What a joyful and hopeful way to begin the year!
On January 5, 2025 during the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, six prenovices from Vietnam were formally received as Novices by Sr. Rebecca Kay, Province Leader of East Asia, in a Liturgy of Acceptance themed “Walk in Faith, Love and Hope” at the Rosary Hall in Good Shepherd Convent, Quezon City. This significant event was attended by the entire Province Leadership Team of East Asia, including Sr. Lakana Sukhsuchit from Thailand, Sr. Assumpta Shwe from Myanmar, and Sr. Agnes Nguyen from Vietnam. Sr Susan Montano and the apostolic council of Philippines-Japan are also present.
In her opening remarks, Sr. Lulu Fabia from the Euphrasian Community quoted a passage from the letter commemorating the 25th anniversary of Vita Consecrata, St. John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation from 1996, highlighting the significance of this stage in the formation journey: “Consecrated persons are called to be witnesses of the beauty of God!” The six new novices are now called to be witnesses to “the revelation of God’s glory in the person of Jesus,” the central theme of the Feast of the Epiphany. To introduce themselves, the six prenovices: Maria Tran Thanh, Teresa Ngoc Phuong, Teresa Tran Oanh, Teresa Thu Phuong, Anna Le Hoai, and Maria Ngoc Huyen shared their personal background and spoke of the Scripture passages that have guided them towards the Novitiate. They arrived in the Philippines in March 2024 to study English as part of their formation process.
As a symbol of their acceptance, the novices were called by their given religious names by Sr. Rebecca: Sr. Mary Bakhita Thanh, Sr. Mary Martina Phuong, Sr. Mary Lucia Oanh, Sr. Mary Helena Phuong, Sr. Mary Gloria Hoai, and Sr. Mary Simon Huyen. They were then given the medal of the Good Shepherd to wear and a copy of the Constitution of the congregation. This event marks the first shared project between the two Provinces of the Philippines-Japan and East Asia as emphasized by Sr. Rebecca. She also introduced Sr. Jacinta Duong as the new Novice Directress for the six novices, alongside Sr. Lea Comia, the current Novice Directress for the three Filipina novices. All of the novices will reside at the “temporary” Novitiate located on the 4th floor of the GSC Building, while the former Contemplative Convent is being prepared to become the future Regional Novitiate House.
Sr. Agnes Nguyen, Sector Leader of Vietnam, inspired the new novices with a quote from St. Mary Euphrasia: “Jesus the Good Shepherd is the true model whom we must try to imitate in order to measure up to the holiness of our vocation. He is the divine original we must endeavor to reproduce in our conduct… My dear daughters, you will do no good nor have the spirit of our vocation until you have the thoughts and affections of the Good Shepherd, of whom you must be the living images in the midst of your flock.”
As response and final song, the six novices offered a heartfelt dance to a Vietnamese song (with English subtitles) accompanied by a video presentation of their vocation journeys.
Sr Helena, one of the novices, gave the word of thanks on behalf of the group. They expressed their gratitude to the Sisters, friends, and Partners in Mission who attended, with a special mention of Sr. Naty Lucero, who served as their English teacher for nearly nine months. A delicious meal, lovingly prepared by the novices themselves, was shared by all after the liturgy.
Welcome and Congratulations to our dear Novices!
