VO CAT I O N
LETTER FROM THE NOVICIATE WITH THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES RELATIVELY SMALL, SEVERAL REDEMPTORIST PROVINCES HAVE COMBINED TO FORM A COMMON NOVICIATE IN TORONTO. THERE ARE TWO IRISH CANDIDATES AND ONE OF THEM GIVES US AN INTRODUCTION TO LIFE IN THE NOVICIATE. BY RYAN HOLOVALSKY
Hello.
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My name is Ryan Holovlasky and I am a novice with the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). On the 29th July 2015, Mark McMullan and I set off to start a new chapter in our religious life, crossing the ocean to Toronto, Canada. This move was very hard for me, as I spent the last 3 years living in our Redemptorist community in Dundalk. My time in Dundalk was a very good experience, and living with my fellow Redemptorist brothers taught so much about who the Redemptorists are. My first year with the Redemptorists allowed me to discover and discern who they are, and I was very privileged to work in the different types of ministries around Ireland. I got to meet many inspirational people, the late Frs Alec Reid, Gerry Reynolds, Br Tommy Walsh and Sr Clement Hoey OSsR, to name but a few. These and many more, who still work and serve the poor and most abandoned, continue to inspire me in my vocation and life journey to becoming a Redemptorist.
Ryan Holovlasky
REALITY MARCH 2016
OFF TO CANADA When we arrived in Toronto, we were welcomed by our novice master, Fr Ray Douziech CSsR and the assistant novice master Fr Ronnie Bonneau CSsR. The following day, Michael Taylor and Royston Price arrived from the London Province and the day after that again, Brian Vaccaro, Kevin McGraw and Song You arrived from the Baltimore Province, along with Thien Hoang from the Denver Province. The Noviciate year 2015/2016 officially began with mass on the 1st August 2015, the feast of our founder Saint Alphonsus de Liguori. During the first month, we explored Toronto as well as the capital city, Ottawa, experiencing something of the life, culture and history of Canada. We were welcomed everywhere with the friendly and warm Canadian hospitality, as we settled into the change of pace and started a new chapter in our lives. We set out to discover what we want, and to follow the call we are being asked to live as Redemptorist Missionaries, a life dedicated to service and those who are in need.
LIFE IN THE NOVICIATE Our lives in the Noviciate are very structured and busy. We spend a lot of time together as a community, praying and studying the lives of our Redemptorist Saints and the history of the Church, scripture and collaboration with all. We are learning more of what it means to be a Redemptorist. Prayer is so important in all of our lives: it feeds us with nourishment and draws us closer to our Lord and Redeemer. Every second week, we all take part in a pastoral placement. Royston and I work at a local hospital in the chaplain’s department, visiting the sick and bringing Eucharist to those who wish to receive. At times, this has been very difficult. I meet people who are very sick, and ask, “Where is God?” in all their pain and suffering. At the same time, this experience has taught me the love of God through the people I work with and visit. God is truly present when they light up after I spend time listening to them, sharing stories and joyous moments. I see that my being there can make someone’s day and this has been so enriching for me. I thank God and