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Our Entry into the Novitiate -Novice Dominic Soren

Every action begins with a dream and every dream is fulfilled with an action.

The long cherished dream of following Christ, in the foot-steps of St. Francis struck a chord of joy and gladness as we awaited eagerly for our day of entry into the novitiate. The Lord literally gathered us all from different part of our country into the cradle of our Franciscan dream, Palamaner on different dates in Maya 2021. It was a risk-taking journey for all us at the moment the pandemic was at its peak. After the days of quarantine were over for us, the Novice Master Friar Charles Arulanandam announced the date of our Entry into the novitiate as 9th of June 2021. We were filled with joy at the announcement. We had a day of preparation by way of recollection animated by Friar Peter Saleth. His short talk gave us enthusiasm and courage to follow Christ and enter into the life of Novitiate.

On the 9th of June, at 06.00 pm, we sixteen of us gathered at the novitiate entrance before the closed doors waiting to knock at the door. Our every heartbeat sounded the words of Christ, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions give them to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, then come, follow me.”(Mt.19:21). As one of us knocked at the door, the Guardian Friar Roobandoss opened the door and greeted and welcomed us warmly into the novitiate. We proceeded to the Main Chapel in procession singing the hymn ‘Come build my Church.’

The second chapter of the Later Rule was read and the Guardian gave a short exhortation to the novices and the community of the disposition needed to have during the novitiate formation and the role of the friars in the community. Then a short explanation of the Habit was read by one of the novices. Then the Guardian blessed the habits and the cord with a short prayer. Friar Charles, the Novice Master gave us the habits and the Damiano Crosses. We received the habits and got vested and entered the chapel with deep joy as the choir sang, the hymn in love and affection “Be strengthened my brothers.”

After a brief moment of silence, the evening prayer began. After the Scripture Reading, the Guardian gave us the Book of the Rule and wished us peace and perseverance. We were welcomed into the Novitiate refectory by the Guardian and had a sumptuous meal at a healthy distance but in the warm company of our seniors keeping with the SOPs. After a few days, two more brothers (Dominic and Lenin) who were quarantined in keeping with the Covid-19 protocol, entered the Novitiate on 13th June following the same procedure. After our entry Friar Peter gave us a week of retreat that deepened our love for the Word of God and the joy of committing ourselves for the Mission of Christ).

We are grateful to God, to our parents and near and dear ones, and especially Fr. Praveen D’Souza, our Minister Provincial and the Council for accepting us to enter into the Order and all the Friars of the Community and the senior novices for making it a memorable event for us in our lives by praying for us and blessing us.

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