The Philippine novitiate

Fr. John Czyzynski  writes from the Philippines:

Well, they said the novitiate here in Padagian (the city) Zambuanga del Sur (the province) is nice — that is an understatement.  It is unbelievable.   so beautiful.  And I feel like I am on retreat.  Every day we pray (and in part chant) all the hours of the Liturgy of Hours.  We also have meditation and the rosary and adoration together.  That barely leaves me time for my daily walk and a nap.  Just kidding, of course.  I am giving a couple of talks to the novices (we have four here)  One of them is raising what looks like morning doves that he raises from just after they are hatched.

I thought I would have a chance to visit the families of two of the 44 police officers who were killed by the Muslim Liberation front, but that did not work out…