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Cedara is a place where St. Joseph's Scholasticate is found. It is around Hilton in Pietermaritburg (RSA). St. Joseph's is a formation and academic place and it is at this place where we continue with the journey to priesthood and religious life. To know more about it, visit St. Joseph's Website.

Cedara 2004

My year here at Cedara began on a good note. St. Joseph's Oblate Scholasticate is quite big; 57 members including formators. And I live in O'leary house; one of the five houses which make the larger community. We are 10 scholastics in O'learly house of which six are doing first year of philosophy and four are doing second year of philosophy. The moderator of the house is Father Calistus.

My academic year began on February 5 with orientations followed by St. Joseph's Theological Institute picnic on February 7, 2004. February 9, 2004, marked the first day of lectures in the first semester. We are 45 first year students of philosophy and divided in two classes: 22 in 1A , which is my class and 23 in 1B. Otherwise there are 203 students at the Institute.

In the first semester, I had six courses namely; Introduction to Philosophy, History of Ancient Philosophy, Logic, General Ethics, Philosophical Anthropology and Language Rhetoric & Study skills (LRSS). I found the courses very interesting and opening to the whole new way of looking at things. I liked all the courses but my favourite ones were Philosophical Anthropology, Logic and Ethics. It was quite challenging and demanding especially coming from the novitiate but as time went by, I got used to the whole set up. Besides academic studies at the Institute, I joined the AIDS Action group. We do give talks to secondary and primary school students.

I managed to settle down at the scholasticate with the help of my spiritual director, Father James and my guardian angel Bro. Festus Zulu, OMI. Zulu helped me a lot in organising my room and just getting used to the premises. I thank these people very much. Otherwise the first semester went on well and time past very quickly. I wrote my examinations at the end of the semester and did well. In the cause of the semester I had a short break at the end of first term, breaking for Easter. It was a good break. On Easter Monday, I went to Durban at the beach for an outing organised by the oblate community.

From June 18 to August 2, I had my winter break. It started with community service in preparation for the Oblate Formation Congress. During the time of the congress, I went to Durban with some scholastics for a break and were residing at Glenmall Pastoral centre. I had a good rest as well as having a nice time visiting around, especially at the beach. There were a number of activities going on at the beach for Vodacom Winter Festivals. It was nice. My 10 days elapsed and it was time to come back to the scholasticate. Shortly after arriving, I had my annual retreat at Coollock House, Portsherpstone in Marianhill Diocese. It was really a time to see in the light of Christ how my stay has been and to thank God for the graces and blessings showered upon me. After the retreat, I had to put myself together, getting ready for second semester which also is divided in two terms.

Third term began on August 2. There were changes in my courses and lecturers. I now have seven courses; Introduction to Mediaeval Philosophy, Philosophy of Nature, Sociology, Applied Ethics, Epistemology, continued with Philosophical Anthropology and Language Rhetoric Study Skills (LRSS). The semester is shorter, therefore, as soon as the term started, assignments began to flow. September 17, marked the end of third term and I had a 10 days break. It was a good time though just to catch up with assignments. Fourth term came and really time is flowing very fast. Examinations begin on November 15, 2004 and then the semester will end with a Thanks giving celebration on November 26. I leave for Zambia on the same evening.

My life here at Cedara has been quite balanced. I go to the gymnasium once in a while, play soccer in all stars, which is the community's team B and have manual work as well. In all this, spiritual direction, spiritual conferences, monthly retreats and the annual retreat played a major role in my formation and religious life. Academic wise, I found the courses enlightening and there are very good. Otherwise, I am doing fine, managed to settle in well in the bigger community and feel much at home.