It has been several years since our province has had the gift of novices discerning a vocation as a religious of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS). … We had a combined English-speaking novitiate with the provinces of Australia, Great Britain, and Ireland, ending in 2011. God has blessed us with interest in our community over these past two years, with men discerning and participating in “Come & See” weekends and short residences. Matthew Vlastelica comes to us from our parish in New York City, Saint Jean Baptiste, to discern initial formation with the Congregation.
Beginning August 2, 2023, with initial planning and discernment with the Provincial Council, we presented to the General Council, for their approval, our community and parish in Houston for the novitiate house and Father Paul Gnanasekar SSS (known as Father Sekar) as Novice Director. Father Sekar was a Novice Director in his native province of India. …Novitiate will be a great immersion experience for Matthew in the coming two years, with Matthew studying religious life, its history, spirituality, and experiences, some ministry in the parish, including participation in the Order for Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) and gatherings with the Eymardian Family and Associate
formation.
Photo: (left to right) Father Thomas Smithson SSS, Father John Thomas Lane SSS, Father Christian Christopher SSS, Father Joseph Doan SSS and Father Gnanasekar Paulraj SSS
