This summer brought two significant moments for our MSSP community in the Philippines: three young men began their novitiate, and Br Charlon Xuereb MSSP made his first religious profession.
On 12 July, Fr Hector Attard MSSP, Regional Superior in the Philippines, presided at a Mass at our house in Bataan to mark the beginning of the novitiate for Anton Trân Trọng Văn and Peter Bùi Công Anh from Vietnam, and James Gafà from Birżebbuġa, Malta. The house is around two hours from Manila.
Their Novice Master is Br Bryan Avila from the Philippines. This is the first time a Filipino member has led an MSSP novitiate, a meaningful reflection of the diversity growing within our Society. It is also the first time the novitiate is being held at our house in Bataan. The community there includes Fr Joe Cremona, whom many know through his work with the children’s and youth orchestra, and Fr Marco Catabunde.
The novitiate offers Anton, Peter and James a year set apart from many of their usual activities and studies. They will devote themselves more fully to personal prayer and to learning about our life as a Society. Their formation will include our Constitutions, the life of our founder, the Servant of God Mgr Joseph De Piro, the letters of St Paul and the history of the MSSP. Above all, it is a time to deepen their relationship with the God who has called them to follow him more closely.
A month later, on 14 August 2026, Br Charlon Xuereb MSSP made his first religious profession in Manila after completing his year of novitiate. Fr Hector Attard presided at the concelebrated Mass, joined by MSSP members serving in the region.
Charlon’s parents, Joseph and Jacqueline Xuereb, and his sister Jasmine were there to share the occasion with him. Also present were a group of young volunteers nearing the end of their service experience in the Philippines, Filipino lay people close to our community, and novices and religious from other congregations.
Charlon’s profession took place on the vigil of the Assumption of Mary. This gave the celebration particular meaning for us: at the wish of our founder, Our Lady of the Assumption is the patroness of the Missionary Society of St Paul.
We give thanks for Charlon’s commitment and for the beginning of Anton, Peter and James’s novitiate. We keep each of them in our prayers as they continue to discern and live their calling.