Missionaries of Africa, Jinja

It is a great feeling to be with people. Many individuals prefer being in the company of friends whom they understand each other to greater extends. However, the people whom we surround ourselves with, always have a way to our day to day life. Their influence comes to us in both positive and negative bearings, but because it is happiness that matters, I find more heft in the positives rather than the negatives. I cannot imagine being in a society where persons exist in individualistic communities among themselves; people who consider their own affairs vivacious to the others. It was not until when I come to experience the joy of being together, the warmth that comes with friendship, brotherhood that I show the meaning of togetherness. Belonging to each other is a possible experience but hard to find most often outside our homes. Survival in a community with a completely different setup from ones family is a challenge to many. A challenge which is possible to overcome if only one w...

The world today is experiencing a remarkable technological advancement. Due to technology, peoples’ life styles have greatly improved. Aspects such as industrialization, transport and communication have been simplified. However, it is important to acknowledge the negative effects of technology such as excessive noise. I will focus my attention on the counter part of noise, silence. In fact, silence is the absence of noise. Many of us associate quietness to events such as death and sorrow. Personally, I consider it as a precious gift from God because it is not only important for the religious, but for all humanity. Silence is essential in listening to one’s self, paying attention to others and above all listening to God. Silence helps us to look deep into our selves. When one looks at calm water, it acts as a mirror. Like calm water, silence is a procedure to introspection. In Lavigerie community, we have retreats, monthly recollections as well as daily meditations. These aspects a...

A community is a group of members who share common resources with the same vision or goal. The perfect community is that of the trinity and a natural community is one to which everybody belongs. Community living started long ago from the creation where God was with the word and the spirit. It is also in the letter to the Hebrews to stay as community (10:25) which also applies to the Acts of the Apostles (4:32). Here at Lavigerie house community life covers three aspects that include: pastoral work, academic life, and prayer life. Lavigerie house is a community with various nationalities and cultures united by Caritas and understanding of each other’s personality. Our greatest concern is to remain in God’s love which flows from the spirit. I will try to share my experience at Lavigerie. Prayer life is very fundamental as the common say: “A missionary who does not pray is a dead one”. It bridges our relationship with God. This is in two parts: community prayer and personal prayer. C...

Choice. How exactly can this term be defined? In the Oxford student’s dictionary, “a choice is an act of choosing between two or more people or things”. Jean Paul Sartre, A French philosopher, speaks about the freedom of Choice. According to Sartre, human beings are free to choose. We are not determined, which implies that we are what we make of ourselves or what we choose to be. However Sartre was an atheist, his philosophy can apply to many, if not to all human beings. It is good to keep in mind that the presence of choice is parallel to commitment. When one makes a choice, he/she should be committed to it. Whatever one chooses, it is good. But let it be clear on the other hand. By saying individual’s choices are good; one should also consider the other person. This is very evident to us. By the fact that we are striving each day it shows that we make choices including the choice to planning the future. We can all agree that being in Lavigerie house it is a choice. Choosin...