Marianists of East Africa at Eastlands Crescent between to Jogoo Police Station & Aquinas High School, Makadara - Nairobi, NA 00200 KE - MAGINFICAT ASSEMBLY: INAUGURATING SOCIETY OF MARY REGION OF EAST AFRICA

The inauguration of the Marianist Region of East Africa crowned the efforts of many brothers and priests and lay associates spanning about fifty-three years.  The first Marianists arrived in English-speaking Africa in 1957.  They served in secondary schools in Nigeria.  Additional brothers and priests followed them to Nigeria.  Other Marianists from the United States took up ministry in Africa, and they opened missions in Malawi (1960), Kenya (1961) and Zambia (1965).  The brothers served in secondary and trade schools, in pastoral and parish ministries, and in seminaries.  After several years passed Marianist leaders gathered in Lusaka, Zambia for a meeting to more clearly articulate the mission of the Society.  They made a decision to shift the Marianists from being a community of expatriate visitors who served the needs of the local church to become an indigenous community of African Marianists serving the needs of the church.  Over the following years, they recruited and nurtured men from Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya and Zambia as Marianists.  Gradually, African Marianists took on leadership positions in the formation programs and the administration of the district.  Thus paving the way to becoming an independent region within the Society of Mary.  As things evolved, the Marianists chose to withdraw from Nigeria in 1984, however they remain active in the other countries. 

   The Magnificat Assembly included three days of workshop events and four days of retreat.  The brothers gathered in Nairobi, Kenya to:
    I. Review where they have come from … their history and memory; 
    II. Consider where they are going … to plan their future with the guidance of 
       the Holy Spirit; 
    III. Consider the challenges they will encounter as well as how to support one 
       another in meeting them, and 
    IV. Pray for the Lord’s presence and guidance for the new region and its 
       leadership.  

   Each day of the assembly used a theme to help the brothers focus their thoughts.  During the workshop the daily themes were: 16 May) Marianist Martyrs, 17 May) Marianist Founders of Eastern Africa, and 18 May) Marianist Founders – Fr. Chaminade and his closest associates.  During the retreat days, the daily themes were: 19 May) Consecration and Vowed Life – ‘Be it done to me according to your will’; 20 May) Mission – ‘Do whatever he tells you’; 21 May) Marian Alliance – ‘Behold your mother’; and 22 May) Gratitude and Joy – ‘My soul proclaims the Lord’.  The events reached their climax on Pentecost Sunday when the Region of East Africa was inaugurated during the celebration of the Eucharist.  The documents officially establishing the independent region were signed by the General Superior, Fr. Cortes and the Provincial of the United States Province, Br. Glodek and the Regional Superior Br. Mulenga in triplicate.  Each of the signatories received a copy for safe keeping in the files of their respective offices.