Investiture of 2021/2022 Zambia Novices

 

Investiture is basically a simple ceremony to canonically cloth/vest people in formation who are “canonically naked” in the Roman Catholic Church. In the religious sense, this ceremony marks the beginning of one’s novitiate year. The garment used by the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) candidates for this ceremony is cassock.

Our investiture ceremony was preceded by a day of recollection on 16^th July, 2021 with reflection from John 1:35-42 on the theme, “What are you looking for? Come and see”. This was led by our novice director, Rev. Fr. George Clement Angmor, SVD. The reflection revealed that, the cassock symbolises a person being set apart, a sign of holiness, a sign of a call to duty and that which regulates our habits. An acronym for cassock was developed;

C – Christ; put on Christ

A – Alive; be alive at all times

S – Simplicity; be simple like Christ

S – Service; call to serve

O – Obedience; be obedient like Christ

C – Chaste; be chaste like Christ

K – Knowledgeable; a call to be knowledgeable of Christ.

The recollection which prepared us for the investiture pointed to us the aim of the novitiate. In reference to the SVD Constitution 512, the novitiate serves to mature and clarify a vocation. It provides a basic introduction to the following of Christ as outlined in the life and spirituality of the Society, and enables the novice to understand himself more clearly and to know the Society better in making a mature and responsible decision about his vocation.

On the 17^th day of July, 2021 a private simple ceremony according to the SVD Ceremonial Service in accordance with the SVD Constitution 512.4 took place for the five of us, namely; Busani Lunga (Zimbabwe), Hanani Matiwaza (Zimbabwe), Cosmas Ombuna (Kenya), Samuel Appiah (Ghana), and Augustine Dery (Ghana) to mark our investiture ceremony.

The cassocks were first of all blessed by Rev. Fr. George Clement Angmor, SVD. Each of us vested outside the chapel by the help of the then novices who were preparing to take their first religious vows, and we solemnly returned to the chapel. Senior confreres available congratulated us, notable among them was Bro. Ferdi Selan, SVD, Rev. Fr. Peter Chibale, and Rev. Fr. Martin Kawana, SVD, the Mission Superior for the Zambia Mission. He admonished us to reflect well on our vocation and to allow the will of God to lead us throughout the canonical year.

Furthermore, the investiture marked our official beginning of the novitiate, having in mind our journey on ‘Mount Carmel’. Rev. Fr. George made it known to us that, ‘Mount Carmel’ should remind us of Moses and Abraham on their various mountains seeking the face of God. The call of Moses in Exodus 3 did not end right there, but from time to time, he seeks the face of God up on a mountain, so are we. In these twelve months canonical period, he entreated us to seek the face of God more earnestly and to be detached from the world.

In all, the ceremony was indeed simple and came to an end within the shortest possible time. It was a great joy to be invested. It was like obtaining a precious pearl. To come this far is by grace and on that faithful day to obtain and permissibly be adorned with a cassock was a blessing. It was indeed a memorable day. To God be highest glory and praise forever.   

 

  By Dery Augustine