You Are Viewing Saku's Cedara 2005 Story Page!

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. Let us proceed with the journey in my second year at St. Joseph's.

Cedara 2005

2004 had been a transitional �crisis'. By �crisis' I mean a dangerous opportunity, as chinese defines it. It was a difficult year but with growth opportunities, therefore, I describe it as �transitional crisis' because of what I went through in moving from Novitiate to the Scholasticate, from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg. Anyway, the crisis mentioned should be perceived in a positive sense. Overview, it was a very good year.

Coming into 2005, I thought it would be much easier since I am now so used to the place and system at Cedara. However, I have come to the realisation that �crisis' is in every stage of life. I had to adjust to a larger community once again after living in small communities during my December 2004 pastoral and vacation. I had to get used to another group of scholastics: those coming back from regency, a big number coming for the first time from our two Novitiates (Namibia & Johannesburg) and one from Germany coming for some kind of pastoral. Besides, there has been a change also with the superior of the scholasticate, we now have Fr. Vusi.

I did not have to move from my previous house O'leary and was elected co-ordinator of that house. We are ten in the house; three old scholastics and seven new ones. It has been a good community so far and as a co-ordinator, I have found the support and co-operation I need from everyone. The moderator of the house is Fr. Paul, who is as supportive as the previous moderator, Fr. Calistus. We have a program similar last year's: coming together for meetings and night prayers on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednseday. For the rest of the days, night prayer is in private and not optional.

As far as pastoral is concerned, ten of us (though not from one house like last year) go to Sunfield home on Sunday afternoons. It is a whole different experience from what I had at Umngeni hospital. All the same, they are homes for mental and physical challenged people.

During the course of the first semester, some scholastics (of which I am one of them), organised a fundraising venture for our computer room. We made a number of shows in Durban, perfoming the play �Murder In The Cathedral'. It earned us a good sum of rands that with the help of the community, we managed to get ten new computers.

Academic wise, I was doing six courses in the first semestor namely; Metaphysics, Psychology I, Phenomenon of the Symbol, History of Modern Philosophy, Cultural Anthropology and pedagogy and communications. In preparation for my diploma research paper, I as well attended some lectures on how to go about reseach and all that goes with it. I wanted to reseach on Freedom: Looking at whether a human being is free to choose and act without any influence from society, body, religion and ethics.

There has been a shift from the previous year's academic program because the Institute has been recognised and given a full registration by the government of South Africa. For more information on this visit the Institute site. Generally, the first semester went well and I enjoyed all my courses but especially metaphysics and psychology. I also had a chance to do a short winter course in html though this was already after the end of the semester.

Second semestor went so fast and I was quite busy. I had four courses to do, Philosophy of Religion, Contemporary Philosophy, African Philosophy and Themes in Islam. I also continued with my research paper which I finally finished. Otherwise all went well despite having a lot to do. I have now finished my Diploma two year programme.