Novitiate
The CAP is to reflect on the life of the community and mission in order to organize them to the best advantage with the participation of all the Brothers. It is most helpful in achieving the goals of community life (C.415). The key to living our life fruitfully is striking balance between specific activities of the apostolate and specific activities of the community (C.415). The CAP is an expression of what the community is all about and wants to do together. (Bro. Superior’s approval for the 4th Delegation Chapter). The total process of the Community Annual Programme involves devising, implementing and evaluating (C.415).

The Fourth Delegation Chapter invites us to develop a set of objectives for the Community Annual Programme (CAP) extending for a three-year period. The details for achieving these objectives should be reviewed every year. This revision is made to improve the quality of the Community life (4th Delegation Chapter: IV 1).

In developing the annual programme, every Brother, community and District will plan specific actions to maintain integration among the constitutive elements of our life: consecration, mission and community. It unifies our life.

PROFILE OF THE COMMUNITY
Our community consists of Bro. ……. as Director, Bro. ……… as Dean of studies and Bro. ………. as additional Staff. Novices are spiritually nourished by Fr. …….. and Fr. ……... All the novices are appreciative and grateful to ……… and Bro. …….. for being their vocation Promoter.

Nature of the Novitiate
From the code of Cannon Law, (646): The purpose of the Novitiate, by which life in an Institute begins, is to give the novices a greater understanding of their Divine Vocation, and of their vocation to that Institute and form their minds and hearts in its spirit. At the same time, their resolution and suitability are to be tested.”

Mission statement
Preamble “Our treasure, our secret, our greatest wealth is to be Brothers”
(Pastoral let of SG, 2001).
Hence we become
“Men of hope and men of Faith”

Guiding principle
(Since God has given you the Grace of calling you to live in community, there is nothing that you should more earnestly ask of him than this union of mind and hearts with your Brothers. Only by means of this union will you acquire that peace which ought to be all the joy of your life. Entreat the God of hearts to keep your heart and those of your Brothers one in the hearts of Jesus -… (Med: 39:1)

Goal
Rediscovering and integrating the Novitiate core values

Objectives

Consecration
Community
Mission
Action plan
Daily schedule
Saturday
Sunday
From the guide for Formation N 189b
For this initiation process to be a “unique and important experience” there has to be total immersion in a life inspired by the spirit of faith and zeal based on the life journey of St.John Baptist de La Salle. Because of its very nature, the novitiate cannot be reduced to a closely personal dialogue between God and the individual. The life of the holy founder demonstrates clearly how he met God and Christ through his Brothers, through other people particularly through the poor. To the degree that his personal circumstances and his existing situations allow, the young man must open himself to God, allowing the Word of God to enlighten his life and to transform it, striving in this way to discover the will of God in his daily life, and abandoning Himself to it just as St. John Baptist De La Salle did. “Novitiate” is a time of discernment during which the Novice attempts, through prayer and reading of the normal, human signs God uses, to determine if God is calling him to the Brothers vocation. At the same time, the Institute, particularly through the judgment of the Director in consultation with the staff, makes, a decision about the candidates suitability.

Practice
Promotion of Vocation
Special prayer services and sharing of our own vocation stories will be organized to strengthen and promote our own vocations

Outreach Programme
On Saturdays our novices will go to the nearby schools to be with the students and to teach them some games

Spiritual animation
Bro. Director animates the novices by means of interview, orientation, conference, recollection, prayer with the help of Bro. Amalan and the Fathers of the Holy Cross.

De La Salle Brothers are more than teachers, a community, a District or even a religious Institute. We are a cross-cultural link to the three centuries of History, a vibrant education ministry in today’s church and a solid sign of hope for tomorrow’s generation”

- Bro.Edward, FSC