Growing in Fraternity and Mission: The 2025 Carmelite-Anglophone Second Novitiate in Dodoma
22/10/2025

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Growing in Fraternity and Mission: The 2025 Carmelite-Anglophone Second Novitiate in Dodoma

From July 19th to September 20th, 2025, the Carmel Prayer House in Dodoma, Tanzania became a place of grace, growth, and renewal for the brothers preparing for solemn profession. The Common Second Novitiate of the English Conference of OCD–Africa was not simply a program; it was a living encounter with God and with one another — a time when prayer deepened, fraternity flourished, and the Carmelite spirit shone with renewed vigor.

This two-month journey gathered brothers from different circumscriptions and cultures across Africa. Despite their diversity, they quickly formed one community united by the same call: to live “in allegiance to Jesus Christ” through the way of Carmel. Together they prayed, studied, reflected, and shared life, embodying the values that mark the Carmelite vocation — contemplation, fraternity, and service in the midst of the people of God.

Each day unfolded as a balance of silence and communion. The mornings began with the rhythm of the Divine Office and the Eucharist, drawing the brothers into the mystery of God’s presence. The days were filled with sessions that touched the heart and mind alike — exploring Carmelite spirituality, the history of the Order, human and psycho-spiritual development, the vows, and the role of Carmel in mission today. The facilitators, drawn from different circumscriptions, offered profound insights that connected the timeless wisdom of Carmel with the challenges of the modern world.

The hosting community at Carmel Prayer House offered remarkable hospitality. Their attention to the brothers’ needs — from nourishing meals to comfortable facilities and a prayerful atmosphere — made Dodoma a true home. The setting itself, quiet and luminous, invited contemplation and gratitude.

Moments of recreation and fraternity complemented the intense spiritual journey. Celebrations of birthdays, cultural nights, and local outings revealed the beauty of unity in diversity. Encounters with local parishes and youth groups gave the brothers a taste of the missionary heart of Carmel — prayer that leads to service, contemplation that overflows into compassion.

As the program concluded, a profound sense of thanksgiving filled every heart. The brothers departed not only with deeper theological understanding but also with renewed conviction to live their Carmelite vocation with fidelity and joy. The Second Novitiate became a sacred bridge — between formation and mission, between promise and profession.

This experience stands as a sign of the vitality of Carmel in Africa. It reminds us that the future of the Order depends not only on numbers or structures but on the quality of hearts formed in prayer, community, and love. The spirit of Dodoma 2025 continues to echo in the lives of the brothers, a testimony that Carmel remains young, alive, and ever open to the transforming grace of God.

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