The 3rd of July 2024 marks a red-letter day in the annals of the Province of Indonesia. 25 novices made their first profession at the Novitiate House in Sumba in the presence of Fr Rogerio Gomes, C.SS.R, Superior General, Fr Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.SS.R. and Fr Paul Vinh, C.SS.R (General Consultors), Fr Yoakim Ndelo, C.SS.R, (Coordinator of the Conference of Asia Oceania) some provincials from Asia Oceania, confreres from Asia Oceania and many confreres, lay partners, family, benefactors and friends of the Province.
Fr. Jack, C.SS.R, the Provincial superior celebrated the Holy Eucharist in Bahasa Indonesian and Fr Ivel preached the homily in English and Fr Jack translated the same. Fr Ivel spoke about Commitment and the necessity of Commitment to the Redeemer who has chosen and called each of the 25 novices to follow him as Missionaries of Hope. He also spoke about the 5 lamps mentioned in Communicanda I so vital to kept burning brightly in the life of each Redemptorist as a mark of one’s commitment to the Redeemer.
Fr Rogerio Gomes, Superior General, accepted the vows of each of the 25 young novices, the largest group to be professed in the Province of Indonesia. He asked them to stand before the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and to pray to her for the grace of perseverance while singing the Salve Regina. This was a unique and emotional moment for the 25 young Redemptorist confreres.
18 young postulants also were admitted into the Novitiate during the same Eucharist and received their habits blessed by Fr Jack the Provincial and Fr Rogerio asked them not to fear the time of Novitiate but to use it fruitfully to grow to understand the Rule and charism of the Congregation. He also urged them not to fear crisis or the dark night of the soul but to use the crisis as a time of growth in the Lord.
One of the highlights of the liturgy was the excellent choirs both the newly professed who sang and the new novices who sang as well.
Fr Jack profusely thanked Fr General and the General Consultors and all present nothing the special and historic moment in the life of the Province of Indonesia. Fr Jack also thanked Fr Marianus the Novice Master who has been Novice Master for 8 years now and will continue with the 9th batch of novices. The Eucharist was followed by a festive lunch.
Truly it was a historic moment in the annals of the Province of Indonesia marking Fr Rogerio Gomes first visit to Indonesia.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
