Entry into the Novitiate and Renewal of Vows

Published by Bro. Joseph Victor RATAFITANIAINA, SMM in Madagascar · Wednesday 11 Sep 2024
Tags: NU, MAD, 1181

ANALAMALOTRA, Madagascar - On September 8, 2024, in the afternoon, with the entire church honoring the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Entity of Madagascar had the joy of celebrating a Holy Mass in the community of novitiate at Analamalotra TAMATAVE during which 5 postulants officially entered the novitiate. They are Benoît, Anderson, Basil, Anjara and Hasina.

This moment of grace was preceded by a retreat whose theme was: “Come and see” Jn 1, 46-50. From Tuesday, September 3 to Saturday, September 7, 2024, Fr. Claude-Aimé TOVOMALALA, SMM, who was the preacher, urged the future novices to only look at the face of Jesus, who must be a model for them during this moment of the novitiate.

On the same day, 6 scholastics, namely Sthéolage, Mahery, Parfait, Lucien, Rico and Roger renewed the vows they expressed for several years to make a new start in their lives as Montfortian religious. They were guided by Fr. Fréderic, SMM to seek and find God in meditation and contemplation, and to see how God works and gives them the means to remain faithful to the life commitment they have chosen and lived.

During his homily, Father Bruno RANDRIANASOLO KIKY, SMM, Provincial Superior, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration, recalled the meaning of the novitiate, which is a favorable time to transform oneself into being spiritually solid, a time to learn the experience of silence; to be apart to open up to God (Cf. Today's Gospel Mk 7,33: the healing of the deaf-mute), a time of experience of holiness; learn the divine language and above all, experience our Montfortian spirituality. He encouraged the novices not to be afraid in their vocational journey as Isaiah encourages the people of Israel in today's first reading.

After the homily, the Provincial Father publicly received the wishes of these 5 postulants and officially admitted them to the novitiate to the Montfortian life. To mark this great event, each novice received from the hands of the celebrant a cross, a Bible, as well as the complete works of Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort. He finally thanked the Master of Novices, Fr. Jean Joël RANDRIANARIVOMANANA, SMM for his availability to accompany the novices during this year and the confreres who were present.

At the end of this Eucharistic celebration, a fraternal meal was shared under the encouragement of the confreres present in this ceremony.

Good progress.

God Alone!

Bro. Joseph Victor RATAFITANIAINA, SMM

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