January and February 2017 were busy months at the Sacred Heart of Mary Novitiate, located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

After the second year novices made their first profession on January 21, 2017 (see Feature “Religious Profession of Vows”), the new novices arrived to begin their two years of novitiate on February 24th, the anniversary of the founding of our religious institute. The two years of novitiate include the study of scripture, theology, RSHM history, spirit and life, the vows, as well as experiences in ministry and local communities. The bilingual (Portuguese and English) formation program is conducted both by the novitiate team of RSHM sisters and through inter-congregational programs in which the novices participate.