Rev. Fr. Christian Nwekeh, CRS, Postulants’ Master of the Somascan Fathers at Enugu, Nigeria, has underlined the role of Catholic Formators, as people called to lead the formees to a loving encounter with God.
He made this known in a homily during the July 11, 2026 Holy Mass, to mark the Visit of Formators of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) Congregation, to their Novitiate at Trans-Ekulu, Enugu.
Reflecting on the First Reading of the Day from Isaiah 6:1-8, which providentially was a kind of vocation narrative underpinning the role of the persons in the Formation Ministry, the Priest stressed that Formators are not to chastise, but lead the formees who are discerning their vocations, to encounter God, who is the Holy of Holies, likening them to Isaiah, who was in a way discerning his vocation.
According to him, the Reading revealed how God calls, purifies, and sends his servants on mission, and could be understood in various dimensions, namely, the Holiness of God, which teaches that whenever the faithful gather for Mass, they should know that they are in the presence of a Holy God, and do so with “reverence, holiness, respect and comportment”.
In another dimension, Fr. Nwekeh called on all gathered, especially the formators, to do away with self-righteousness, and always recognize and acknowledge their shortcomings, struggles before God, just like Isaiah who recognized his nothingness before God, saying “Woe is me. I am lost…I am a man of unclean lips…”.
Reflecting on yet another dimension of the Reading, the Somascan Father underscored that the purification of Isaiah’s lips by the Seraph, using the burning coal, thus freeing him of all his sins, communicates that each time faltered humanity make deep reparation for sins committed, God always forgives.
“Again, it teaches us that God does not choose those who are qualified, perfect, but he perfects those he has chosen,” he added.
Buttressing further on the burning coal, with its excruciating nature, as the instrument used to purify Isaiah, the homilist maintained that formation, though not always easy should be seen as a period of purification.
Formators must however not seek to destroy or cause more harm to the formees, but correct and guide them gently, just like the Seraph who did not come to destroy the lips of Isaiah with the burning coal, but rather to purify it.
The Somascan Formator further reiterated that no one under formation is to be professed under duress, in alignment with the Code of Canon Law, Canon 1026, but with her free and full consent, making reference to God who after purifying Isaiah went ahead to seek his consent: Whom shall I send? rather than coercing him into the service.
Isaiah’s willing response: “Here I am, send me,” the Priest continued, is an invitation for all who are called upon to render any form of service in the Lord’s vineyard, not to give excuses, but respond in loving service, and the God of the vineyard will always be with them.
He urged the Formators to always see themselves as faithful stewards whom the Lord has placed in charge of others, and do their best in executing the Divine call.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana CASCONGH)
