On January 6, 2025, six new candidates for the Missionary Society of Bethlehem (SMB) gathered at Bethlehem House, a new SMB formation house in Harare, Zimbabwe. They were welcomed by Ludovic Nobel, the Superior General of the SMB, accompanied by the local team of formators.
The candidates come from various African countries: Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. This group was formed through close collaboration with Bishop Papias Musengamana of Byumba (Rwanda), who visited the SMB in Zimbabwe at the end of December 2024 to support this initiative.
Before arriving in Harare, five of these candidates spent two months in the Diocese of Byumba under the guidance of Fr. Gilbert. This period of discernment and spiritual accompaniment helped these young men deepen their vocation and better understand the demands of SMB mission work.
Upon their arrival in Harare, the group was joined by Gregory, a candidate from Uganda. A seventh candidate, Arul from Sri Lanka, is expected to join them in the coming weeks.
During this Community Experience program, the candidates will be accompanied by two experienced formators: Fr. Talent and Fr. Joseph. This program of formation and community life is designed to introduce them to the missionary values of the SMB and to help them discern their vocation.
Additionally, the new candidates have already met the five SMB novices currently undergoing formation at the SMB Formation House in Driefontein. These novices began their formation program on April 10, 2024, under the guidance of Fr. Matthew Madziva, a priest from the Diocese of Gweru, and his assistant, Fr. Marco.
