On 15 August 2026, the Parish Church of Kibiko joyfully celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which also became a significant occasion for the Claretian Missionaries. During the celebration, the Very Rev. Fr. Joy Mampallikunnel, CMF, Major Superior of the St. Charles Lwanga Independent Delegation, received the First Profession of Religious Vows of Claretian missionary novices coming from five different countries.
The celebration marked an important milestone in the lives of the newly professed missionaries, who committed themselves to following Christ in the footsteps of St. Anthony Mary Claret and to serving the Church and humanity through the Claretian missionary vocation. Adding a special missionary dimension to the celebration, three of the newly professed Claretians were assigned to the universal mission, with their missionary appointments taking them to Spain and Colombia. Their assignments reflect the international character of the Claretian missionary vocation and the call to make Christ known and loved in different parts of the world.
The occasion was filled with thanksgiving and joy as the Claretian family, together with the faithful, celebrated the young missionaries who have generously responded to God’s call. Their First Profession is not only a personal commitment but also a sign of hope for the future of the Claretian mission. The celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary therefore became a beautiful reminder that, through Mary’s example and intercession, the newly professed missionaries are called to continue saying “yes” to God and to carry the Gospel wherever they are sent.