With their chosen theme of “Thy Will Be Done”, 11 novices from the Holy Cross Novitiate in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, in India, professed their First Vows on 26 May 2025. The Mass was held in the neighboring F.I.S.M. Chapel, Mount Tabor.

Eight of the newly professed are from the Province of North East India, while two are from the St. André Province and one from the Province of South India. They are: Br. Archimedes, C.S.C., Br. Anil Bonkor, C.S.C., Mr. Boisuaka Darlong, C.S.C., Mr. Lawrence Lopes, C.S.C., Mr. Vinsent Lynshiang, C.S.C., Mr. Thomas Malsawmkima, C.S.C., Mr. Dibokstar Marwein, C.S.C., Mr. Bony Nongrum, C.S.C., Mr. David Nongrum, C.S.C., Mr. Pyntngen Suting, C.S.C., and Mr. Pynshai Lang Togni, C.S.C.

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Fr. Lawrence D’Almeida, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of South India, was the main celebrant, and Br. PJ Santhosh, C.S.C., Superior of the St. André Province, was the homilist. Both provincials received the vows of their respective novices, while Fr. Shaiju Anthony, C.S.C., Formation Coordinator and Provincial Delegate of the Province of North East India, received the vows of the novices from his province.

Joining the Holy Cross religious in the Mass were many family members of the newly professed, other well-wishers, and also many diocesan priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful from the area. A fellowship meal followed.

The newly professed had been shepherded during their novitiate year by Fr. David Adaikalam, C.S.C., Novice Master, and Fr. Gabriel Darlong, C.S.C., Assistant, as well as Fr. James Peter, C.S.C., who lives in residence. Those same three religious have received seven new novices in the Yercaud novitiate. There are two from the Province of North East India, two from the Province of South India, and three from the Province of Tamil Nadu.