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Novitiate

SPIRITAN NOVITIATE - MAGAMBA - LUSHOTO, TANZANIA
 
 
 

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Fr. Casti Mushi, Novice Master

Background

Spiritan Novitiate, Magamba is located in the highlands of Usambara, 5 km away from Lushoto, Tanga region, Tanzania. The place has a cool climate which is conducive for pines, apples, plums and pears. Sadly, many trees have been cut down with little effort to replace them. Some are still standing and they make the atmosphere very conducive for reflection, discernment and prayer.

The name of the place is known to the locals as “Oakland” due to oak trees in this place which was also a “pit stop” for the East African Safari Rally. On February 15, 1978, the novice master, Fr. Pat Ryan together with six novices arrived at “Oakland.” Four novices were professed in the Congregation after one year, one of whom, Augustine Shao is the bishop of Zanzibar.

 
  
 Christians and Novices after Mass
Purpose
 
The purpose of the Novitiate is to allow the candidate to the Spiritan Religious life to deepen his vocation. It guides him towards that moment when he chooses freely and with full responsibility either to consecrate his life to the apostolate in the Spiritan family, or to follow a different path in the Christian life. (Guide for Spiritan Formation 59). A novitiate is therefore a place of deep reflection on the life of the Congregation and discernment for the candidate.

For spiritual formation, novices deepen their prayer life. They deepen their knowledge of the Congregation and particularly the Spiritan founders. Besides Spiritual formation, novices are also involved in pastoral ministry like teaching catechism to students of the neighboring schools. Novices also take part in self reliance projects which include growing vegetables and taking care of cows and pigs.

The Novitiate programme is for one year. During the last 30 years, more than 200 confreres have been professed in the Congregation. This novitiate belongs to the Union of Circumscriptions of Eastern Africa (UCEAF) that comprises of the countries of Kenya, Ehtiopia, Tanzania and Uganda.