First Profession in Manila

July was a special month for our congregation. On July 1st, Br. Dao, Br. Dien and Br. Mark, made their first profession of vows. Although they are from Viet Nam and Philippines with many differences they are united as one in the congregation, the Servants of Charity. With hearts full of love they professed their faith to God who will always be with them during their times of need. That day was a special mark for them because they officially started a life of a religious with the vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience. Through and in these vows, they will live a life which no longer belongs to them but to Jesus Christ who has called them and continues to call them again and again to follow Him and serve Him through the charism of the Servants of Charity.
Besides that, we also were glad to welcome six new Vietnamese novices who have been in formation in Manila. They will be guided by Novice Master Fr. Sagayaraj, SdC who is from India. With his guidance, they will learn more about the religious life through which they want to dedicate themselves to the Lord whom they love.
Provincial Superior, Fr. Soosai Rathinam, told them, “In this particular year, you will search for the Lord and answer the question ‘who is he?’” The novices were touched by this because as the apostles did, the novices need to answer this question, “But who do you say that I am?”(Luke 9,20). Novitiate is a special and beautiful year for them to understand the life which they desire to live and to serve through God’s love.
On another special occasion with Fr. Gustavo, the novices received a beautiful message from him:
“At the beginning of this new year of novitiate, what I desire is that you be open to the Holy Spirit, who is the one that shapes your person for consecration.
If we want the Lord to consecrate us like the Virgin Mary, we have to be docile and so in this way the Holy Spirit can penetrate our souls.
The novitiate is a particular stage of our formation that requires openness to His action to live more deeply the grace of this particular call in our lives.
Dear novices, remember that you were the ones who committed yourselves to this particular year. If you give great importance to it you will be successful in your future religious life.
A religious vocation is like a seed, that, watered by grace, sets good roots and we hope you can develop good soil so in this way the strong plant of religious life may grow fruitful.
The Blessed Virgin, St. Louis Guanella and St. Joseph be not only your constant intercessors, but also your models by indicating how to surrender your lives to the Lord as they have done.”
Let us continue to pray for them, so that the Lord will guide them, make them understand His call through the year of Novitiate, and then, they will respond to His call as our beloved Mother responded to the greeting of the angel Gabriel and trusted in the will of God in her life with the heart of humility.

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To Be His Witnesses

Bangalore – On May 31st, the feast of “The Visitation of Mother Mary,” the anniversary when our Founder celebrated his first Holy Mass in 1866, six of our Novices successfully completed their novitiate and made their first Religious profession, saying ‘yes’ to the call of the Lord ‘to be His witnesses’. The Brothers looked like angels in their Cassocks. The Congregation and especially Fr. Adaikalam, who led the Brothers throughout the year of Novitiate giving them the experience of the Institute and forming them to be beautiful Flowers offered to God. Bro. At Guanella Preethi Nivas holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Soosai Rathinam. His Councilors Fr. Kulandai and Fr. Visuvasam; Superior and Rector of GPN, Fr. Gnanaraj; Novice Master, Fr. Adaikalam and other Guanellian Fathers concelebrated. During his homily, Fr. Rathinam told the Brothers they must always look forward to the driving force in the religious life and walk toward the destined end. He added, during the time of St. Guanella, they did not have big celebrations, in fact he recalled how after the good children fell asleep they quietly made their vows. The parents of the brothers were acknowledged and thanked by Fr. Rathinam for having encouraged their children to say ‘yes’ to the Divine call. The Community was vibrant with joy and happiness to have this celebration and welcoming the new precious gifts.

First Profession of Novices at GPN

Bangalore – St. Guanella celebrated his first mass in Prosto on May 31, 1866. Here in India on the Anniversary of St. Guanella’s first mass, nine novices made their first religious profession in the presence of Fr. Soosai Rathinam, Vice Provincial of the Divine Providence Province. Many religious sisters were present as well as the families, relatives and friends of the professed. It is God who makes the Province flourish with the young, willing confreres to add flavor. The nine brothers pronounced their vows and are ready to imitate Jesus and to proclaim the Gospel with their very lives. Let us wish them well and accompany them with our prayers.