On Thursday 1 October 2020, in our parish church of the Santi Angeli Custodi in Rome, Brother Floribert, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, made the solemn profession of the reli- gious vows.
The Mass of Profession, presided over by the Superior General Father Teodoro Ortega Kalaw, began at 7 pm with the procession of ministers and ministrants from the chapel of the Cruci- fix towards the main altar with the entrance hymn, “Wandugu, leo ni shangwe kubwa sana”, (Brothers, for us today it is a very great joy), performed by the choir made up of Augustinian nuns and the Apostles of the Sacred Heart.
Despite the health emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the participation of the faithful was quite satisfactory. The confreres from our various communities scattered throughout It- aly also participated so much so that the entire Italian Delegation and the Community of the General Curia were well represented. With us also was a Pallottine priest, Fr. Norbert Sebutitira, from Rugari (RD Congo), which is the parish of origin of the candidate to the solemn profession, who recently arrived in Rome for his studies. In total, twenty-one Religious Caracciolini were present at the solemn rite.
In organizing the celebration, the memorial of the day was taken into account, namely that of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Thus the form of the Mass was that of the memorial and the Superior General, in his homily, explicitly addressed to the one professing, with some points taken from the life of the saint. He illustrated the meaning of the action that the brother was about to perform in making the perpetual religious vows of Chastity, Obedience, Poverty and Not aspiring for ecclesiastical dignities out- side the Order and including the oath that he would never strive to be elected Major or local Superior.
“With the perpetual profession,” the Superior General said in his homily, “following the ex- ample of our Founders and of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, patroness of the Missions, you be- come free and therefore available to serve God everywhere, with love for his holy Church, for the salvation of your brothers and sisters, since it was love that prompted the apostles to spread the Good News and the martyrs to shed their blood; it is the love that animates the members of the Church and all the vocations that are found in it. “Remember, he continued, “that we too, like St. Therese of Lisieux, have our own ‘little way’ of perfection, that of being ‘minor.’ We are called to be “little ones” out of love for the Kingdom of God. This is not a sign of weakness but of strength for what matters in life. With your profession you are called to live your days with trust in God who wanted you. Every day is a gift that must always be an opportunity to be better according to the way you live it. Therefore, choose life in God and not the darkness of meanness or greed.”
After the homily, the local Superior, Fr. Joby, proceeded to call the candidate to present him- self for questioning. He then prostrated himself before the altar of God Most High and the assembly sang the Litany of the Saints. Then, on his knees, the candidate professed the formula of his free self-giving to the Lord through the perpetual vows, which was solemnized by the Prayer of Consecration. This was followed by the handing over of the symbols (cross and towel, with the washing of the feet that Brother Floribert did to Fr. Jacques). After that, the Superior General pronounced the formula for the definitive welcome of the newly solemn professed into our Religious Family, where everything is, from now on, in common.
Due to the risk of spreading the Corona virus, the sign of peace was granted only to the Presider and the two concelebrants, while the others were content with a bow to the attendees at Mass. After communion, Bro. Floribert was given the opportunity to express his gratitude and joy at being finally, forever, a member of the Clerics Regular Minor, saying: “This is an important day in my life: I had hoped for it, I wished, I dreamed of it, and it finally arrived Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and
forever! Thanks to the Italian Delegation that welcomed me and introduced me to the General Consulta for admis- sion to solemn profession and to the diaconate. Thanks to my community of Montesacro, thanks also to all of you Caracciolini Brothers who surround me tonight and to the people who are not physically present at this celebration and who pray with us, for me from all the houses of the Order. You are a blessing to me and you will remain my brothers until death.”
At the conclusion of the words of gratitude, our Brother Floribert extended the invitation to all to participate in the Rite of his Ordination as Deacon in Naples, in the Basilica of the Incoronata del Buon Consiglio, in Capodimonte, scheduled for October 31, 2020 at 5.30 pm, through the hands of His Eminence Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe, the Archbishop of Naples.
After the concluding prayer and the hymn to San Francis Caracciolo, there was a photo op- portunity with the concelebrants. Everyone was then invited to the parish hall for refreshment and fellowship.
To God, the source of all vocation, be glory, praise and honor for ever.
Father Marayo Gakondo Norbert, CRM
