By Fr. Randy Figuracion, SDB

Talisay, Philippines, October 16, 2015 - Fr. Michael Haruyama, SDB the Novice Director of the Japanese Province arrived with Novice Philip Tsutsumi at the Sacred Heart Novitiate, Talisay City – Cebu on October 16, 2015. Being the only novice of their Province, Philip comes to experience Salesian community life. He will join the other sixteen novices in Cebu until November 22. Such experience, according to Fr. Michael, is very enriching as he is initiated into religious life where prayer and community living is the hallmark of our vocation.

He will also have a different cultural exposure because the novitiate offers an international blend of different cultures and background. Among the sixteen novices there are 11 Filipinos, two Chinese, one Papua New Guinean, a Cambodian and a Pakistani. Fr. Michael himself is from Vietnam who joined the Salesians in Japan more than two decades ago. He will only stay until November 5.

Welcome Fr. Michael and Novice Philip! May you have an enriching and fruitful stay in the Philippines.