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An integral part of the Novitiate program in Peru is the inter-congregational program offered by CONFER (Conference of Religious Lima). This is an eight month program in first year and a four month program during second year; both are held on three mornings a week.

During these two years the courses offered cover the development of various areas -

• religious life,
• spirituality,
• emotional and personal maturity,
• Scripture,
• moral theology,
• social development

A valuable part of this time is meeting with members of other religious congregations both male and female, and the building up of friendships within the group.

A limited number of hours each week is devoted to experiencing the apostolate of the Josephite Sisters, or an apostolate which will help the young woman develop her gifts and learn more about herself. This ministry experience is extended to a block of five months (full time) during the second year.

For those who come from Lima an important cross cultural and community experience is to spend some time living in our Josephite community in the Andes where the young women learn to live and minister within a culture very different from their own.

Reception of Novice in Peru

Roxana Apaza Ccallo is now in her second year as a novice.  Since the end of February she has been in one of our Lima communities with SrsClare and Margaret.  This is a time for her to be part of community and apostolic life in a different context from her previous experiences.

While there, she has been participating in various parish programmes such as helping with sacramental preparation, weekly meetings with the aged, gatherings for children with disabilities and visiting the sick.

Roxana, 22, comes from Pitumarca, a village in the southern Andes, where Sr Angela Carroll has been ministering for some time and in recent years has been joined by Sr Cathy Dean.

In July, Roxana will return to the novitiate and will continue to attend the inter-congregational novice programme for three mornings a week for the rest of the year.