Ophelia Navalta enters novitiate

MERIDEN, CT (9-04-2005) - Ophelia Navalta received the habit of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist at a ceremony, Sunday, September 4, in the community chapel in Meriden. Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Mother General, received Ophelia's request to enter novitiate and named her Sister Monica. Prior to her entrance into the Franciscan community, Sister Monica, a native of the Philippines, worked in corporate businesses in California and Toronto.

Sister Monica will spend one year as a canonical novice studying the theology of the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, as well as learning more about Franciscan spirituality. The novitiate is also a time of service during which the novice is asked to care for many practical needs in the community, such as cleaning, food preparation, manual labor with gardens and lawns, and caring of animals. Sister Monica says she looks forward with excitement to the year ahead and is grateful for her vocation to religious life.

Ophelia presents her request for novitiate to Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Mother General.	Mother Shaun presents Ophelia with her new name of Sister Monica.
Mother Shaun gives Sister Monica her blessing.	Sister Maria David Magbanua, also from the Philippines, with Sister Monica.