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The Call | The Process | Requirements | Contact Information Holy Cross Vocations Holy Cross is an international religious congregation of Priests and Brothers who live with a family spirit and serve the Church with special attention to the needs of the poor. Following the desire of Father Moreau, all three groups, priests, sisters and brothers live and work together wherever possible. Holy Cross Brothers and Priests form one single community of friendship and service; working together as teachers, pastors, chaplains, development workers, and retreat directors. Most serve in their own countries, though some are missionaries in other lands. Our motto is "Spes Unica", the Cross is our Hope. A call to religious life is a search for a deep permanent relationship with God in service to others. This call becomes clear as one grows more deeply in knowledge of self and in skills for leadership in the Church. The Holy Cross Community provides the following programs of religious formation for those who wish to discern their call. Candidacy: The first step in the formation of a Holy Cross Father or Brother is to enter the Candidate Program located in Jinja, Uganda. The program lasts three years, during which time the candidate resides at the Holy Cross Formation House in Bugembe Parish, Jinja. Here they will undertake a course of religious, philosophical and social studies at the nearby Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre. The purpose of this program is to help one decide if God is calling him to religious life in Holy Cross, and to begin a transition to religious life while pursuing an education that will prepare him to become a leader in the Church.
Novitiate: After completion of candidacy, Holy Cross students enter the Novitiate at Lake Saaka, near Fort Portal, Uganda. This is an intensive year of community learning devoted to development in prayer, growth in self understanding, and study of Holy Cross history and traditions. The novice is a new member of Holy Cross. Post Novitiate: At the end of the novitiate year a novice is invited to pronounce his first vows. After the novitiate year, brothers and seminarians who have pronounced vows are called "professed" religious. They complete their studies while living in a common formation house. This prepares them for Final Vows and ministry. Those studying for Priesthood attend Tangaza College in Nairobi, Kenya for four years of Theology. Successful completion of the program leads to Final Vows and Deaconate. Those preparing for Brotherhood pursue professional degree or certificate studies in Nairobi in line with ministry goals and service opportunities in education, catechetical work, health care, and management needs of the Church. They make Final Vows and begin full time ministry. The three vows of Poverty, Celibacy and Obedience, renewed each year until the completion of preparation for ministry, give concrete direction to the life of the new religious and help him to grow in generous service to all. At some time before final vows, each religious spends a year living in a Holy Cross community and serving at one of our mission in Uganda, Kenya, or Tanzania. Application:
Academic: Successful completion of secondary school with results that merit entrance to university level education. In Uganda/Tanzania: O Level: 30 (or below) Aggregate: with 6 Credits (including English) A Level: 2 Principle Passes and 1 Subsidiary Pass including a Pass in General Paper In Kenya: C Average overall with a C+ in English Holy Cross Priests and Brothers. Contact with the Holy Cross Vocation Director should begin in the fourth year of secondary school if possible. Formation application will be invited at the beginning of the final year of secondary or higher.
Director
of Vocations Holy Cross Sisters. Having the same founder and spirit of ministry as the Holy Cross Fathers and Brothers are the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Holy Cross women and men seek to collaborate in ministry wherever possible. Women interested in joining the Sisters of the Holy Cross can write to:
Director
of Vocations Email: cscsrsfortportal@infocom.co.ug
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