Eight Begin

 Their Novitiate Year

in Godfrey

and Two in Guatemala

NOVICES AND STAFF, 2002: l-r: Fr. Leo LeBlanc, Marco Chávez, Freddy Picanol, Chad Glendinning, Mike Coyne,

Fr. Louie Lougen, Lenny Kelley, Raea Williams, Tony Ortiz,

Fr. Rudy Nowakowski, and Quang Van.

On Saturday, August 17^th at 7:30 PM, eight novices were received into Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate by the novitiate team and other Oblates from the surrounding area. In the ceremony of reception, the Word of God celebrated the call of Samuel and the invitation of Jesus to two disciples to "Come and see" (John 1:35-39). In the presence of all the Oblates gathered in the novitiate chapel, each novice came forth and handed in his commitment to this time of novitiate. The Sign of Peace was exchanged in a spirit of joy.

 The novices are: Quang Van from St. Peter's Province, Canada; Freddy Picanol from the U.S.Province; Marco Chavez from the U.S.Province; Mike Coyne from St. Peter's Province, Canada; Lenny Kelley from the U.S.Province; Raea Williams from the U.S.Province (Tahiti Mission); Chad Glendinning from St. Peter's Province, Canada; and Tony Ortiz from the U.S.Province.

 The novices bring a wide range of ages, experiences and cultures that make it a rich and fascinating group. The span of ages is from 42 years of age down to 21 years and countries of origin include Canada, Mexico, French Polynesia, the United States and Viet Nam. Six or seven different languages are spoken by the novices. The one common thread bringing everyone together is the desire to follow Jesus Christ through the charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod. It's really wonderful!

The novices entered into the customary rigors of novitiate life with great zeal and enthusiasm. Prayer and manual work, classes and seminars began immediately and I'm sure all our readers remember with fond affection their own unique and unrepeatable experience of novitiate. Please pray for our novices and be assured we are praying for all of you.

 The Novitiate Team Lou Lougen, OMI Leo LeBlanc, OMI, Rudy Nowakowski, OMI

TWO U.S. PROVINCE NOVICES IN GUATEMALA

Besides the five novices of the U.S. Province at the Inter-Regional Novitiate in Godfrey, IL, the province has two novices in the novitiate in Guatemala.  Gelasio Chandomi and Antonio Ponce, both of whom are Mexican citizens, began their novitiate in mid-July under the guidance of Novice Director, Fr. Santiago Lyons, OMI, a long-time member of the Mexican Province.  Both Gelasio and Antonio finished their pre-novitiate formation at Casa Estudiantil de Mazenod in Tijuana last June.