On Tuesday the 8th of September 2009, our two new novices Br. Manuel Said ofm of Rabat, Malta and Br. Aaron Abdilla ofm of Mellieha, started their novitiate year at San Damiano, Assisi. Br. Manuel and Br. Aaron were accompanied to Assisi by Br. Richard Stanley Grech ofm, Vicar Provincial, and Br. Joseph Caruana ofm Guardian and Parish Priest of Sacro Cuor parish, Sliema.

They left on Friday the 4th of September 2009 early in the morning. Seeing them off at the airport other then their respective families, were amongst others, Br. Sandro Overend ofm the Minister Provincial, Br. Paul Galea ofm Guardian and Master of Formation at St. Mary of Jesus Church, Rabat, Br. Martin Coleiro ofm Assistant Master of Formation and Br. Joseph Ciappara ofm and Br. Walter Vassallo ofm who are also in formation.
On arriving at Assisi railway station at 3.30pm of the same day, they were greeted by Br. Alex Borg ofm, Provincial Secretary, who is at present doing supply work hearing confessions at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. The four Maltese Franciscans stayed at the friary adjoining the afore mentioned Basilica.
Sunday the 6th of September was a special day as they were able to visit the various holy places so dear to us Franciscans, namely the Cathedral of San Rufino, where both St. Francis and St. Claire were baptised, the church of St. Claire, the house of Pietro Bernardone and Madonna Pica, the parents of St. Francis, San Francesco Piccolino, where it is believed the Poverello of Assisi was born, and the Sacro Convento where he is buried. While in Assisi they also met with Br. Bertrand ofm. Cap. a Maltese Capuchin Friar who is doing his theological studies in Assisi.

The two novices were driven up to their novitiate house at San Damiano on Monday in the afternoon by Br. Massimo Reschilian ofm, the Master of Novices and were shown to their rooms. The next day, Tuesday the 8th of September, feast of the birth of Our Lady, they were joined by another eight Italian novices who received the Franciscan habit that same day in the afternoon, in the Cloister of San Damiano from the hands of Br. Bruno Ottavi  ofm  Minister Provincial of the Provincia Serafica of St. Francis in Assisi, in the presence of their respective families and a good number of Franciscan Friars. While we recommend Br. Manuel ofm and Br. Aaron ofm to your prayers, we wish them a fruitful experience at the very roots of the Franciscan Order from where they may draw the authentic spiritual charism of St. Francis of Assisi.