We, the missionaries of Africa (WF), are an international and inter-racial Roman Catholic Missionary Society of Priests and Brothers founded in 1868 by Cardinal Lavigerie in Algiers in North Africa. The Society has always placed special emphasis on its work in Africa. We are happy to welcome new members from all over the world in the community of WF. We believe that your life is a gift from God and could be a valuable offer to the people of Africa. We have our study houses here in Bangalore and in Hosur , where the young men begin their formation and get ready to love and serve the people of Africa either as priest or as brother.
What are the requirements to join in your congregation? How long do one have to continue the formation programs before one being ordain as priest or brother?
1. The basic entrance requirements:
a. PUC or +2
b. Or any other qualification
c. Maximum age of 25 when one starts the come and see-program
d. A willingness to work among the African people.
2. The stages of our formation program are as follows:
i. Come-and-See program:
a. One or Two years of learning English depending how much you are able to master the language. Just a year may not be sufficient for some students for the further studies such as BA or Philosophy; which is in English.
b. During this time the students are going to learn to live in a community, which is consisted of different ethnic groups from different parts of India and elsewhere.
c. They will receive enough support and encouragement during this period to mold or to enhance their personalities and characters.
d. The students will learn to grow in freedom to fulfill their dreams.
e. This is the time for the students to come up with their potentiality.
ii. Candidacy: this is a three years course:
a. Bachelors of Philosophy: at the Marianist or at the Suvidya Collage
b. BA from the Bangalore or from Madurai University; but one who has done BA could do MA from these universities.
3. The Spiritual Year last almost a year:
a. For the Spiritual-Year the students are sent to Africa (in Zambia for the English speaking students and in Burkina-Faso for the French speaking students). One could be send from India to the French speaking country for the Spiritual-Year if one is able to read, write and speak in French during his stay at SOLA Study House in Bangalore.
b. There one learns to live in an international community.
c. And one learns to develop his own Spirituality.
4. We have two years of Stage:
a. Students are sent mainly in Africa in a parish for the Pastoral Ministry.
5. Fourth face, which is Theology and which last 3 and half years to 4 years:
a. Nairobi in Kenya: for the English speaking students.
b. South Africa at Merrivale: for the English speaking students.
c. Jerusalem in Israel: also for the English speaking students; but one has to know French as well.
d. Cote d'voire: for the French speaking students.
e. And in Congo: for the French speaking students.
We have got two houses in India:
a. One is located in Hosur, which is 30 km away from Bangalore:
b. and the other is situated in Bangalore:
Lavigerie SOLA Study House
P.O No: 1
Bommasandra, Industrial Estate
Bangalore, India
Cell-phone no : 09335221025
a. PUC or +2
b. Or any other qualification
c. Maximum age of 25 when one starts the come and see-program
d. A willingness to work among the African people.
2. The stages of our formation program are as follows:
i. Come-and-See program:
a. One or Two years of learning English depending how much you are able to master the language. Just a year may not be sufficient for some students for the further studies such as BA or Philosophy; which is in English.
b. During this time the students are going to learn to live in a community, which is consisted of different ethnic groups from different parts of India and elsewhere.
c. They will receive enough support and encouragement during this period to mold or to enhance their personalities and characters.
d. The students will learn to grow in freedom to fulfill their dreams.
e. This is the time for the students to come up with their potentiality.
ii. Candidacy: this is a three years course:
a. Bachelors of Philosophy: at the Marianist or at the Suvidya Collage
b. BA from the Bangalore or from Madurai University; but one who has done BA could do MA from these universities.
3. The Spiritual Year last almost a year:
a. For the Spiritual-Year the students are sent to Africa (in Zambia for the English speaking students and in Burkina-Faso for the French speaking students). One could be send from India to the French speaking country for the Spiritual-Year if one is able to read, write and speak in French during his stay at SOLA Study House in Bangalore.
b. There one learns to live in an international community.
c. And one learns to develop his own Spirituality.
4. We have two years of Stage:
a. Students are sent mainly in Africa in a parish for the Pastoral Ministry.
5. Fourth face, which is Theology and which last 3 and half years to 4 years:
a. Nairobi in Kenya: for the English speaking students.
b. South Africa at Merrivale: for the English speaking students.
c. Jerusalem in Israel: also for the English speaking students; but one has to know French as well.
d. Cote d'voire: for the French speaking students.
e. And in Congo: for the French speaking students.
We have got two houses in India:
a. One is located in Hosur, which is 30 km away from Bangalore:
b. and the other is situated in Bangalore:
Lavigerie SOLA Study House
P.O No: 1
Bommasandra, Industrial Estate
Bangalore, India
Cell-phone no : 09335221025
South Africa – The Rainbow Nation
A letter from Antony Alckias, a student of Theology, at St. Joseph's Theological institute in South Africa.
Let me first greet you all a very prosperous and happy new year 2012. I am writing this mail after my 30 days of retreat which by the grace of God Almighty and my closest friend Jesus Christ brought new energy to my journey by recharging my spiritual and vocational batteries.
As I stand at the threshold of my second year of theology I look back to my last year and say Alhamdulilah (thanks be to God) or in the worlds of Bhagavad Gita ‘all that happened, happened in well manner’. It was a year of surprises and challenges leading me to growth in many ways of my journey.
We the Missionaries of Africa students drive for 10 minutes to St. Joseph’s Theological institute of OMI (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) for our theology classes. There are many students from other different congregations including sisters. As for me the academic endeavor was good even though not up to my expectation.
I began my pastoral work with our new upcoming parish of Missionaries of Africa, training the first even Altar servants of the centre, then from there continued to animate children for the centre, struggling with IsiZulu language with its various clicks. I must say I had good time with children, playing, singing, dancing and learning prayers. At the end of the year managed to organize picnic for the children with the income of the rosaries which I make and sell. It was a great experience for the children and for me.
Then this year really challenged my international community life, I have learned to accept that we are all different and trying to live together for the sake of the kingdom of God an as witness of brotherly love.
Hope and pray the coming year could be better than the past. Hope you all would remain in prayer with me so do I.
The riche experiences and surprises of Nilu with the Beautiful people in Africa!
My little experiences in life especially in Zambia could hardly be removed from my memory disk. These unforgettable experiences and events, which have taken place in my life, I am sure will haunt me throughout the days to come. Because it is said that the first impression is the best impression that one could offer to strangers. Being strange in the land of African I am privileged to be impressed by the people and of their cultures.
My journey to Kasama in Zambia in 2011 to the Spiritual Year was magnificent and unforgettable. In fact I had always dreamed to see the beautiful people of Africa, where the saints and martyrs lived. Now I feel blessed for having come to Africa.
Though difficult and challenging in the formation place at SOLA Study House in Bangalore, where everything went so fast that it was like a dream for me to come to the Spiritual-Year here in Kasama, where I am with the fellow students from India, Philippine and from different corners of Africa.
When I was about to leave my dearest people and my beloved country India I was saddened and there were tears on my eyes and yet my Spirit longed for Africa. There was little problem in the airport with the people of immigration office, who could not understand my purpose of going to the Spiritual Year in Zambia, but thanks be to God that it was solved as I got a good Samaritan from my own state who could understand me a bit since we share the same language. I am happy that my first flight journey was a pleasant one.
When we came out from the flight we went to the immigration office, where everything went smoothly. We were really thankful to Fr. Anton, who had come to help us out in the immigration office. It was there as well we discovered four other WF’s students who had as well travelled in the same flight with us from Nairobi to Lusaka. It was really a funny thing to laugh about because we saw each other in the flight but could not dare to talk. Anyway the day was hot when we landed for the first time on the African soil but the hospitality of Fr. Paul and Anton cooled us downed a bit. From there we went to the provincial house, where we stayed overnight and from there early in the morning we set out for Kasam, where we will have to stay at least a year for the Spiritual Year.
The bus journey, which took us the whole day from Lusaka to Kasama around 950kms, was really interesting. The straight roads, which lay miles after miles, the leafless tries, which stood motionless beside the roads and the arid landscapes during the dry season in Zambia made my journey a memorable one.
Here in Kasama in the novitiate house, where I struggled in the beginning a bit to get acquainted with the English language spoken by different nationalities, I am proud to live in an international community with 18 different nationalities. I am enjoying my stay here and discovering many good things from the Bemba culture which is not only a shock but also rich learning experiences for me. The melodious songs of the faithful and the beating of the drums in the Church help me personally to praise and thank God whole heartedly. I am gradually getting used with the local food such as Shima and Caterpillar, the delicious food of the native. I love very much the pastoral work with the youths which is held on every Saturday at St. Anne’s Parish club, where the youths are helped to grow in maturity in their vocational lives. It is a good place for me also to strengthen my own vocation that is to love and to serve God among the people in Africa.
A letter by Robin, a stager, addressed to Fr. John, the rector of SOLA Study House.
Dear John I take this opportunity to wish you the joy, the love and the peace of Christ. I am glad to inform you that I did my declaration of intent on 12th of January this year during a sector meeting. Fr. Ignatius Anipu, the provincial of PAO, received my declaration of intent. The day was also blessed with another important event that is the Golden Jubilee of Fr. Martinez and Fr. Arvedo Godina. Here I am happy with the confreres, who wish that I continue the formation with the WF.
I love Africa dearly but I have to leave for a while to meet my dearest people who are longing to see me there in India. I also love French and would like to pursue my further studies in that beautiful language there in Abidjan. Please convey my greetings to my brothers and fathers in SOLA Study House.
Diaconate Ordination of E K Tirkey at St Theresa's Catholic Church in South Africa!
Missionary Oath of Erus Kishor Tirkey in Merrivale!
| diaconate_invitation_card.pdf |
Ordination photos of Fr. Kanto Hembram
