June 01, 2009 (SSP Novitiate House, City of San Fernando)—Three young men made their formal entrance to the Novitiate after the rites officiated by the Provincial Superior, Father Ruben Areño, SSP. The three new novices are Maurice John Ramos, Albert Garong, and Eric Mark Salamat. In his homily, Father Ruben emphasized the importance of the noviceship program.
Present during the celebration were Fathers Joel Baguna, SSP (previous formator of the new novices), Tim Melliza, SSP (the local superior of the community), Joe Aripio, SSP (the formator of the novices), brothers Dennis Figuerres and Roque Ocampo, and the outgoing novices, Dindo Purto, Reymel Ramos, and Vicente Baracina. Father Ruben later entrusted them to the care of their new formator, Fr. Joe Aripio and the local community.
The three came fresh from the postulancy program where they had their exposure as well as assignments to the congregation’s local communities in Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao. Only three of the original five who entered the said program persevered and entered the novitiate.
For one whole year they will undergo an intense formation of Pauline Spirituality and perform tasks in the congregation’s social communication apostolate.
