“It wasn’t until I returned home and told my mom about arriving at the Novitiate unannounced, receiving the kind of welcome reserved for old friends, that I truly appreciated how much Holy Cross values community. And how much being surrounded by that community at Notre Dame and in Fort Portal has changed me for the better,” writes ND Senior David Mahin of his unscheduled visit to the Holy Cross Novitiate in East Africa. Read More

“As my time here comes to a close, I am profoundly grateful for this year of grace,” writes Mr. Mark DeMott, C.S.C., who has been on a pastoral internship in East Africa this past year. “The beautiful, slow, free way of life here has begun to soak into my soul. I’ve learned to sit in the stillness and listen for God’s presence, invitation, and activity in my midst. ... My journey toward God will be forever bound up with the people of East Africa.” Read More

“Somehow, I imagine that Lent will be a bit different here,” writes Seminarian Mark DeMott, C.S.C., from Holy Cross Lake View Secondary School in Uganda. “For the people of Uganda, meals are generally very simple – and almost always meatless.  At school, we eat posho, (imagine day-old Cream of Wheat that has solidified after a day in the refrigerator), rice, beans and bitter greens on a daily basis.  Perhaps most noticeably, almost everyone here can be considered to be ‘in need.’  … What is the place of fasting in a place like this?  What is the place of sacrifice?” Read More

“In a rapidly developing world, mountains remain secluded, mysterious places,” writes Mr. Mark DeMott, a seminarian from Moreau on a ministry placement in East Africa this year. “Severe weather makes their majestic peaks uninhabitable, yet we still have a desire to climb them.  Something draws us there!  Reaching toward the heavens yet covered in clouds, our tradition of faith portrays mountains as the dwelling place of God.”

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“Carrying heavy loads is a daily task in East Africa. Overloaded pickup trucks struggle to move along washed-out dirt roads,” writes Holy Cross Seminarian Mark DeMott, C.S.C., from his pastoral year. “In conversations with my students, I am reminded that these burdens that I see are only a shadow of the burdens that the East African people carry within their hearts.” Read More

"The Year of the Brother seems to be a fitting title for my year in East Africa,” writes Holy Cross seminarian Mr. Mark DeMott, C.S.C., from his pastoral year in the District of East Africa. “For the first time since coming to Holy Cross, I live in a community of brothers.  I see the ways that they are in relationship with their students, their teachers and their neighbors.  I see their witness as educators in the faith.  I see their commitment to single-hearted intimacy with God.” Read More

"One of the best years of my life was spent at our Holy Cross Novitiate in the mountains of Cascade, Colorado," writes Mr. Mark DeMott, C.S.C. "Often, I wish I had another day to spend there! And when I reached Lake Saaka [where the Holy Cross Novitiate in East Africa is located], I felt like I had come home." Read More

Today's blog post comes from Mr. Mark DeMott, C.S.C., our Holy Cross Seminarian in East Africa. Read about his adventures and reflections of life in East Africa. Our village of Wanyange offers beautiful views of Lake Victoria. As we make our way to Mass (at Holy Cross Parish in nearby Bugembe) early in the morning, a magnificent sunrise reflects off of the water. Read More

Mr. Mark DeMott, C.S.C., who just completed his second year of temporary vows, is working in our District of East Africa, including teaching at Holy Cross Lake View Secondary School.  To kick off his monthly spot for us, Mark shares with us the rewards of embracing the unexpected. Read More

Today, on another continent, we celebrated the final profession of five of our religious from the District of East Africa. With the Rev. David T. Tyson presiding, Changwe Constantine, C.S.C., Macharia Timothy, C.S.C., Mbusa Vicent, C.S.C., Muhindo Luke, C.S.C., and Tumwine Patrick, C.S.C., professed forever the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to the Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross.In a Spes Unica blog exclusive, we share with you today the homily given by Fr. Tyson at the Mass. Read More

Approaching the end of his first year in East Africa, Fr. Pat Neary, C.S.C., reflects in his blog post this month on ten simple lessons he has learned from his life and ministry there – ten simple lessons he says are “not so much lessons as reminders.” Read More

Almost nine months into his assignment as rector of our seminary in Kenya, Fr. Pat Neary, C.S.C., reflects quite insightfully for us in his blog this month on what it means to be a missionary today. It is well worth the read … Read More

Although the Christmas season officially came to an end last week, Fr. Pat Neary, C.S.C., takes us back one last time in his post this month to that great feast as he shares with us about his first Christmas in Africa, having become superior of our seminary there. Read More

Fr. Pat Neary, C.S.C., sent his latest post about his missionary adventures in East Africa. Today's is a real adventure as he shares about the trials - and the graces - of the government's forced demolition of our seminary in Kenya. Please keep him and our seminary community in your prayers. Read More

Today, we take a look Kitete and Kambi ya Simba Parishes in Tanzania to get a glimpse of parish life there. Fr. David Eliaona, C.S.C., one of the parochial vicars, invites us into the real adventure of life in this African parish. Read More

Today we continue our week highlighting our Holy Cross mission in East Africa.  Today we take a look at education as a part of that mission, focusing on Holy Cross Lakeview, a secondary school founded by Holy Cross in Jinja, Uganda.  Bro. Alan Harrod, C.S.C., a missionary to East Africa, shares the amazing story of the school with us. Read More

Fr. Pat Neary, C.S.C, continues his posting for us from his missionary work in our seminary in East Africa.  Today he shares the moving vocation story of one of our recently ordained priests there. Read More

Fr. Pat Neary, C.S.C., continues to share with us in his monthly series his adventures as a newly minted missionary in Africa.  Today, this Indiana native relates to us the lesson he received when applying for his driver's license. Read More

After ten years working at Moreau Seminary, Fr. Pat Neary, C.S.C., answered the call in June to become rector of the Holy Cross Formation House in Nairobi, Kenya. In this series, “Into Africa,” Fr. Pat will chronicle his missionary adventures with Holy Cross in East Africa. In this first installment, Fr. Pat shares how this Indiana native providentially wound up in Africa in the first place. Read More