This year we have five novices and five professed Sisters in the Community. It looks very neat in Church, one row of Novices in front and one row of Professed Sisters behind. (However, there is room for more novices, so don’t hang back for fear of spoiling the symmetry). The Professed Sisters are pursuing worthy careers as school teachers, school administrators, P.E. instructors, Music teachers, and so on. But it is not of them we will speak today. Today I wish to speak of the Novitiate.
Mother Micaela is the novice-mistress. She thinks she might be a bit old for the job and will eventually train up some vibrant young nun to take over. The personnel of the novitiate can be divided as follows:
First, Sister Margaret, finished her canonical novitiate and now teaching Latin and Maths in the Secondary School as well as advancing in her studies towards a B.A. Second, Sister Marie Dominique; her canonical year of novitiate finishes at the end of April and she will then be able to teach a little in the school and possibly study towards adding New Zealand credits to her American degree. This depends on her getting New Zealand residency and the FBI is holding this up at the moment. These Sisters do some classes with the novices and their own class on Scripture.
Then there is a threesome, Sister Mary Raymond, Sister Maria Lucia and Sister Mary Jacinta. They are just at the beginning of their canonical year. They study the Rule and Constitutions, the Spiritual Life, and the Catechism of the Vows. They also help to run the house by cooking on weekdays, doing the laundry and doing the Sacristy. Their contribution to the house is really valuable.
The Novices all go to the Adult Catechism in the parish. As well they share in the classes all the Sisters have on The Summa, Philosophy, and Spirituality.
The Novitiate is a happy place where the Sisters have before them a life of prayer and pleasing God. Our present group seems to be a really good one. We ask your prayers that they may persevere and that more companions may be added to their number.
It's so inspring to see so many young sisters in formation! I pray for your perserverence.