Entrance into the Novitiate in DR Congo

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – Friday, August 15, 2025, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, during the celebration of Vespers presided over by the Novice Master, Father David GIAPUNDA, SMM, three postulants—Abdias Mubanzo, Cryspin Muhindo, and Berthony Ikwen—entered the Novitiate. A special feature this year was the Rite of Noviciate, a prayer to God for the grace that the novitiate may reach its goal. The ceremony took place in the Chapel of the new Novitiate House, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.

The novice master presented each of them with the Complete Works of Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort, inviting them to embrace the teachings of Saint Louis-Marie to guide them during this precious time. He then presented the novices with the Bible, asking that it becomes the source of their spiritual life; the rosary, to learn from Mary's faith and imitate her ways; and finally, the small "Totus Tuus" cross, to imitate the ways of Jesus, Wisdom Incarnate.

In his brief homily on the Word of God from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 1:22-31), The novice master invited the novices to meditate on the mysteries of the Cross of Jesus.

"We cannot," he said, "declare ourselves Christians and deny that his way (the way of the Cross) is the way to follow." He concluded his remarks by saying, "Let us implore God's grace through Mary, whom Jesus gave us at the foot of the Cross. For he does not want us to walk without a Mother. May Mary accompany us, instruct us, so that we may reach the goal of this experience, so that one day you may become Montfortians according to God's will." Therefore, "let us imitate Jesus Christ, who began by doing what he taught. 'He who did Jesus did and taught,'" as our holy founder liked to emphasize (SAR no. 2/ Acts 1:1).

At the end of the rite, Brother Theophilus MOLEPELIA, SMM, Fr David, and the novice brothers who were preparing to make their first profession the following day, greeted the new novices and wished them a fruitful journey.