The refresher course, held from 18 August to 12 September 2026 in Sagana, Kenya, and addressed to missionaries with between 10 and 15 years of priestly ordination or perpetual vows, offered a meaningful journey of truth and renewal in their priestly and religious identity. The programme provided an opportunity to rediscover and reaffirm the gift of their vocation, while also acknowledging, with realism and trust, the human fragilities that accompany its lived experience.
By George Omondi and Toussaint Twite *
The formation began with human maturity, emphasizing the healthy integration of stress, anger, disappointment and other emotions through self-awareness, balance and God’s grace. Within this human foundation, priestly identity was presented not merely as a role or function, but as a profound configuration to Christ, Head and Spouse of the Church.
This understanding provided the context for reflections on chastity, sexuality and affectivity, highlighting the call to mature and responsible relationships, fidelity to consecration, and the safeguarding of personal and ministerial integrity. Substance abuse was considered in relation to deeper struggles such as loneliness and ministerial burnout, and its consequences for personal wellbeing, ministry and credible Christian witness.
These dimensions of human, priestly and religious formation found their spiritual focus in the concluding exercises under the theme “Where Are You?” (Genesis 3:9). God’s question to Adam invited an honest examination of one’s relationship with God, others and self – a call to move beyond masks and encounter the divine mercy that heals, liberates and restores.
The course thus offered an opportunity to renew our religious consecration and to strengthen our commitment to the missionary apostolate on more authentic and solid foundations. Seventeen missionaries working in different countries across Africa took part in the course.
We sincerely thank the General Direction, represented by Fr. Erasto Mgalama, who accompanied us throughout this journey, as well as our respective circumscriptions for this precious opportunity for renewal.
* Father George Omondi, IMC, (Kenya) and father Toussaint Twite, IMC (Democratic Republic of the Congo)