On March 16, four novices from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province were received into the Holy Cross Novitiate in Barisal, Bangladesh. Their reception was delayed because of a postponement of their final examinations due to the pandemic. Fr. Ashim Theotonius Gonzalves, C.S.C., Novice Master, and Br. Shimul Andres Rozariom, C.S.C., Assistant, presided at the reception ceremony.

After the ceremony, Archbishop Lawrence Subrato Howlader, C.S.C., newly appointed Archbishop of Chattogram, presided at the Eucharist. In attendance were the priests and religious from the Cathedral parish, who later shared in an agape meal with the novitiate community.

The newly received novices then immediately began a five-day retreat directed by Fr. Elias Palmamm, C.S.C., at the Oriental Institute.

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With the arrival of these four novices, the number of novices at the Bangladesh novitiate is 21, fourteen from Sacred Heart of Jesus Province and seven from the St. Joseph Province.