On 12 June 2026, the Pedro Arrupe Community Chapel at Mwangaza Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Nairobi became a place of thanksgiving and celebration as Fr Francis Anyanzu, SJ and George Macharia, SJ pronounced their Final Vows in the Society of Jesus. The solemn occasion coincided with the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a feast of special significance in the Jesuit tradition.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Fr Kizito Kiyimba, SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits of Eastern Africa. Joining the two Jesuits in this joyous occasion were family members, representatives of Major Superiors, friends and benefactors of the Society of Jesus, members of the Hekima Community and College faculty, and many other well-wishers who gathered in prayer and support.
In his homily, Fr Kiyimba reflected on the theme, “The Heart of Things is the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” inviting those present to embrace the Ignatian call to seek and find God in all things. He observed that the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart occupies a special place both in the life of the Church and in the spirituality of the Society of Jesus, noting that the two Jesuits had chosen well the day on which they would “lay their hearts bare before God and the Church, in a final and definitive way.” He reminded the congregation that God’s love always precedes human commitment and that every vocation is, first and foremost, a response to God’s enduring fidelity.
Drawing from the Scriptures and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the Provincial emphasized humility, love, and prayer as indispensable foundations for Jesuit life and mission. Addressing the two men directly, he observed that their final profession did not mean being “cut loose from
prayer,” but rather being “definitively claimed as men moved by prayer.” He encouraged them to remain rooted in the Holy Spirit and to carry Christ’s love to the world, especially to the marginalized and those on the peripheries.
Fr Kiyimba further reflected on the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, describing them as a response to being first loved and claimed by the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He prayed that Fr Anyanzu and Fr George Macharia would continue to live fruitful lives and ministries, firmly anchored in Christ and dedicated to the service of faith and the promotion of justice.
The celebration also provided an opportunity to appreciate the unique journeys and apostolic contributions of the two Jesuits. Fr Francis Anyanzu, SJ, who hails from Moyo District in Uganda, entered the Society of Jesus in 1999 after his studies at St. Thomas Aquinas National Major Seminary, Katigondo. Over the years, he has served in various apostolic ministries, including pastoral and educational work in South Sudan. His ministry has been marked by a commitment to accompanying vulnerable communities and fostering human development.
Fr George Macharia , SJ, fondly known as “Fr Mash,” was born in Murang’a, Kenya, and entered the Society of Jesus in 2006. An accomplished scholar and educator, he holds qualifications in Chemistry and Education, Philosophy, Educational Administration, and Sacred Scripture. At Hekima University College, he has served in several capacities, including Dean of Students, Registrar of Academics, Director of Linkages, and Lecturer in Classical Languages and New Testament Studies. Through his ministry and leadership, he has contributed significantly to the intellectual and spiritual formation of students and the advancement of Jesuit higher education in Africa.
The profession of Final Vows marks a significant milestone in the life of a Jesuit, signifying his definitive incorporation into the Society of Jesus after years of spiritual, intellectual, and apostolic formation. For Fr Francis Anyanzu, SJ and George Macharia, SJ, the celebration represented both a culmination and a new beginning—a renewed commitment to place their lives entirely at the service of God and His people.
As the assembly departed from the Pedro Arrupe Community Chapel, hearts were filled with gratitude and hope, entrusting the newly professed Jesuits to the loving embrace of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the mission entrusted to the Society by the Church.
Inspired by the witness of Fr Francis Anyanzu, SJ and George Macharia, SJ? Young men discerning a vocation to religious life are encouraged to prayerfully consider joining the Society of Jesus. For more information or to get in touch with the Vocation Director of the Jesuits of Eastern Africa, visit the Jesuit website at https://www.jesuits.global and take the first step in discovering how God may be calling you to serve.
Geoffrey Obatsa
Admin Assistant, JHIA
