Celebrating the Future…. Religious Profession of Novices for North American Conference of Redemptori
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August 15, 2023On July 16, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer, six of the seven novices of the North American Conference professed their first vows at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer (Templo Santisimo Redentor) in Mexico City. Three of the Novices are from the Province of Canada: Mark Suezo, Benedict Nicholas and Gabriel Cyril Üng Ciang. The other three novices were Abel Rios Alba, Edwin Rolando Hernandez Avila, both from the Mexico Province, and McQuain Clovis from the Baltimore Province. Hieu Minh Bui, from the Extra Patriam Vice-Province professed vows on July 30 in Houston.
This truly was a celebration of commitment and hope as many Redemptorists from across North America joined our Novices to celebrate this special day. From Canada, the Novices were joined by Fr. Michael Smolinski, Provincial Superior; Fr. Santo Arrigo, Regional Coordinator; Fr. Michael Brehl, First Vows Retreat Facilitator; Fr. Raymond Douziech, Director of Candidates; and Fr. Alfredo Medina Ramos (pictured at right with novices and Bro. Larry Lujan).
This international, cross-Conference Novitiate has truly reflected the openness and missionary spirit which has been reflected in our journey towards our restructuring for mission. As we have continued to vision towards mission with our confreres in Mexico as part of our work in North American, a moment of grace has been realized in the completion of this first year of the Novitiate in Mexico, and the wonderful celebration of our Novices as we look towards the future of our mission in North America.
Being my first time in Mexico City, it was a chance to visit the Novitiate community and facility, but also to get to know the many confreres throughout the Province of Mexico, understanding their lived realities and the varied opportunities for mission. It is quite amazing to think that Mexico City is just as far from Toronto as Vancouver. The opportunity for an exchange of cultures and the appreciation of diversity shown through, not only throughout the year for our Novices, but also in the expression of prayer, celebration and hospitality that was marked in the Profession Ceremony and Celebration.
We appreciate the work of the Formation Team: Fr. Javier Morán Marín, Fr. Matthew Allman and Br. Tito Lopez Caragena (pictured above with the novices) for their leadership, support and guidance of our Novitiate class, and the great expression of hospitality for the Redemptorists and the family members of the Novices as we gathered as one family, giving thanks for the gift of vocation for our brothers and getting to know one another more personally as we walk the road with the Redeemer as brothers and sisters.
This year, the Province of Canada has one Novice, Princepius Mutabuzi (far left in the picture at left) who is participating in the International Novitiate in the Philippines. We ask you to remember Princepius in your prayers as he continues to journey with the Congregation to discern his call as a Redemptorist for the Province of Canada.
In September, our newly professed students will being their theological studies. Mark Suezo and Benedict Nicholas will move to San Antonio, Texas and join the Formation Community to study at the Oblate School of Theology. They will accompany our other students for the Province of Canada, Noel Oco and Andrew Phillips who are in their 3rd year of studies. Our other newly professed student, Gabriel Cyril Üng Ciang will return to Toronto to prepare to study at the Sheptytsky Institute at the University of St. Michael’s College.
We ask your continued prayers for all of our students in Formation, as well as our Province Secretariat for Formation, Formation Directors and Vocation Team, as well as all those who are discerning a call to join us in this mission of evangelization. May the Lord of the harvest hear our prayer.
