Holy Cross Aspirancy, Narinda

Short History

Holy Cross Aspirancy is a pre-novitiate formation house, which was established in August 1979. It is situated at 16, Munir Hossain Lane, Dhaka Old City. The pre-novitiate program of Aspirancy was started in 1979 according to the decision made by Holy Cross joint formation team. The Aspirants’ program was started, in order that the candidates for the societies of Brothers & Priests would be able to discover their call and continue their college studies in 11th & 12th grades. In St. Joseph Provincial Chapter 2000, the pre-novitiate program was recommended only for the Brothers’ candidates and started in June 2000. The aspirants live here for about three years. One Year Special Program for English, 11th and 12th grade study. The Pre-Novices go through ¾ months community and apostolic experience and immediate preparation for novitiate. Here the Directors assist the aspirants to form themselves especially growing in human formation, apostolic formation, interpersonal relationships, prayers and liturgies, spiritual formation, community life in order that each aspirant may undergo all the formations to become a part of the Brothers of Holy Cross. The aspirants live here as well as they learn to be responsible through different responsibilities such as becoming dean, being members of food group, maintenance group, garden group, house group etc. From the very beginning of the formation program of Holy Cross Aspirancy, the language of the house is English because Holy Cross is an International Missionary Apostolic Congregation, that is why this house provides all the facilities to learn and to speak in English. This house provides every aspirant to do apostolic work every Friday and Saturday, the aspirants go there and serve the poor and marginalized and experience the struggles they endure. At the same time in every month there is a monthly recollection which is arranged so that the aspirants may have the clear idea about the Brothers’ vocation. Besides that, Holy Cross Aspirancy is a role model for building up community and to cope up live in it. While they stay here according to the house program, they engage themselves with the whole community, as a consequence they share and learn to share among themselves, personally and group wise, they participate commonly in activities like eating meals, praying, playing, enjoying cultural programs together. Once in a year this house organizes a study tour in different places. The Directors organize the annual retreat. Common birthday celebration, thanksgiving celebration, St. Joseph feast once in every year and parents day every after two years correspondently. This house publishes two yearly magazines Prottasha and Young Plants. Prottasha magazine publishes house activities of Aspirants and the writings of the aspirants as well as Young Plants only for those who has completed the One Year Special Program for English. Every year those who join newly in Aspirancy goes through OYSP. During the OYSP, the aspirants learn to hone their skills in English. From here aspirants gets admitted into Notre Dame College and St. Gregory’s High School and College to accomplish intermediate studies. Before the beginning of their college studies, the OYSP aspirants also get opportunities to have some short courses such as short course on technical works and computer. This two courses are very much unique because by these two short courses, the aspirants develop their personal skills of work. Besides, they undergo inhouse courses on leadership, the Bible, etc. Every week the aspirants have a weekly conference. Thus the house has its programs that the aspirants may experience 360° growth in every aspect of their lives to be nourished physically, mentally and especially spiritually.

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