On Tuesday, 14th July, 2026, at 6:00 a.m., the chapel of the community of Saint Gérard Scholasticate, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, hosted a deeply significant celebration for the life of the Vice-Province of West Africa: the renewal of temporary vows by six clerical students. The brothers who renewed their vows are:
Brother Jean Jacques RABEMANANJARA, of Madagascar (Vice-Province of Madagascar);
Brother Cornelius Oketch GWAOO, of Kenya (Province of Bangalore);
Brother Lucas Muli NDUNDA, of Kenya (Province of Bangalore);
Brother Phabian Omondi ONYANGO, of Kenya (Province of Bangalore);
Brother Sebastian Muteti MUTUA, of Kenya (Province of Bangalore);
Brother Vincent Omanga ONYINKWA, of Kenya (Province of Bangalore).
By this act, the brothers committed themselves, for a period of one year and one month, to continue their journey as consecrated brothers, within the Redemptorist Congregation through the profession of the evangelical counsels.
During the celebration, the renewal of the profession was received by Father Nobila Olivier SAWADOGO, Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province of West Africa (VPAO), acting by virtue of a legitimate delegation. The presence of the Vice-Provincial gave the ceremony its full canonical and institutional significance, recalling that the renewal of temporary vows, far from being a mere administrative formality, is an act of spiritual commitment. It is a way of declaring to the world, in the footsteps of Israel: “The storm rages, but our God renders us unshakeable.”
In his homily, the Vice-Provincial invited the assembly to look upon our world in these terms: “This storm is the one now sweeping through religious life, through Christian life: a crisis of faith, indifference, the pressures of our age… At times, doubt and discouragement shake our hearts as baptized and consecrated persons.” In doubt and discouragement, Christ asks us to place our trust in Him within our state of life. Vocation is a privilege, but above all it is an immense responsibility. According to him, the Lord has worked miracles for us: He has lifted us up, forgiven us, and chosen us. All that He has done for us in the past is the rock on which we must lean so as not to falter today.
We wish to note that, at the renewal of vows, Fathers Bila Matthias DOAMBA and Nanlé Sosthène BAMBARA graciously agreed to serve as witnesses to the profession. Their presence attests to the commitment made by the six professed brothers, who agreed to live in poverty, obedience, and chastity.
In renewing their temporary vows on this day, 14th of July, 2026, the brothers reaffirm their resolve to follow Christ the Redeemer, in the service of the Church, of the most abandoned, and of the wounded world. The Vice-Province of West Africa and the whole Redemptorist family accompany them with their prayers as they continue this vocational discernment toward perpetual profession. The celebration came to a close at around 6:35 a.m., in the presence of numerous lay faithful, religious, and priests.
Fr. Basile Wendkouni SAWADOGO, CSsR.
