Fr. Noel Muscat OFM has been transferred from the friary of Saint Saviour in Jerusalem to that of the Nativity in Bethlehem as Master of Novices of the Holy Land Custody. Fr. Noel has been in the Holy Land since November 2004. His office is that of Secretary for Formation and Studies of the Holy Land Custody.

The group of novices includes 6 young men. Three are already on their way and will commence the novitiate on 17 September. They hail from Argentina, the USA, and Italy. The other three young men are Lebanese, and have concluded a 2 year period of formation as postulants in the friary of Harissa in Lebanon.

Unfortunately they are still waiting for their entry visas in Israel. Because of the recent strained relations between Israel and Lebanon they might not be allowed to enter the country. So the Custody is thinking of sending them to the inter-provincial novitiate house at Piedimonte Matese, in Italy (Naples), where they will be in close contact with their Bethlehem confreres.