme in which they experience the community aspect of consecrated life. The intensive two-year novitiate programme is not focused on academic training but on spiritual and emotional growth as well as formation for community life and ministry.
In addition to the six Novitiate communities mentioned above, there are also Christian Brothers Novitiates-in-waiting in Chicago (USA) and Latin America.
Compiled with the help of the Directors of the Novitiates
Published June 2012
