In a ceremony marked by profound joy and gratitude, the Jesuit community, Hekima University students, staff and invited guests gathered at the Hekima University College Chapel on the Solemnity of the Annunciation (March 25, 2026) to witness the final incorporation of Fr. Norbert Litoing, SJ into the Society of Jesus.
The event led by the Jesuits Eastern Africa (AOR) Provincial Very Rev. Kizito Kiyimba, SJ, celebrated a 24-year odyssey of formation that has taken Fr. Norbert from the villages of Cameroon to the halls of Harvard University, and finally back to the heart of African theological discourse.
A Life Mapped by Mission
The Rector of the Hekima Jesuit Community, Fr. Emmanuel Foro, SJ, opened the liturgy by tracing Fr. Norbert’s extensive journey. Born in 1981 in Benfua, Cameroon, Norbert entered the Society in 2002. His formation was a truly global endeavor:
- Philosophy: Kinshasa, DRC.
- Regency: Senegal, where he first engaged with Muslim-Christian dialogue.
- Theology: Hekima College, Nairobi.
- Advanced Academics: Master’s degrees from the University of Birmingham (UK) and Boston College (USA), culminating in a PhD from Harvard University specializing in Comparative Theology and Islam.
Despite this formidable academic pedigree, the day’s tributes focused not on his titles, but on his character.
“No Guarantees, Only Trust”
In a stirring and witty homily, Fr. Wilfried Okambawa, SJ, challenged the congregation to view religious life not as a contract, but as a “miracle of survival” and trust.
“There is no guarantee,” Fr. Okambawa remarked, referencing a humorous anecdote about a candidate seeking a “supermarket-style” warranty for his vocation. “The only guarantee is your word and the Word of God. We simply trust that you are of good will.”
He described Fr. Norbert as “not a normal man,” noting that only a “divine foolishness” would lead someone to embrace the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the modern world.
The Four Faces of Fr. Norbert
Deacon Camille Mukoso, SJ, representing the Maisha Community at Hekima Jesuits Community, where Fr. Norbert is the Community Animator, offered a touching tribute titled the “four faces” of Fr. Norbert:
- The Companion: A man who “draws near” quietly, noticing what others miss.
- The Priest: One who does not “perform” the Mass but “dwells” in it.
- The Mentor: A scholar who teaches so others may understand, rather than to showcase his own Harvard-honed intellect.
- The Bridge-Builder: A man whose commitment to interreligious dialogue is a “way of being,” not just an academic specialty.
Deacon Mukoso revealed a quirky detail that captured Fr. Norbert’s essence: his habit of watching football matches with the volume at zero. “Silence is not nonsense; it is a presence,” Mukoso observed.
Returning to Africa
Fr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, Principal of Hekima University College and a companion of Norbert since their novitiate days in Rwanda, highlighted Fr. Norbert’s decision to return to the continent.
“People at Harvard wanted to retain you there,” Fr. Uwineza told the congregation to a round of applause. “But you said, ‘Africa needs me more than this place.’“
Since January 2024, Fr. Norbert has served as the founding director of the Center for Interfaith Studies in Africa (CISA). His leadership was recently evidenced by local Muslim community members bringing gifts to the center to help the poor, a tangible sign of the bridges Fr. Norbert continues to build.
A Final “Yes”
The Provincial of the Eastern Africa Province, Fr. Kizito Kiyimba, SJ, officially received the vows. He teased Fr. Norbert about his deep immersion in Islamic studies: “I’ve always been in doubt, is this guy Catholic or Muslim? But now that you’ve taken vows, you’re inside!”
Closing the ceremony, Fr. Norbert spoke with characteristic humility, admitting his discomfort, not with the commitment of the final vows, but with his new formal shoes.
“I do not stand here considering the journey an achievement,” Fr. Norbert concluded. “It is a mystery of grace that continues to haunt me. Who am I, O Lord, that you have called me thus far?”
As Fr. Norbert begins his life as a fully incorporated Jesuit, he remains a “silent witness” in a noisy world, proving that the most profound dialogues often begin in the quietest of hearts.
By Pamela Adinda, HUC Communications & International Office
