Br Paul Noonan Formation Centre, Tamale: Novices Missing Michael

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Novices Missing Michael

What a blessing the month of March has been!

After spending almost a month together it was time to say good-bye to Br. Michael Colasuonno. This was his last visit to Africa. Each and everyday during his stay in Tamale it was such a learning and a blessing, whether in class or in individual meeting. Thanks to Michael for broadening our understanding of being a brother and for a brief but fruitful introduction to our Constitutions. His words of wisdom will always ring in our hearts.

Br Michael was always punctual and before starting his classes, two things were done –acknowledge the presence of God, check the energy level of the group or do an energy building exercise which was very good to keep novices alive and active in his classes.

He often said a brother must be proud of who he is, appreciate his being different in the society (just different not better/worse) and be a life giving force to all people - not a cold fish! Because as brothers we stand for something more. He termed vocation as a significant challenge which we are responsible to nurture.
On the 29th of March we celebrated his time with as we said farewell with a dinner out in the open under a tree with a cool gentle breeze making the atmosphere conducive.

Preparations started in the early afternoon, where Sydney spent quite some time on the tree fixing the lights. Although we had doubts about the weather the night turned out to be the best, with the sound of different ‘good-bye’ songs in Swahili and Mende filling the air.
As the Old saying goes “Every new person changes the dynamic’ so did Michael’s quiet presence which had an impact on the community as a whole. What a gentle “Guy”, full of life and smile, (I say this with great respect). I thank Br Michael for the wisdom and knowledge he shared with us during his stay and through his classes. I appreciate the privilege of his presence in the community.

I wanted to cry as I presented the gift on behalf of the Tamale community anyway I just asked Michael what his energy level was.
We’ll always remember you Michael, wishing you well in your future endeavors.
(Jordaan and Likisi)

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What do we want this novitiate to be?

There is a saying that goes something like this: “If we don’t do what we believe in, then we’ll end up believing in what we do”. Without a vision that is authentic and alive to guide our actions, then we can settle for rationalizing the status quo or what is convenient and comfortable.
One of the first things the new team in Tamale did was to spend time beginning to articulate its vision of a novitiate beyond the basics laid down in our Constitutions. Here are some elements of what we came up with:
Novitiate is a journey, a process that involves KNOWING, EXPERIENCING and CHOOSING.
It is an INITIATION into Christian Brother religious life, so a “rite of passage” into a new identity, a time of learning and testing.
Novitiate confronts the novices with the Brother’s vocation as a call to brotherly solidarity and community, not to privilege, status and security.
It involves exploration of the basic values of faith and vocation, and the challenge to embrace these out of personal conviction and free choice.
Novitiate means understanding that a religious vocation makes a claim on the whole of the person and his life, including his inner life, his relationships and his professional activity (ministry). Furthermore, it challenges the novice to see the dynamic inter-relationship of these areas and to learn what their integration means.
Novitiate is a time of DISCERNMENT. The novice learns more deeply who he is, and what this Christian Brother life is. There is a constant back-and-forth movement between these two poles as an answer is sought to the question, “Is this where I am meant to be? Is this the life that will enable me to find my true self in God?”