initial profession

January/February 2025 News – Initial Profession of Br Mpumelelo Khambule OHC

Br Robert James, the Superior of our Order, arrived from the USA in the second half of January to spend a few weeks with our monastic community. Some of his time with us involved his official annual visitation, during which he met individually with all members of the community and then together with the whole community, to discuss our current situation and future possibilities.

The highlight of a relatively eventful month was surely the Initial Profession of the Monastic Vow by our Br Mpumelelo, on Saturday 1 February. Although Br Mpumelelo’s family were unable to attend, we were very happy to have four Sisters from the Community of Jesus’ Compassion in KZN with us for this joyful occasion. It was also good to have Max, an Associate of Holy Cross, and his wife Ellen, with us from Canada, having been visiting family in Cape Town.

Br Robert James preached and received Br Mpumelelo’s vow. The text of Br Robert’s sermon can be found here. We give thanks to God that all three of our novice monks have now persisted to profession, as we continue to appreciate the various ways in which they have enriched our community life and witness through their presence.

January/February 2025 News – Initial Profession of Br Mpumelelo Khambule OHC Read More »

Sermon for the initial profession of Br Mpumelelo – by Br Robert James

Scripture Readings for the Feast of the Presentation

Just as I was beginning to work on this sermon, an old friend said, “I feel as if I have dropped into my own life, and it fits.” He went on to say that it was more about what was happening within him than what was happening around him. It made me smile. It was such a great description of what we all want to be able to say. There are moments in our lives when our senses awaken and open to a greater reality, a larger world, a more whole life. Those are the moments when our seeing gives way to recognition and acknowledgement of a deeper longing and more profound reality. They are the moments of meeting, moments when divinity and humanity touch, and heaven and earth are joined. That’s what this day, the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, is about. It’s about presence and longing. We’ve all had those moments when we were fully present, acknowledging that somehow all the pieces of our life fit with an integrity and authenticity and a reality greater than the circumstances of the moment. We’ve all had those moments, even if only briefly. And it was because of such a moment that Mpumelelo requested to make his Initial Profession. In those moments we are living today’s Feast, and we catch a glimpse of what all those present experienced. 

Sermon for the initial profession of Br Mpumelelo – by Br Robert James Read More »

December 2024/January 2025 News

We are pleased to confirm that our Br Mpumelelo was formally approved for Initial Profession. We look forward to the ceremony on 1 February when he will make the monastic vow for a period of three years. Please keep Br Mpumelelo in your prayers as he prepares for this significant commitment. He has just returned from making his pre-profession retreat.

December began and ended with initial visits from two men whom Br Luc has been accompanying as they try to discern a possible vocation with our monastic community. Actually being present to our life here, praying with us, sharing meals and conversations, is of course a very important aspect of this discernment.

December 2024/January 2025 News Read More »

April 2024 News – Initial Profession of Br Josias Morobi OHC

The highlight of the past month for us once again was an Initial Profession of the Monastic Vow, this time by our Br Josias. Having two such happy occasions in a little over a month was a rare delight for the monastic community. Br Josias’ Profession took place during a noon Eucharist in the Volmoed chapel on Saturday 27 April, celebrated as Freedom Day in South Africa, this one marking the 30th anniversary of the first democratic elections in the country. For Br Josias, it also meant embracing a different expression of freedom.

April 2024 News – Initial Profession of Br Josias Morobi OHC Read More »

March 2024 News – Initial Profession of Br Aelred Edwin Kriel OHC

The highlight of the past month for us was certainly the Initial Profession of the Monastic Vow by Br Edwin, who has taken the religious name Br Aelred, by which he is now becoming known to us. The happy occasion took place during a noon Eucharist in the Volmoed chapel on Saturday 23 March. Having completed his novitiate, Br Aelred committed himself to live according to the threefold monastic vow of stability, conversion, and obedience, for an initial period of three years. Many of those from his family and friends in Worcester and other parts of the Anglican Diocese of False Bay, as well as from the Volmoed community, who had been present just over a year before to witness his Clothing as a Novice of the Order, were there to witness this joyful commitment. In addition to affirming his own sense of vocation to monastic life, and the fulfilment that comes from living into that vocation, Br Aelred has strengthened the life and witness of the monastic community, by adding his own presence to the variety of ways in which we pray and hope that God’s love will be made known through us. Br Scott preached the sermon at Br Aelred’s profession, the text of which can be found here.

March 2024 News – Initial Profession of Br Aelred Edwin Kriel OHC Read More »

Scroll to Top