On August 21, 2026, two postulants of the congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, Albertina Nyangali and Vivian Aba-efaa were clothed as Novices during a Holy Mass prescided over by Rev. Fr. Anthony Damoah con-celebrated by His Parish priest Rev. Fr. Reuben Natuitey at Our Lady of the Annunciation Novitiate Nsoatre.
It was a day filled with joy, gratitude, prayer, and hope as two postulants of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ), Albertina and Vivian, took an important step forward in their journey of discernment and consecrated life.
The Clothing Ceremony marked their official reception into the Novitiate, a significant stage in their formation as they continue to discern and respond to God’s call. Surrounded by members of the Congregation and aspirants present , the two young women publicly expressed their willingness to continue the journey of discovering God’s will for their lives.
The atmosphere was one of celebration, yet it also carried a deep sense of reverence.
The ceremony reminded everyone present that a vocation to religious life is not merely a personal decision but a response to God’s invitation—a response that requires freedom, courage, trust, and generosity.
A Significant Moment of Grace
The Clothing Ceremony represented more than the receiving of a religious habit. It symbolized a new chapter in the lives of Albertina and Vivien.
Having journeyed through the earlier stages of formation and discernment, they were now being welcomed into the Novitiate, where they would enter a more profound period of prayer, reflection, spiritual growth, and preparation for consecrated life.
As they received their religious clothing, the moment became a visible expression of an interior desire: to give themselves more fully to God and to continue seeking His will for their lives.
For Albertina and Vivian, the ceremony was therefore both a celebration and a commitment to a deeper journey.
Responding to God’s Call Willingly
At the heart of the celebration was the message of the homily: God calls, but the response must be given willingly.
The homily invited Albertina and Vivian to reflect deeply on the nature of vocation. God’s call is an invitation to follow Him, not a force imposed upon anyone. The Lord speaks to the heart and invites the person to respond freely and generously.
The two postulants were encouraged to remember that their journey into religious life must always be rooted in a personal relationship with God. Their decision to enter the Novitiate should come from a sincere desire to know God’s will and to follow Him wholeheartedly.
The homily reminded them that saying yes to God’s call does not mean that the entire journey will always be easy. There may be moments of uncertainty, sacrifice, challenges, and questions. However, a willing heart remains open to God’s guidance and trusts that He will provide the grace needed for each step.
They were encouraged not to respond out of pressure, fear, expectations, or the desire to please others, but from a genuine conviction that God is inviting them into a particular way of life.
The Meaning of the Habit
They were presented with the habit of the congregation to remind them that they are now part of the HHCJ family though still in the process of discernment.
As clearly stated in the homily , Fr. Reuben stressed that the habit is an outward sign of their belonging to Christ and their association with the HHCJ family. Yet they were reminded that the true meaning of the habit goes beyond the clothing itself.
The habit should become a reminder of the commitment they are making and the values they are called to embody.
It calls them to live with humility, simplicity, purity of heart, obedience, charity, and a spirit of service. The beauty of the habit, therefore, must be reflected even more beautifully in the lives they lead.
The ceremony challenged Albertina and Vivien to allow the external sign of their new identity to correspond with an interior transformation.
Beginning the Novitiate
After they were beautifully clothed in their habits, the Provincial Superior, Sr. Judith Magbity HHCJ, presented the newly clothed to the novice Mistress Sr. Christiana Akoeso to journey with them in the discernment process.
The Novitiate is a privileged period to learn and to deepen ones relationship with God.
For Albertina and Vivian, this new stage will be a time to deepen their prayer life, study the spirituality and charism of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, grow in self-knowledge, learn more deeply about community life, and prepare themselves for the demands of consecrated life.
They will be accompanied by their formators and community as they continue to discern God’s plan for their lives.
A Call to Trust
The ceremony was also a reminder that vocation is a journey of trust.
God does not always reveal the whole road at once. Sometimes He reveals only the next step. The person called must therefore learn to walk by faith, trusting that God’s grace will accompany her.
Albertina and Vivian were encouraged to remain attentive to God’s voice and to allow themselves to be formed. They were reminded that formation requires openness, humility, patience, honesty, and willingness to change.
Their yes on this day was not the end of their discernment. Rather, it was another important step in a continuing journey of discovering God’s will.
A Celebration for the HHCJ Family
For the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, the Clothing Ceremony was also a moment of thanksgiving. The Congregation welcomed two young women who are willing to continue exploring their vocation and to embrace the spirituality and mission of the HHCJ family.
The presence of family members, friends, sisters, and well-wishers added to the joy of the occasion. Their support is important as Albertina and Vivien continue their journey.
The community was reminded that vocations need prayer and encouragement. The journey of a religious vocation is not undertaken by the candidate alone; it is accompanied by the prayers and support of the Christian community.
A New Chapter
As Albertina and Vivien officially entered the Novitiate, they began a new chapter marked by deeper prayer, formation, discernment, and preparation.
Their Clothing Ceremony was a visible sign of an invisible grace: two young women opening their hearts to God’s invitation and courageously taking another step toward discovering His plan for their lives.
May they continue to listen attentively to God’s voice, respond freely and generously, and remain faithful to the grace of their vocation.
May their journey in the Novitiate help them discover more deeply who they are, who God is calling them to become, and how they can serve Him and His people through the spirituality and mission of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus.
As they begin this new stage, the message of the day remains clear and powerful:
God calls, but the response must be willing.
May Albertina and Vivien continue to say yes—not only today, but each day, trusting in God’s grace and allowing Him to lead them wherever He calls.
By Sr. Victoria Lagbie HHCJ, (Sister Communicators Network Ghana- CASCON- GH)
