February 24: A Special Day in the Novitiate

On February 24th, the 160th anniversary of the founding of our Institute, we, the Novitiate Community, had a beautiful ceremony in the morning welcoming Rosa Armanda de Jesus Gonçalves, from Portugal, as a Novice. The Sisters from the Belo Horizonte area joined us for the ceremony.

Rosa had prepared her own reflection on her journey thus far and her hopes and aspirations for the future. (See separate article)

Rosa receiving RSHM Constitutions from Catherine

Rosa Armanda presenting her reflection

Catherine Patten received her in the name of the Institute.
The ceremony itseld included some of Rosa's favorite hymns and prayers.

Rosa cutting the cake

After the ceremony we had a scrumptious meal prepared by the “older” Novices and Isabel Cipriano and Isabel Grangeon.

Preparing a festive meal for forty people was no small feat!

 

 

Aspirants and Pre-Novices from the Brazilian Province: Naiara-pn, Fernanda-asp, Rosinéia-pn, Aélita-asp

Among our visitors were four young women who are interested in our community. They were delightful company. Two of them are pre-novices and were getting a "feel" for the Novitiate. They are both studying English and were practicing it on us.

 

 

Cristina Caetano, Helena Pin, Judite Caliman

There is a great consciousness in the Brazilian province of the need for outreach to young women such as these. A new intentional community is opening in the province next month with pastoral vocations as its focus. Helena Pin and Lucia Gama will form the community with two pre-novices. We pray that this venture will bear much fruit for our Institute.

 

At five p.m. on the 24th all gathered once more.
This time we had a beautiful Eucharistic Liturgy celebrating our 160 years as an Institute and also the conclusion of the First Year for the Five Novices.

Catherine giving her reflections

Catherine began with a very appropriate reflection on the occasion. This was a special celebration for the Novices as they reflected back on their year in the Novitiate.

For the Prayer of the Faithful we used excerpts from the General Council Letter–read appropriately by Catherine—and the prayers based on excerpts read by Angela Machado (Provincial).

 

It was a multi-lingual Liturgy and truly representative of the International Novitiate.

Rosa and Isabel Grangeon	Rosa da Lima Pereira, Feliciana de Campos Suli - 2nd year Novice

Rosa Armanda's Text