It was with great joy on the morning of the 29^th June 2018 the Order witnessed the entrance to the novitiate of six postulants, two from the Philippines, three from Vietnam and one from India. In all over the past few years we have received 14 novices into APC Regional Novitiate Program. Our five second year novices are about to go back to their home provinces for an apostolic and community experience beginning ably guided and mentored by a brother who has already had some up to date formation training in the Philippines.

With the help of donations the novices recently prepared a healthy meal for the residents at a garbage dumpsite around an hour away from our Novitiate at Amadeo and also provided bags with school supplies for the children. The novices and the brothers decided to give away some of their personal belongings such as clothes, shoes, bags, pants, etc. Br Fermin, Novice Master, reported that it was a very good experience for all especially the novices who realized how comfortable life was inside the community and how difficult it is for others outside the four walls of the convent.

The provinces of the Asia Pacific Region, along with the kind assistance of the North American Region have jointly purchased a new Postulancy House in close proximity to the present Novitiate at Amadeo to cater more adequately to the needs of the regional formation program. In the photographs you can also see the arrival in the Philippines of new postulants from Vietnam.