My Experience

At the Inter-Congregational Ongoing Formation (ICOF) Program

Bro. Joachim Naah

I arrived at the Canossa Spirituality Centre, Njiro, Arusha, Tanzania, on 7th January 2025. The Canossa Spirituality Centre accommodates ICOF. I was delighted to have the chance to participate in a Sabbatical Program after waiting a very long time.

It is an ongoing formation programme for priests and religious of all ages. The programme is designed to address issues related to personal growth and ministry. There were three options, depending on which cycle one chose. The Wholeness cycle began in January and finished in April. The Good Shepherd cycle started in April and concluded in July. The full cycle (including both of the above cycles) ran from January to July. I participated in the full cycle.

At ICOF, I had quality time to rest, pray, reflect on my life, and receive healing, and this was my wish when I arrived there. The environment at ICOF was serene and conducive to walking, interacting with nature, and also for rest, prayer, and reflection. The room was comfortable and clean. The food was good, and I had very good relationships with all the groups of people in the Centre. All this made me feel at home and helped me make the most of the available resources.

The modules helped me reflect on my life, both past and present, and I made some decisions to improve my life as a religious. I aimed to strengthen my relationship with God and also with people. I learnt to take better care of myself through modules such as Appreciative Discernment, Holistic Living (Self Care), Graceful Transitioning in Life, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Conflict Transformation, Grief, and the Inner Child. I now know better what to eat and drink, the appropriate quantities, the kind of friends to make and keep, and the physical exercises I should do. My understanding of self-awareness has improved, helping me better understand myself through modules such as Community Building, Capacitor for Resilience, Emotional Intelligence, Addiction, and Midlife Transition.

We participated in adoration of the Holy Eucharist, retreats, recollections, group processes, one-on-one co-journeying, Counselling sessions, and days of reconciliation. Among other things, these sessions helped me to forgive the past, accept the present, and think positively about the future. It was very heavy and painful at first. For many days, I struggled internally, fighting to forgive myself, those I felt hurt me, and even God. Letting go of bitterness and anger was extremely difficult. Thankfully, I was able to do so with God's grace and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Indeed, forgiveness is healing; it brings peace and renewal. When you forgive, you find inner peace and do yourself a great deal of good.

I realized that I enjoyed my religious life most of the time. A few years of challenges should not cloud or erode the joy of my religious life. There are more joyful moments to remember than challenges to think of. I have learnt to be resilient and to have the courage to accept and face challenges. I have come back with very good shock absorbers.

I recognise that every stage of life has its joys and challenges. Sometimes we appoint individuals to leadership roles without understanding their developmental challenges, and the leaders themselves may be unaware of them. They might be unknowingly lacking in certain areas. They may be doing their best as leaders, but their best might not always be sufficient. This is where understanding midlife transitions becomes essential. Knowledge of this helps me understand and appreciate both leaders and members of the congregation in different stages of development. Midlife transition is not only about people in their 40s and 50s; it concerns all members of the congregation across all age groups. The experiences and talents of individuals at various stages are meant to complement each other, not contradict.

As a religious, I believe community life is vital to fulfilling my mission. It is in the community that I receive support and encouragement. It is the community that helps me live faithfully in accordance with my commitment as a consecrated person. I know my boundaries and how to maintain them. I know what to choose and whom to keep as friends. I am aware of the people who understand my vocation. I know how to seek protection from the community and my friends. Above all, I know better self-discipline and how to access and use safety valves. I have learnt how to understand people who don’t understand me and how to live with the scandals of my community members and other religious.

I have chosen to pursue a religious path, which requires a transition in my life. The story of the rich young man, who was asked to give up his riches and follow Jesus, reminds me to accept the cross willingly. I understand that every choice I make comes with its own consequences. I need to let go of many things and make sacrifices. I have identified the key moments in my life and understand my current position, where I want to go, and the good and bad decisions I've made. This awareness helps me decide what choices to make in the future. I now have a clearer understanding of my values and desires, what I can contribute to the community, and what I can gain from it.

I thank God and everyone who prayed for me, encouraged me, and supported me in various ways during my sabbatical program.

(Bro. Joachim Naah is a member of Damongo community)