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Father Purdy's Letters
In February, Michael Stolz left the Novitiate. After the Tsunami struck in India and Sri Lanka, Michael had the desire to volunteer in our missions for a year. He came to the novitiate and helped with many things including driving, painting, and carpentry. After one year, he went back to Italy to take up his former job of professional baker. He did not leave empty handed. While here in the Philippines, Michael became engaged to a Filipina. He will be returning to the Philippines in October to get married.
Michael Sestak, our visiting seminarian from the United States, desiring to see our missions in other islands, made a trip to the Islands of Cebu and Bohol. While there he visited a few of our missions, but also did many active works to teach children and adults. In Cebu he was able to get over a dozen children to attend mass and taught them to genuflect and to make the sign of the cross. We sometimes fantasize about the great missions of the Jesuit missionaries in the New World or in Africa, where missionaries were martyred for teaching even the sign of the cross. It does not enter our minds that in such a ‘well informed’ century, or such a deeply Catholic heritage, the same tasks are required of the missionary. The damage caused to the youth by inactivity of the Conciliar Church is most apparent. At Dagahoy, he was able to visit some families who are only able to have the Mass four times a year. In Bohol, he gave a conference to the Apostles of Mary, our Catholic Action Youth group in the Philippines. On a lighter note, one cannot visit Bohol and not see the Chocolate Hills or the Tarsiers, the smallest monkeys in the world.
As many of you know, and through your generosity, the novitiate was able to purchase a tractor to assist on the farm. While the tractor is purchased, the difficulty with all the paperwork is before us, especially with Customs and Internal Revenue, etc. Hopefully the tractor will be shipped soon. As you can see in this picture, our present tractor is almost defunct and in no way heavy-duty enough for our needs at the novitiate. The new tractor will be a tremendous benefit for the novitiate.
Enclosed are a few photographs of some recreations of the brothers at St. Bernard Novitiate, as well as a group photo.
In the Holy Family
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