Four young SMB missionaries have made their first promises in Zimbabwe, at the end of an introductory year marked by inner transformation, a call to simplicity, and a commitment to the poor. Through their testimonies, they share with us the living richness of Bethlehem spirituality.
One year ago, five young men from Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo began their novitiate year in Dreifontein, Zimbabwe, at the Formation House of the Missionaries of Bethlehem.
On April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, during the Mass celebrated in the SMB chapel in Dreifontein, four of the five novices made their first promises before the Superior General, Fr. Ludovic Nobel.
What’s next? In accordance with their formation path and the personalized approach, these young missionaries will now continue their journey: studies in philosophy or theology, missionary internships in an SMB mission country, and a gradual integration into regional community life.
To mark this fundamental step—the end of their “introductory year”—the new SMB members have agreed to share a personal reflection on this year of grace and transformation.
We asked them a simple question: “What have you received from this year, and what do you retain from SMB spirituality?” Here are their testimonies.
Lovemore Japi (Zimbabwe)
“I want to bring a living Christ to people, loving and attentive to their needs.”
For Lovemore, becoming a Missionary of Bethlehem means being a priest close to the poor and the oppressed, a “voice for the voiceless.” His vision of the Church is a living space for evangelization and social justice. He ardently desires to bring the living Christ to others through concrete acts of charity.
He acknowledges that this year transformed him—humanly, spiritually, and intellectually. He says he has grown in emotional maturity, developed greater objectivity, and learned to be guided by the Spirit rather than pride or greed. “Bethlehem spirituality helps me fix my gaze solely on God,” he summarizes.
Jean Luzolo (DRC)
“This year was marked by many changes, a true re-reading of my life in the light of the Gospel.”
Jean describes his novitiate year as a time of deep inner change. “I feel that I am a missionary within myself,” he writes. From Bethlehem spirituality, he retains fundamental attitudes: detachment, solidarity, simplicity, interiority, and a missionary spirit. He feels called to proclaim the Gospel to the poor, to live with them, and to witness through a caring and committed presence.
Jackson Mutua (Kenya)
“My Church is a Church without discrimination, where we are all children of God, equal in dignity.”
Jackson aspires to be a missionary of an inclusive Church, committed to social justice and close to the marginalized. He has learned to love a simple life, to detach from material possessions, and to live deeply in community brotherhood. For him, simplicity is not an abstract ideal but a lifestyle that frees him to serve.
His testimony also highlights the importance of authenticity: being true before God and before his brothers, accepting criticism, asking for forgiveness, and living truthfully. “Who we are speaks louder than what we say,” he affirms, citing a key principle of SMB spirituality.
Peter Kamau (Kenya)
“I am grateful for this year of holistic formation — intellectual, moral, physical, and spiritual. It led me on a path of introspection and transformation.”
For Peter, everything begins in Bethlehem: “It is where the Son of God was born, poor and insignificant in the world’s eyes, yet the bearer of salvation.” From this mystery, he draws the pillars of SMB spirituality: simplicity, obedience, humility, and self-giving. He feels called to engage with the marginalized and to live a life aligned with the Gospel.
He states he has received a holistic formation, impacting both his intellect and his spiritual and relational being. Above all, he retains the call to simplicity and service. “We must be the messengers who bring the lost sheep back to the flock,” he says.
Through their simple yet profound words, these young new confreres express a shared experience: Bethlehem spirituality is not a theory, but a way of life. It has helped them become more humble, more fraternal, and more missionary. As they prepare to continue their formation, they remind us that the true disciple of Christ is born, like Him, in the poverty of the manger and grows in the light of a life given for others.
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