Monterrey, NL – Mexico
On August 26, a group of young candidates received the legionary habit at the end of the spiritual exercises from Father Eduardo Rogles-Gil, LC. Father Carlos Proal, LC, novice instructor, welcomed the new legionaries, affirming that “Christ is the only one worth giving everything for.” Present at the event were priests and religious engaged in apostolic practices, students from various vocational centers across the country, collaborators, and some young people with vocational interests.
On August 27, the novices spent a day of fellowship with their families at the Novitiate Center. Father Carlos Proal, LC, presided over the Sunday Eucharistic celebration.
Arujá, São Paulo – Brazil
On August 19, at the Arujá Novitiate in São Paulo, Father Cleomar Ferronato, LC, territorial director of Brazil, presided over the ceremony in which several young men received the cassock. The novitiate community, students from the Curitiba Vocational Center, and some parents and religious involved in apostolate in Brazil participated in the ceremony.
Neuötting-Alzgern – Germany
Furthermore, on September 8, at the Neuötting-Alzgern Novitiate Center, the legionary habit was conferred upon four young candidates. The ceremony was led by Father Andreas Schöggl, LC, territorial director of Western and Central Europe. An article in German about the ceremony can be read here.
Cheshire, CT – United States
Father John Connor, LC, territorial director of North America, presided over the ceremony in which a group of young men received the legionary cassock at the Cheshire Novitiate Center.
Rionegro, Colombia
On September 14, Father Julio Martí, LC, territorial director of Venezuela, conferred the legionary habit upon four candidates at the conclusion of the spiritual exercises led by Father Fintan Kelly, LC. The ceremony took place at the new headquarters of the Colombian novitiate, located in one of the facilities of the Rionegro Vocational Center. Father Carlos Ortiz, LC, novice instructor, welcomed the new novices. The new novices are brothers Álvaro Carranque, Daniel Díaz, Andrés Arcila, and Francisco Rueda.
Salamanca – Spain
On Friday, September 15, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Sorrows, after the eight-day spiritual exercises led by Father Juan Francisco González, LC, a group of young men received the legionary habit at the Salamanca Novitiate. The new novices are: Brother Alejandro Sitjar from Barcelona, from the Val de Flors Vocational Center (Valencia); Brother Diego López from Huelva; Brother Alberto Zaccariotto from Italy, from the former Gozzano Vocational Center; Brother Jorge Inostroza from Chile. The ceremony was presided over by Father Carlos Zancajo, LC, territorial director.
Brother Diego López commented: “One begins with great enthusiasm, but it certainly requires effort. The vocation is something precious that God has given me, but it is not an easy path to sanctification. In these first days of novitiate, a special spirit of family is evident. Here, one realizes that they think they know Christ, but the truth is that there is always room to deepen that knowledge, and it is a joy to spend so many hours with Him.”
Caracas – Venezuela
On September 14, the eve of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Sorrows, eight candidates from Venezuela and Colombia received the legionary habit at the Santa María de los Altos Novitiate Center, located in Caracas, Venezuela. Father Jesús Cardier, LC, novice instructor, urged the new novices to “wear the cassock from the heart, making Christ the center of their lives, with a fervent desire and purpose to imitate the Lord in everything.”
The new novices are: from Colombia, brothers Juan Pablo Suica, Juan Ángel Bermúdez, Gabriel Sanabria, Andrés Arias, Camilo Galeano, and John Ramírez; from Venezuela, brothers Samuel Canal and José Márquez.
Brother Samuel Canal expressed gratitude to the community on behalf of the new novices, adding that “if some of us are asking ourselves, ‘How can I be faithful to this calling?’, we must remember what the angel told Mary: ‘Do not be afraid, for God has granted you His grace.’ Brothers novices, let us not be afraid; God has granted us His grace and expects our response to follow the call.”
