19
Mar, Mar

It was a moment of great joy and pride for the India-Nigeria-England-Ireland Province of the Society of St Paul as four of our novices (John Chrispin, S.Ezekiel, Nelson Nova and Precious Stone) made their First Religious Profession. The Rite of the First Religious Profession took place during the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration on 31st May, 2016, on the Feast day of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in St Paul’s Parish Church, Bangalore. The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Rev Fr Michael Raj, the Provincial Superior and concelebrated by many Pauline and non Pauline priests. The celebration was also attended by the parents and relatives of the newly professed, sisters from the Daughters of St Paul, Pious Disciples of the Divine Master and from neighboring religious communities. In his homily, Fr Michael Raj, impressed upon the newly professed, the need to grow more in their intellectual, spiritual, communitarian and apostolic aspects of life. He reminded them that the seminary is not the place for any other learning or experience. Each person is unique in his talents, style and mode of communication and so be authentic persons and creative religious to fulfill the vision and mission of Blessed James Alberione. Br Ezekiel, on behalf of all the newly professed brothers, thanked everyone who helped them in their formation and growth and all those who made the day so meaningful and colourful.

The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a short felicitation programme in which the newly professed were felicitated by bouquets and presents. During the felicitation the annual journal of the Aspirants and Postulants, Navajyoti, was released. Fr Thomas M.J., the Director of Formation also made use of the occasion to present the revised edition of the Formation Iter, briefly explaining its content and exhorting all the formators to follow strictly those guidelines in the formation programme.