Br. Isidro Azpeleta: 4 years as Master of the Novitiate in Cochabamba
Brother Isidro Azpeleta, from the Province of Santa Maria de los Andes, was the first Master of Novices at the Novitiate of Cochabamba, Bolivia, in the América Sur Region. During his period as master, from 2017, he strengthened the opportunities for listening to and accompanying the young novices. Brother Isidro tells us here about his experience of life in the novitiate.
“I have lived my mission as Master of Novices as a service to the South American Region and to the Congregation. This mission is filled with listening and humility, respect and empathy, generosity and dedication, presence and love for each novice who passed through our hands. A mission full of fidelity to the Congregation and to our own charism.
Today the mission of formation is incomprehensible without the experience of a “formation community” that feels formation as its own. Without Brothers S. Ferrarini, Rubens and Otalivio the formation of the Novitiate would have been too sterile. Teamwork is not always easy, but in my experience, it gives solidity, security, consensus and family spirit.
In these four years as formator in the Novitiate I feel that the 5 paths of the novices’ journey have been my own paths of personal growth. I now feel more human, more fraternal, more Marist, more spiritual, more available. These have been years of important self-development and self-care that have given vitality to the young novices.
For the experience lived in the Novitiate, I am immensely grateful to God and to the Brothers”.
Video: Vocación de Hermano Marista (H. Isidro Azpeleta)
The Champagnat Novitiate of the Region of América Sur, in Cochabamba, Bolivia, is a house of international formation where the young people of the Provinces of Brasil Centro-Norte, Brasil Centro-Sul, Brasil Sul-Amazônia, Cruz del Sur (Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) and Santa María de los Andes (Bolivia, Chile and Peru) begin their journey of consecrated life. The Regional Novitiate will begin in 2017 after the creation of the South American Region in 2016.
In 2021, because of the pandemic, the novitiate will begin on May 1 with 11 novices. Br. Rubens José Falqueto wll be the new Master.