Seven New Brothers for the Pallottines!

by Admin · February 15, 2022

By Br Lindani Maxwell Mzelemu SAC – Seven Brothers made their First Promises as Pallottines and were consecrated in the Society of Catholic Apostolate (SAC), on the solemnity of its founder, St Vincent Pallotti.

The event began with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr Michael Ndau SAC who, on behalf of the society received the solemn promises made by the seven brothers. In his homily, he painted a clear picture of the Pallottine rules and the norms and encouraged the Brothers to focus, to take their vocation seriously, and robe steadfast in their commitment.

The Brothers made their promises after the important stage of the novitiate. In this stage, a candidate spends a whole year discerning about their vocation and reflecting whether they really want to commit to the religious community and take vows or promises.

There is one significant difference between the Pallottines and other religious orders: apart from the three known vows or promises of obedience, chastity and poverty, they also add three promises of perseverance, the sharing of resources, and a spirit of service. This makes them unique among religious communities.

Many people lack an appropriate understanding of religious life, and many perceive it to be an abnormal life. However, it must be noted that it is a normal lifestyle which embraces all that ordinary people do at home. In religious communities, the Brothers or Sisters eat, pray and play together. A human being is a social being. The religious life embraces that virtue. The experience of community helps one to learn about different cultures and languages as well.

In his homily, Fr Ndau thanked the formators who have been journeying with the newly-professed brothers who enter a new stage in their lives with the counsel of St Vincent Pallotti: “God sent you as workers into his harvest that through your ministry, faith may be preserved and love may grow.”