As we return from vacation, we give thanks to God for the time of rest spent in our respective families.

On September 4, 2019, our new seminarians arrived after finishing the first year of their preparatory studies in Nyamilima. They will continue their formation in Goma, where they have been admitted to the second year of preparatory studies. On September 23, 2019, with the return of those seminarians studying philosophy, the membership of the community is now complete for this new academic year 2019-2020. Like the other years, this year too will be “a time destined to formation and discernment. These formation years represent, primarily, the constant search for a personal relationship of each one with Jesus and where everyone will have an intimate experience of his love with Christ.” (Speech by Pope Benedict XVI to seminarians, 2 December 2008).

Whoever says new year, also means new challenges, new perspectives, new projects, new visions, and new motivations. As we say, each beginning contains an enchantment that lives in it and it protects us and helps us to live. This academic year is therefore full of signs of hope because we are confident in the Lord who calls his sons to follow him. He is our joy and our rampart. He gives us everything we need, as long as we follow his paths and fulfill his will. All of this requires the effort of everyone to review the past and examine the path already taken. We can ask ourselves these questions: what is the path I have already achieved? Which were my failures and infidelities during the past year? What should I change? What should I assume from the best of the past? What should I strengthen in my formation, in our structures, in our rules of life to improve our community life?

With a total of 46 members, that include thirteen preparatory seminarians, twenty-six seminarians in philosophy, two brothers in theology, two deacons on probation and three priests from the formation team, the Community is becoming bigger and more complex compared to the past years. Coming from different countries (from Kenya and D.R. Congo), different dioceses (Bukavu, Goma, Butembo), different parishes and different cultures, we will experience our differences as a source of richness, and a community life that will value each one’s place and personal talents in or- der to build and live in an invigorating community. Our Major Seminary family also includes 17 workers who likewise contribute through their work and attachment to the seminary to the well- being of the whole house. Some of them work as cooks, gardeners, security guards, shepherds, drivers, laundry personnel, electricians and plumbers.

Another problem is also the high number of seminarians in formation as compared to the formation team whose number of members is less. We are aware that accompanying so many seminarians by the three members of the formation team will not be easy.

It is true that difficulties are present. The mission of formation and the accompaniment of future priests in various pastoral duties following the example of Christ is not possible by the sim- ple limited forces available to us. That is why we are grateful in the first place to God who is the first Formator, who puts the human person into his mold, to mold him to his only Son Jesus Christ, true Man and true God. We, the formators, are only instruments in the hand of the Master, which means that we must let ourselves be formed and inspired by Him each day to finally give only what we receive from Him. Seminarians and formators, all of us, must “let ourselves be formed by Christ,” as Pope Francis says.

Convinced, with the Psalmist, that if the Lord does not guard over our city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil; if the Lord does not build the house, in vain to its builder’s labor. We entrust to the Lord this academic year 2019-2020 so that His grace may inspire our actions and support to the end, so that all our activities may draw their source from Him and receive from Him their completion (Prayer, Lauds I).

May the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Wisdom and Light, intercede for us and may St. Joseph, our patron, protect us.

By. Fr. Jean Claude MUSUBAO LULONGA, CRM