Last December 3, 2020, nine (9) OMI novices received the oblate habit as part of their formation at OMI Novitiate Chapel in Tamontaka, D.O.S., Maguindanao. They are the following: Bro. Kelly Mark A. Socias from Calamba, Misamis Occidental, Bro. Ariel T. VIllaflor from Midsayap North Cotabato, Bro. Vince B. Dignadice from Tacurong City, Bro. Illuminado Flauta V from Midsayap, North Cotabato, Bro. Giovanni Paolo G. Donguines from Dasmarinas, Cavite, Bro. Jan Philip G. Cadungog from Libungan, North Cotabato, Bro. Won-Hyou Heo from Seong-nam City, South Korea, Bro. Sung Hoo Kim from Suwon City, South Korea, and Bro. Moon-gi Park from Uiwang City, South Korea.
Among the 9 novices, 5 were young professionals: Bro. Socias was a school teacher, Bro. Donguines worked as a school teacher in Thailand, Bro. Illuminado was an HRM graduate, Bro. Moon-Gi Park also known as Peter was a 1st Liutenant Army officer in South Korea, Bro. Won-Hyou Heo or “Paul” was a tourism graduate and a businessman. On the other hand, the 3 other novices were former junior Oblates of Mary Immaculate (jOMI) who took their Batchelor’s degree in Philosophy at Notre Dame University (NDU).
This year, the OMI novices are composed of 6 Filipinos and 3 foreigners from South Korea. As an international congregation, the OMI seminaries are often composed of mixed nationalities all over the world. This is to make flesh the spirit of OMI internationality where seminaries are pooled to create an international formation program designed for the mission.
Fr. Hilario Asilo, OMI, the Novice Master of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for 8 years is the one in-charge of the novices. Novitiate is a 1-year program of intense prayer, work and study of the Oblate way of life. Here, the seminarians are introduced to the life mission, and charism of the Oblates before they can proceed to the scholasticate in Quezon City.
Fr. Gerry G. Delos Reyes, the OMI Provincial Superior, during his homily encouraged the novices to remain worthy of wearing the oblate habit through continuous conversion and interior transformation. That as men set apart for the Gospel, their oblate habit must announce God to the people. “Keep God central to your life and be worthy to be called sons of Eugene de Mazenod,” Fr. Delos Reyes, added.
The OMI oblate habit is donned to the seminarian at the middle of novitiate year, usually every December 3, the anniversary of the canonization of the OMI founder, St. Eugene de Mazenod. And during the final vows, the seminarian finally receives the Oblate cross as a symbol of his perpetual commitment to become an OMI.
With the advent of pandemic, vocation becomes more and more difficult and uncertain. But with the 9 novices on their habit taking, hope is renewed. A jubilation and thanksgiving because a number of God’s servants answered to the call to “preach the Gospel to the poor and the most abandoned.”
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