The monastery of Saint Augustine of Nakwamekwi, Lodwar, Turkana, belonging to the Mexican Federation of the contemplative Augustinian Recollect nuns, has one more member in its community after completing her novitiate with the simple profession of vows.
The contemplative Augustinian-Recollect community of Lodwar, Kenya, has one more member after the profession of the Ugandan Joan Amoding Ojilon on September 4, Solemnity of Our Lady of Consolation.
Joan came to the novitiate in Turkana recommended by a religious from her country, requesting to have a vocational experience because she felt attracted to the contemplative life and did not have the possibility of doing this first accompaniment in her own country.
After that first meeting and the initial vocational process, both she and the community of Lodwar thought that she was ready to begin her novitiate, which ended with a spiritual exercise directed by Mother Irene Carrera and which had as its central theme texts from the biblical book Song of Songs and the Augustinian commentaries on the “names of the wife” collected by the Augustinian Recollect Enrique Eguiarte.
During those days of exercises prior to her profession, Joan wanted to strengthen her friendship with God through the contemplative vocation and community life, hidden in the heart of God, in prayer and silence, until September 4, when everything changed to celebration and joy in Lodwar.
On that day, Joan expressed her commitment to follow the evangelical counsels with the Augustinian-Recollect contemplative community that welcomed her. He did so with a confident and youthful voice during a Eucharist that began at 10 in the morning, presided over by the Vicar General of the Diocese of Lodwar, Joseph Ekalimon, and concelebrated by ten priests: six Comboni priests, three diocesan and Desmon Miller, a missionary of St. Patrick and pioneer of this Catholic mission.
The local Catholics and friends of the cloistered monastery experienced the celebration in a very emotional way, with joy and gratitude to the Lord for raising contemplative vocations. Lodwar is a semi-desert place, but flourishing with young people eager to consecrate themselves to God in religious life.
The choir of the local parish of Jesus Resurrected, served by the Comboni priests, sang in Swahili accompanied by the dance of praise to the Lord. Those present were very attentive to the various signs of the profession ceremony: the presentation of the black veil, the wreath of flowers and the Rule and Constitutions of the Augustinian Recollect Nuns; Sister Joan‘s consecration through the formula of religious profession; her acceptance by the community through the words of the prioress and the welcoming embrace and fraternal welcome of the nuns.
Joan was even able to count on the joy that one of her brothers came from Uganda to represent the whole family and accompany her closely in this very important step in her life. For her part, Sister Joan gave thanks and asked for prayers for the perseverance of her vocation and for the intentions of her community.
