Four new postulants were accepted into the postulancy program, on Saturday 10 August, at Casa Marista Teulale, Baucau, Timor-Leste (Star of the Sea), and they will join the eight Timorese postulants. They are Benjamin Alua (Papua New Guinea), Abram Jeremiah (Papua New Guinea), John Chipuruka (Solomon Is), and Teweia Orea (Kiribati). All 12 candidates are starting the second stage of the postulancy which focuses on vocational discernment and preparation for entry to the Novitiate in Tudella, Sri Lanka.
Present at the ceremony were Brothers Greg McDonald, Robert Speare, Peter Corr, Jacinto Fila Falo, Gaspar Te’un, and Dionisio Maderia representing the Marist community in Timor. Also present was Br Simon Serero who accompanied the new postulants to Timor. They joined Brothers Paul Kane and Matthew Green along with the eight postulants from Timor-Leste to mark the occasion.
The evening began with a simple p
rayer that acknowledged the young men’s commitment. Each postulant received a small replica of our Province’s Star of the Sea icon and a simple cross – worn on the wrist. The community offered its blessing and promised to support each of the young men as they discern their vocation and call to Marist life.