AROUCA, TRINIDAD

The Spiritan novitiate program began in Trinidad on Tuesday, August 11 with the arrival of the two Spiritan candidates Phuong Nyugen from Houston, Texas and Andre Burton from Port of Spain, Trinidad. The official opening of the canonical year known as the novitiate took place with the celebration of Mass on Thursday, August 13. The Provincial of Trinidad, Fr. Gregory Augustine, C.S.Sp. presided at the Eucharistic celebration marking the beginning of this important stage of formation. Also concelebrating were Bishop Malcolm Gault, C.S.Sp., retired bishop of Barbados, Fr. Dexter Brereton, C.S.Sp., Pastor of the Spiritan parish in which the novitiate is located, and the novice director, Fr. Chris Promis, C.S.Sp, from the U.S. Province.  Another Spiritan seminarian from Trinidad, Collin Jackson joined the community for the small ceremony.

During the novitiate year, Phuong and Andre will grow in their understanding of the Spiritan vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and discover if they are ready to commit their lives to the Spiritan Congregation as a professed member. Through their life and work together, they will discover more about the Spiritan life and will have the chance to meet Spiritan missionaries from all over the world. This is a year for spiritual reflection and a time to learn more about the mission and history of the Spiritans. At the end of the Novitiate experience, they will have discerned whether or not they are prepared to take temporary vows and commit to live in a Spiritan community as they continue the Spiritan formation process.