Steenkamp urges new seminarians to serve as “beacons of hope” for Namibia

Remarks by Sanet Steenkamp, minister of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture, at the St Charles Lwanga Major Seminary graduation ceremony, Klein Windhoek, 27 November 2025

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Dear graduands,
A warm good morning.

Today is a day of deep joy for the church, for your families, for your communities and for our beloved Namibia. It is a privilege to stand with you as you reach this sacred milestone – the fruit of years of formation, perseverance, prayer and God’s unfailing grace.

At St Charles Lwanga Major Seminary, you did not merely study; you allowed yourselves to be shaped by Scripture, by discipline, by spiritual direction and by the demanding yet gentle work of the Holy Spirit. 

Your graduation is not only an academic achievement; it is a “yes” to a calling that reaches far beyond yourselves.

As a fellow Catholic and as minister of education, I offer my heartfelt congratulations and deep gratitude. Our nation is strengthened by men who choose service over self, and vocation over comfort. You are entering ministry at a time when many ask: Where do we find truth? Where do we find justice? Where is hope? And you, through your ministry, will become part of God’s answer.

You will be bearers of hope.
Hope that comforts.
Hope that speaks truth.
Hope that rebuilds what is broken.
Hope that uplifts communities and restores dignity.

Your calling is deeply aligned with this graduation theme: “Beacons of Hope: The Upliftment of Communities.”

Three dimensions of hope for your ministry

Hope rooted in Christ
Your first task is not to preach hope, but to receive hope from Christ himself. This hope is born in silence, in prayer and in fidelity to the Gospel. When Christ lives deeply within you, your very presence becomes a message: God has not forgotten His people.

I offer you St Paul’s blessing:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Carry this blessing with you, especially on difficult days, when hope must first be rekindled in your own heart.

Hope through compassionate presence
The communities you will serve – in rural outstations, busy towns, informal settlements and quiet villages – long not only for sermons, but for presence.

There is profound power in showing up.
In listening.
In blessing.
In accompanying a family through sorrow or celebrating their joy.

Your presence will whisper:
“God sees you. God knows you. God walks with you.”
And that alone uplifts communities in ways no programme ever could.

A personal reflection: a story of hope that formed me

Allow me to share briefly how two priests shaped my own life. Growing up in Karasburg, I witnessed how a priest’s quiet fidelity can mould a young heart. I remember Father Peter Graff and Father Edmund Fuchs of the Holy Trinity Parish – two men whose gentleness and devotion left a lasting imprint on me.

My mother and I would walk to church in the early morning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Though it was still dark, Father Fuchs would always open the small gate for us, welcoming us into the sanctuary. There we celebrated Holy Mass, singing hymns in English, Afrikaans and Nama. Those moments shaped my earliest understanding of the Eucharist: quiet, reverent, full of belonging, full of grace.

When Father Peter Graff passed away, I was in Standard 3. I cried with a child’s sincerity and depth. That grief taught me how profoundly a priest’s presence can touch a community – and how deeply his absence can be felt.

Later, as a student, Father Fuchs gave me something profoundly personal: his own wooden rosary, worn smooth from years of prayer. To this day, long after his passing, I still hold that rosary dear. It remains one of my most cherished treasures – a reminder of the hope, steadiness and humility a priest brings into the world simply by being faithful to his calling.

This is the quiet, steady hope that uplifts communities.
This is the witness you are called to give.

Hope through ethical and courageous leadership
Namibia needs leaders – including spiritual leaders – who stand for integrity, honesty, accountability and compassion. A priest of integrity becomes a living reminder that truth still matters, that goodness still inspires and that service still transforms.

You will be trusted voices in schools, in villages and in national life. As the education ministry, we affirm with gratitude that the Church remains a valued partner in nurturing a principled, resilient and hope-filled nation.

Allow me to leave you with the wisdom of St Francis de Sales:
“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”

Let this be the spirit of your priesthood.
Let gentleness draw people toward Christ, and let inner strength sustain you in every trial.
Let humility be your armour, compassion your language and integrity your compass.

Dear graduands, as you go forth, know that you do not walk alone. Your church stands with you. Your families stand with you. Your nation stands with you. And Christ goes before you.

May your priesthood shine with hope – steady, humble, courageous.
May your ministry uplift every community you touch.
And may you truly be beacons of hope for Namibia.

Congratulations, and may God bless you abundantly.

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