LAY SPIRITAN ASSOCIATES (LSA)
There is an increased awareness among the confreres in the animation and
recruitment of Lay Spiritan Associates (LSA) and friends. Some zones and parishes
are more active; others are catching up. On 2 October 2025, 14 new LSA made an
act of commitment to the Congregation for 3 years renewable at Usa River parish
followed by 6 others in Monduli Juu parish. They join the pioneer group who made
the act of commitment in 2020. A group LSA from Uganda returned a visit to
Tanzania last October. We thank Fr Evod Shao, Victor Ashwa, Lucas Tilisho,
Mathew Igbawua, Daniel Kilala and other confreres who accompany them.
The Provincial Council had identified an accompanier for the LSA in the Province
(Bagamoyo II, 139-145). Unfortunately, the identified confrere has been called to
un urgent responsibility within the congregation.
Most of the LSA speak Kiswahili. All the resources we have for their formation are
in English language. We can’t thank enough Fr Joseph Lekundayo whose book
“Maswali 49 Kuhusu Shirika la Roho Mtakatifu” (49 Questions about the
Congregation of the Holy Spirit) has become very popular in the formation LSA.
We are equally grateful that Joseph Lekundayo and Philip Massawe have just
published a book in Kiswahili, “Mwanzo. Claude François Poullart des Places:
Mfahamu Mwanzilishi wa Shirika la Roho Mtakatifu,” (Knowing Our Origins:
Claude François Poullart des Places, Founder of the Congregation of the Holy
Spirit).
The Swahili version of the Guide for Lay Spiritan Associate was delayed because
we were waiting for the completion of the revised version from the Generalate.