Despite the
Covid-19 pandemic with the many restrictions in place, especially lockdown, the
First Profession of 9 novices from Senegal, Ghana, Malawi and Madagascar took
place on 1 May, 2020 at the Saint Richard Pampuri Interprovincial Novitiate in
Lomé (Togo). It was a simple celebration in a calm and prayerful atmosphere, during
the Solemn Mass of Saint Richard Pampuri and the 1 May Feast of Saint Joseph
the Worker in the chapel of the Interprovincial Novitiate at Agoe-Nyivé. It was
presided over by Brother Jacob Tambe Ketchen, Master of Novices, in the
presence of Brother Darius representing our neighbouring Junior Seminary, and
Brother Parfait TCHAO, the Delegate of the Provincial Superiors.
In his
homilies, Brother Jacob addressed words of encouragement to the newly-professed
Brothers, saying that, "Profession is a birth, and it is in this worldwide
silence that your birth is taking place. It is in this health crisis that you
are being called to take on your responsibility as Hospitallers. You are being
called to nurse the world under the pandemic, the pandemic of violations of human
dignity: disease, violence of all kinds, injustices, rejections,
abandonments... and let us be mindful that the scapular is not a crown but a
sign of humility and service.”
