Entrance Day of the Novices

“The holy banquet has been set, Lord has cleared our sinful debt” was the song soothing the minds of our five brothers on 19 June, 2022. 

Five passionate would-be novices Ranjith, Reuben, Jayanth, Avin and Pavan, three from Navasadhana and two from Loyola, ebulliently marched towards Mount St Joseph Novitiate. They savoured 15 days of probation together with Triduum under the tender care of Fr Nithin Machado, the Socius. 

They were meticulously guided by guardian angels Manvith, Abhishek and Vivek. After being moulded for 15 days they joined the crew of novices on 5 July, 2022 through the highest form of sacrifice. 

Fr Anthony Joseph, the Rector, celebrated the Mass. Fr Nithin Machado, the Socius to the Novice director, handed over the five loaves of bread symbolizing our five brothers to Fr John Pradeep, the Novice director.  

The 2nd year novices welcomed the nascent Jesuits through their mellifluous singing in the refectory followed by scrumptious dinner which met the expectation of newly born Jesuits. 

The sheep named Jackson which was missing from the herd of five companions joined the novitiate on 09 August, 2022 after finishing his degree final exams. Fr Socius directed him through the help of guardian angel Abhishek during his first probation. He was meaningfully led into second probation during the service of benediction on 14 August, 2022. 

Now the Crew is whole and positioned to navigate and explore in the vineyard of the Lord under the decisive direction of the Divine Master. The MSJ novitiate is now jam-packed to commence their journey inward with the arrival of 1st year novices.

Celebrating the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola

July 31, 2022: “All things were made anew!” the novitiate community was sparkling with richness and cherishing the joy of celebrating the feast of St Ignatius. The feast was celebrated with much gusto. The novices with all their might and desire, worked hard to make the celebration a fruitful one. 

The feast of St Ignatius brought with it the gifts that St Ignatius had passed on to his followers: The Ignatian spirit. The Jesuit novices were reminded of the Ignatian charism and identity. The novitiate community celebrated the feast by animating the liturgy in the Jesuit Parish ‘Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Kalena Agrahara.

The novices honoured the mysticism of St Ignatius through the variant talks given by remarkable Jesuits during the celebration of the Ignatian Year. The community ended the Ignatian year with a gathering of the priests, religious and well-wishers during which a play was put up by the novices on the life of Fr Pedro Arrupe titled ‘Servant of God Pedro Arrupe: A man who saw all things new in Christ’. 

The novices showcased their creativity by adding tune to the poem “fall in Love, Stay in love” of Fr Arrupe. 

The feast of St Ignatius left an indelible mark in the hearts of all the people who joined us to celebrate the joy of the feast.