Perpetual First Vows

There will be nine Jesuit novices who will profess perpetual first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience super hostiam (before the Blessed Eucharist) tomorrow, May 31st at Sacred Heart Novitiate. After two years of intensive formation in the novitiate, these brothers will profess their undivided love and commitment to Christ and to His Church in the Society of Jesus.

For most of the younger Jesuits, the Vow celebration also marks our anniversaries in the vowed life. Tomorrow marks my first year of living a vowed life in the Church.

We pray for these young men that through their profession, they will continue to be faithful to Christ and to His Church. But most of all, we pray for the grace stated in the vow formula: "just as you have given me the grace to desire and offer this, so may You also give me the grace to fulfill it."

To know more about the Society of Jesus, please visit our website: www.jesuits.ph or e-mail our Vocation Promoters at heswita@jesuits.net

Entrance Day at Sacred Heart Novitiate - Jesuits

The Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus accepts nine new novices in her ranks today (May 31st). There will be fourteen Jesuit novices now in the Philippine Province. The eve of the Feast of the Visitation has become the traditional day of Jesuits in the Philippines to accept new novices. The Novitiate is the first formal stage of Jesuit formation, the first two years of eleven years of intensive formation before the Jesuit becomes a full-fledge Brother or Priest. The Novitiate of the Jesuits in the Philippines is in Novaliches, Quezon City.

We therefore ask for your prayers that as we Jesuits welcome these nine men in our ranks, the Lord may bless them, guide them, and make them holy and faithful Jesuits. We also pray that as they spend their first two years in the Society, the Lord may grant them the grace to "know Him more intimately, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more closely" (the Grace of the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises).

To know more about the Jesuits, you may visit our website: www.jesuits.ph or send an e-mail to our Vocations Promoters at heswita@jesuits.net

All for the faith...

I am thankful to the Lord for a fruitful apostolate work in Ilocos Sur and Abra Provinces. My heartfelt gratitude to the persons who, in one way or the other, nurtured me and accepted me wholeheartedly into their communities. First of all, the Parish Priests of Konbesryon San Agustin, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur -- Reverend Fathers ALbert Rabe, Mar Barroga, and Bernardo Gonzales, and the parish community. Secondly, to Sr. Celerina Zabala, SSpS of the Social Development Center (SODEC) of the Diocese of Bangued, Abra. Thank you very much, Reverend Fathers and Sister.

My work in Ilocos and Abra came to my mind as we Jesuits celebrate today the Memorial of St. Andrew Bobola, Jesuit priest and martyr. St. Andrew was born in 1597 in Southern Poland to a family of lower nobility. In the year 1611, he entered the Society of Jesus. after ordination in 1622, he served as pastor in the Jesuit church in Nesvizh, where he brought many souls to the Catholic faith. He then worked in the eastern Poland where Catholics have abandoned their faith. He was then murdered for his faith when he refused to denounce it.

St. Andrew is an inspiration to all of us, most especially to the Jesuits. He went where he was sent, even in the midst of difficulties and persecution for one purpose - to proclaim the goodness of God and the immensity of His love. Let us pray then that through the intercession of St. Andrew, we may be fervent witnesses to Christ and to His Gospel.