By Fr. Mariano Soe Naing, SDB

       Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar, 12 May 2021 -- In the afternoon of 5 May 2021, Fr. Bosco Nyi Nyi, the Superior of the Vice Province of Myanmar led the ceremony of the acceptance of the New Novices. The ceremony was held at Don Bosco Pyin Oo Lwin, where the Novitiate is opened for a year.

       The Novitiate community of the Vice Province was suppressed in 2016 and the Novices were sent to Cebu, Philippines, for their Novitiate. At present, there are three Novices in Cebu. With them the Vice Province of Myanmar has eleven Novices. However, the Covid-19 has created travel restrictions and the Pre-Novices who were to go to Cebu could not leave the country. The provincial and his council requested the General Council for the opening of the Novitiate and the permission was granted and Fr. Mariano Soe Naing is appointed as the Novice Master. The Vice Province is overjoyed with the hope of growth in number because there was no new professed member for past five years in the vice Province. There is also hope that in the future the Novitiate formation be in the Vice Province.

       In his talk, Fr. Bosco reflected on the image of the Good Shepherd and encouraged the Novices to be sheep that follow the Good Shepherd and the Formators to be good shepherds in manner and mind to the Novices.

       The ceremony was graced with the presence of provincial councillors and the Salesian clerics who are entering the specific formation as students of theology.

       At present, Vice Province of Myanmar has eleven Novices three in Cebu and 8 in Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar. The quantity of Novices enthuses MYM to looks at the future with joyful hope in the midst of political chaos and challenges.

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