RICHARD MOHAMED MONKOH
My name is Richard Mohamed Monkoh. I came from a large family. My father is married to two wives. I am the second child of my father’s nine children. My father and mother are farmers. It is from their farming works that they take care of the whole family. My parents are Christians. They normally take their children to church. That helped to become Catholic because this is the church I saw my parents attending. But later I became personally more frequent to Church and eventually I was the first to be baptized. My younger brothers got also the interest to be baptized. They joined the catechumen classes and then they received the baptism. My Mother once joined the catechumen classes but she could not be baptized because of her marital status.
Now I am in the xaverian formation house in kissy- Freetown/ Sierra Leone; willing to become a xaverian missionary. The reasons why I would like to become a Xaverian missionary are many. I came to know the Xaverians on the 26th December, 2015 when I attended one of their “come and see”. There, I was told about the Charism of the congregation and from that time, I started having the interest of becoming a missionary.
As I was told about the founder St. Guido Maria Conforti, his life and works, these things inspired me. And I would like to follow his example in taking the gospel especially to non-Christians. Another aspect that I like from him is his will to make of the world a single family. This shows his love for the whole humanity. I would like to join the congregation in order to participate in making the world a single family.
I am also attracted by the xaverian lifestyle. Xaverians live and share things together. They care friendly for each other. I admire they simplicity. Since I was a child, I wanted to live a simple life. So I see that joining the congregation will help me to live this kind of life which I have always longed for. Xaverians are from different countries. There is no segregation among themselves. This shows their common interest in fulfilling their charism of making the world a single family and this you can see it from their way of life. I really admire that missionary style as it is expressed in xaverian communities. I am praying that the Almighty God may protect me throughout this journey so that my dreams may be fulfilled.
Even being a student, I have already started to see how a missionary life looks like. My small pastoral experience is helping me in this regard. Since I joined the formation house, I am assigned in St. Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church. I am in charge of the altar Servers. I take Communion to the sick and aged people. Sometimes I teach catechumen classes to couples preparing for baptism and marriage. I am always happy while carrying out these activities.
In my pastoral activities, I am more engaged with the Altar Servers trying to strengthen their spirituality and giving them instructions on what they have to do when they are on the Altar. I normally meet with them two times a week that is on Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, we practice how to serve and try to know all liturgical objects used on the Altar. I also provide them with basic knowledge about the liturgical calendar. On Sundays we focus more on the spiritual aspect, helping them to know more about the Eucharist and how it is important in our lives. These classes help them to find their vocation. Who knows, some of these Altar servers may later enter the Seminary or Convent.
There are sometimes challenges in carrying out these pastoral activities. Quite often, children come late for Classes and some of them are not punctual. Despite of these difficulties, I try to be patient and do all I can to keep this group running. Some of these Altar Servers are facing difficulties in their lives. My role is to encourage them and once they come to full knowledge of this, they become strong in faith. To change the lives of people is not an easy task especially when it comes to spiritual matter. The young people of our time are mainly attracted by worldly materials. So to bring them closer to Christ, we have to be perseverant. Whatever time it takes; I believe that there must be a time in which they will be fully inspired through the help of God. I would like to thank the Lord Almighty for granting me all these opportunities. Lord strengthen me in faith so that through me, I can help others to grow in faith.
My name is Richard Mohamed Monkoh. I came from a large family. My father is married to two wives. I am the second child of my father’s nine children. My father and mother are farmers. It is from their farming works that they take care of the whole family. My parents are Christians. They normally take their children to church. That helped to become Catholic because this is the church I saw my parents attending. But later I became personally more frequent to Church and eventually I was the first to be baptized. My younger brothers got also the interest to be baptized. They joined the catechumen classes and then they received the baptism. My Mother once joined the catechumen classes but she could not be baptized because of her marital status.
Now I am in the xaverian formation house in kissy- Freetown/ Sierra Leone; willing to become a xaverian missionary. The reasons why I would like to become a Xaverian missionary are many. I came to know the Xaverians on the 26th December, 2015 when I attended one of their “come and see”. There, I was told about the Charism of the congregation and from that time, I started having the interest of becoming a missionary.
As I was told about the founder St. Guido Maria Conforti, his life and works, these things inspired me. And I would like to follow his example in taking the gospel especially to non-Christians. Another aspect that I like from him is his will to make of the world a single family. This shows his love for the whole humanity. I would like to join the congregation in order to participate in making the world a single family.
I am also attracted by the xaverian lifestyle. Xaverians live and share things together. They care friendly for each other. I admire they simplicity. Since I was a child, I wanted to live a simple life. So I see that joining the congregation will help me to live this kind of life which I have always longed for. Xaverians are from different countries. There is no segregation among themselves. This shows their common interest in fulfilling their charism of making the world a single family and this you can see it from their way of life. I really admire that missionary style as it is expressed in xaverian communities. I am praying that the Almighty God may protect me throughout this journey so that my dreams may be fulfilled.
Even being a student, I have already started to see how a missionary life looks like. My small pastoral experience is helping me in this regard. Since I joined the formation house, I am assigned in St. Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church. I am in charge of the altar Servers. I take Communion to the sick and aged people. Sometimes I teach catechumen classes to couples preparing for baptism and marriage. I am always happy while carrying out these activities.
In my pastoral activities, I am more engaged with the Altar Servers trying to strengthen their spirituality and giving them instructions on what they have to do when they are on the Altar. I normally meet with them two times a week that is on Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, we practice how to serve and try to know all liturgical objects used on the Altar. I also provide them with basic knowledge about the liturgical calendar. On Sundays we focus more on the spiritual aspect, helping them to know more about the Eucharist and how it is important in our lives. These classes help them to find their vocation. Who knows, some of these Altar servers may later enter the Seminary or Convent.
There are sometimes challenges in carrying out these pastoral activities. Quite often, children come late for Classes and some of them are not punctual. Despite of these difficulties, I try to be patient and do all I can to keep this group running. Some of these Altar Servers are facing difficulties in their lives. My role is to encourage them and once they come to full knowledge of this, they become strong in faith. To change the lives of people is not an easy task especially when it comes to spiritual matter. The young people of our time are mainly attracted by worldly materials. So to bring them closer to Christ, we have to be perseverant. Whatever time it takes; I believe that there must be a time in which they will be fully inspired through the help of God. I would like to thank the Lord Almighty for granting me all these opportunities. Lord strengthen me in faith so that through me, I can help others to grow in faith.