Sunday, January 8, 2017, the first “graduates” of the newly inaugurated novitiate in Brazil made their first vows in the presence of their religious and natural families as well as many other guests, including many sisters from the Assumption Family. Br. Jefferson de Oliveira Marques, Brazilian, and Br. Jonathan Esteban Ruiz Rivera, Chilean, completed their year’s formation in Espirito Santo do Pinhal, some 3 hours west of São Paulo. The novitiate is located in the former high school seminary established by Dutch Assumptionists in the 1950s.

For many years the South American novitiate was located in Chile. In a renewed effort at collaboration among Assumptionists working in South America it was decided to refound a common novitiate in Brazil in 2016 and a common house of theology in Buenos Aires, Argentina the same year.

Br. Jefferson will soon be moving to Buenos Aires where he will begin his theological studies while Br. Jonathan will return to Chile to complete his studies at the Universidad católica de Chile. Upon completion he will pursue a licentiate degree in canon law in Buenos Aires.

At the end of January two more young men will begin their novitiate, both Brazilians, under the direction of Fr. João Gomez, master of novices, and his assistant, Br. Gwenaël Petton.

Fr. Juan Carlos Marzolla, Provincial of the Andean province, with Br. Jonathan and Fr. Luiz Gonzaga da Silva, Provincial of Brazil, with Br. Jefferson

Br. Gwenaël Petton, Br. Jonathan, Fr. João Gomez, Br. Jefferson