By Novice Roj Mallari

Lawa-an, Talisay City, Cebu, the Philippines, 5 August 2020 -- Six candidates to the Novitiate — Keiyth Joemarie Bernales (FIS), Christopher Sa Khant Ai (MYM), John Hein Htet Aung (MYM), Nicholas Naw Seng Hpring (MYM), Cyrill Jess Lumibao (FIN), and Roel Jude Mallari (FIN) — were canonically admitted to the Don Bosco Sacred Heart Novitiate and were welcomed by the Provincial Superior of the Philippines-South Province (FIS), Fr. Godofredo Atienza, SDB. Prior to the Rite of Admission of the New Novices, Fr. Philip Lazatin, SDB was installed as the Director of Novices for his second term in the presence of the provincial superior.

This is yet again a marvelous deed wrought by God Himself as He continues to send shepherds for His flock, especially in this time of pandemic with the threat of the Coronavirus disease-2019. The restrictions demanded by the current situation initially caused some uncertainties to surface in the part of the candidates from FIN as they would have to travel via the airlines. But, during the last week of July, they were able to successfully secure all the documents they needed for the air travel, and immediately were sent to the Novitiate.

“We were hoping to arrive to the Novitiate on time, but we did not expect it,” said one of them.

Even the candidates and formators from FIS and MYM did not expect that everything and everyone would be on time because of the strict guidelines and protocols being observed and implemented by the government.

It’s a clear message that God works mysteriously, and thus reassures us that even in these trying moments, He will never abandon us.

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