First Profession Ceremony in Sri Lanka
Seven young novices professed on March 16th their first vows as Marist Brothers at the Tudella Novitiate Chapel, in Sri Lanka. The new brothers are: Manecas Dos Santos, Dedimo Soares, Edgar Da Costa Salgueiro, Simon Mandoça Maia, from Timor Leste, Province of Star of the Sea; Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Nguyen Van Ky (from Vietnam) and Perch Reun, the first Marist Brother from Cambodia in the history of the Institute, from the Marist District of Asia. Br. Canisio Willrich, Superior of the Marist District of Asia, received the vows of the new brothers on behalf of Superior General.
The celebration was a truly international affair with brothers and novices from Sri Lanka, Brazil, Australia, Spain, French Canada, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, and Bangladesh in attendance. Many other religious, friends of the community, local Marist Brothers, and members of the Champagnat Marist group joined with them for the celebration.
During the ceremony, three young brothers from the South Asia Province also renewed their vows (Sasmika, Anthony and Sujith).
In the evening the community had a celebratory meal together and Br Paco García, the novice master, facilitated a period of reflection. Each of the seven newly professed brothers spoke to the community about some of their most significant experiences during the last two years. This honest sharing focussed on the joys, challenges, doubts, and the faith that brought them to this day with the support of their formators: Br. Real Sauvageau and Paco García (Marist District of Asia), Br. Rod Thomson (Star of the Sea Province), Br. Shanthi Liyanage (South Asia Province).
Talking about the seven brothers, Br Darren Burge, representing the Province of Star of the Sea in the ceremony, said: “it is remarkable to witness something like this when you consider that they are all from evolving Marist communities of small numbers of brothers and unknown futures. It was a good reminder of the challenges that Marcellin must have faced as he brought to life and shaped the fledgling Marist Brothers over two hundred years ago… It causes me to reflect on many of the joys and challenges that we have in the Star of the Sea Province. With faith, and the support of Mary, remarkable things can be achieved.”
Marist International Novitiate – Tudella
Currently, there are 5 novices from the first year who will move on to the second year of novitiate: three are from the Marist District of Asia, one from the South Asia Province and one from the Star of the Sea Province. On the other hand, 4 or 5 new novices will begin their first year, and they will join the novitiate the first week of May.