Marist Novitiate of Save

The community of the Marist novitiate of Save, Rwanda, has had once more occasion to give glory to God for his blessings by sending more young men to continue the Marist mission in Africa and the world. In fact, on 14 December, three Malagasy postulants were accepted officially into the interprovincial novitiate of Save, Rwanda, to begin their novitiate formation. Their names are Raharinjatovo Hajarivony Olivier, Rakotonomenjanahary Francis Donah and Rasandratriniaina Lantohery Angelin. During the simple ceremony, the soutane was presented to each new novice following the custom of the Marist Brothers. 

The putting on of the soutane is a rite which visibly marks the interior changing of the novice. The prayer accompanying the taking of the habit is : « Clothe me, Lord, with the new man, created according to God in true  justice and holiness ». This is not just words, but the expression of the person’s interior state.

For several years, the province of Madagascar has sent Malagasy postulants to the Save novitiate. This novitiate belongs to the two provinces of Central East Africa and Madagascar. It has many advantages for the two provinces and more especially for the novices. In this house, they learn to live internationality and the movement to a new land, two attitudes promoted by the last general chapter. 

At present, the interprovincial novitiate of Save-Rwanda is made up of  3  first year novices and 9 second year novices. They come from Madagascar, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the  Congo. The formators are the Brother Master Théoneste Kalisa of the province of PACE, Brother Marcel (PACE) and myself, Brother Tiamaro of Madagascar. 

The postulancy is made in the candidate’s home province and lasts 2 years, a long period of time which is necessary for the young Marist aspirants to mature the call of God in their life before committing themselves for the novitiate. 

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Brother Tiamaro Alphonse, province of Madagascar.