As you know, the Mission is blessed with many programs for our youth: workshops, sport, camps, retreats, but its noblest and least spoken of is our Seminary Candidate Program.
Every year dozens of young men from all over Africa send us applications for joining our Institute. After an initial correspondence and triage, the young man comes to the Mission for an internship and discernment period of at least 2 years. Like iron on fire… we put his Vocation to the test.
Albert Amuzu, spend 3 years at the Mission. He was there for the founding of Saint Francis de Sales School and was much loved by the children. He had many tasks, but the one he loved the most was accompanying the bus in the mornings and afternoons to go pick up and drop off the children. Albert worked hard to put together a little fanfare at the school that brought life and joy to the Mission’s many events, from the raising of the flag, to school celebrations, to the Independence Day parade.
Albert soon became part of the “Mission Family” and was very loved by all. But the day came… and the bird had to fly away from the nest. Sending him to the Seminary was a sweet & sour feeling. It was hard to see him go and he is greatly missed at the Mission.
Today he completed his first year at the Seminary, and I happened to be there to see him receive the tonsure, leaving behind his civilian clothes while vesting the clergy’s cassock. We are very proud of Albert and we pray for his perseverance… the first Vocation to blossom from the Mission’s spiritual “garden”.
