New Novices for the Province of St. Joseph: All 21 of 'em!

On the Vigil of the Solemnity of St. Dominic 21 new novices entered the novitiate for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. Here they are with novice master, Fr. James Sullivan, OP and Provincial, Fr. Brian Mulcahy, OP.

The big question for us is, "How will we fit all of them into the parlor when they come for their winter visit?"

We pray for the perseverance of our new novice-brothers. They will need many extra graces of patience as they will be doubling up at the novitiate this year!

Here is the text explaining the significance of the the clothing ceremony:

The official start of the novitiate year begins with the postulants receiving the Dominican habit. During this ancient ceremony, called vestition, the new novice kneels before the prior of the community, who clothes him in all six pieces of our habit. The act of being clothed by another conveys to the brother the message of Jesus: "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you to go forth and bear much fruit." The novice allows the habit to be placed upon him, and he actively surrenders a year of his life to God. Such is the power of a vocation.