Living the spirit of the Hermitage

At this time of the year there is a happy tradition of celebrating the ceremony of the beginning of the Novitiate in Medellin (Colombia) on the patronal feast of this house that is named the Brother François Novitiate. This year the Novitiate has welcomed novices from the Provinces of Norandina, América Central and Canada ? Haiti Sector.

On the morning of the 22nd January, during the celebration of the Eucharist, seven young men: three from Haiti, one from Ecuador and three from Colombia, started their canonical Novitiate, taking an important step in following their Lord in their Marist vocation. Another group of eight young men: two from Haiti, two from El Salvador and four from Colombia complete the community in the second year of the Novitiate accompanied by their formators: Brothers Ramón Benseny (Norandina), Hipólito Pérez (América Central) Gilles Hogue (Canada-Haiti) and Geovanni Velasco (Norandina). A magnificent community of nineteen brothers!

Brother César Roja, Vice-Provincial, and Delegate of the Brother Provincial, admitted these young men in joy and hope and invited them on behalf of Brother Laurentino Albalá, Provincial, and of the Provinces of Norandina, América Central and Canada ? Haiti Sector, to enter this process deeply and generously, following Mary?s example, to relive the spirit shared by the early brothers and Father Champagnat while they were building the Hermitage.