Graduation Day 2022

 

        Friday, 27^th of May 2022 is to be written in golden letters for two of our postulants namely Oscar Saimon and Ernest Chiwala Katongo. [standing Left and Right in the picture - At the middle is Mr. Evans Poniso who left us.] It is believed they are the 32^nd batch of Philosophy students completing their formation studies in the philosophy house in Zambia. [From the time of its beginning in Kabwe house]. Although the reliability of these claims might be suspect, the happiness and fulfillment felt and enjoyed by these graduands as well as others related to them is no way diminished.  As for St. Bonaventure this graduation ceremony was its 30^th. 

        We thank the different professors, and spiritual directors and formators who were instrumental in brining to fruition the effort began by these two young men in 2019. While one found himself rather bewildered and confused at the beginning he feels confident to go on as three years he has wandered in the ‘forest of philosophy’ as he himself puts it.  

“I came to the philosophy house in Lusaka, full of zeal but also pregnant with pre-conceived ideas from pre-philosophy. When I reminiscence about my first year of philosophy in 2019, I just laugh and say, ‘Really, that was me’ I was like a lost soul in a forest, without a compass to go. Maybe to put it philosophically, I was in the cave, as Plato said. When I reflect, I just say to myself, ‘Well, that was just a phase.’  When I reached the second year of my philosophy, there! There was mental gymnastics. I could experience and feel my mental muscles getting strained. I had to sacrifice and lessen some of my sleeping hours to aim higher… My three years of philosophy are rich with episodes of sadness and happiness. Be that as it may, philosophy has broadened my horizons in looking at life, of approaching different situations in life. Being at St. Bonaventure University, it was a thrilling moment with different people of different congregations, different nationalities, different languages, and, above all, different cultures.”     

        As Ernest  Katongo writes, I have stayed in Lusaka SVD Philosophy House for three years, and my stay has been a fruitful and wonderful time. I have learnt a lot of things. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the SVD community for the care and support I've received, whether in spiritual, academic, or community life. Thank you. We thank God for the blessings n both these young men and pray they he will bless and guide them with his spirit though their journey ahead in the Society of the Divine Word.

By: Philosophy House