Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R. General Consultor from Asia Oceania visited the St. Gerard Majella Novitiate at Lipa in the Philippines on Saturday 20th June 2026. This year the Novitiate has 6 novices from different Units in Asia Oceania. There are two novices from the Region of Colombo in Sri Lanka, one from Thailand, one from the Province of Cebu and one from the Vice Province of Manila and one from the Vice Province of Malaysia and Singapore.
In the absence of Fr. Brian the Novice Master, Fr. Mario Yolus welcomed Fr. Ivel to the Novitiate. Fr. Pius, the newly appointed Socius to the Novice Master was also present.
Fr. Ivel spoke to the Novice about the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in the context of the novena to Our Mother going on at the moment. He explained in detail the meaning of the Icon, the history of the Icon, the theology of Icons, and Icon Spirituality, the colours of the Icon, the significance of each of the figures in the Icon and the rich theology of the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and its significance in the life of the Congregation
He then had a question and answer session with the novice and replied to different questions regarding the present state of the Congregation, the challenges facing the Congregation, the future for Mission in the Congregation, the Context of Asia Oceania and Reconfiguration in the Conference and in the Congregation at large and the importance of the vocation. He also gave some important tips for life in the novitiate motivating the novices to embrace this special year with the spirit of openness to the Spirit of the Lord who works in and through the Novice Master, Socius, Spiritual Directors, the community and the importance of prayer, spiritual reading, and above all pastoral ministry with outreach to the poor and abandoned.
After the session Fr. Ivel and the Novices and the Novitiate Formation team joined in the novena in the Divino Amor Shrine and concelebrated at the novena mass.
Fr. Ivel then joined the Novices and the community for dinner and finally he blessed the novices wishing them a fruitful year ahead before he left for Baclaran in Manila
The Novitiate community is ever grateful to Fr Ivel for visiting the Novitiate and for motivating the novices and spending the day with them.
Fr. Mario Yolus, C.Ss.R.
