Novice Visits St. Thomas Aquinas School

The St. Thomas Aquinas School community has been greatly blessed with a two month visit from the beautiful, joyful and hopeful Sr. Luciana D’Cruze, a Religious Sister Filippini novice. Sr. Luciana was born in Bangladesh and came to America when she was seventeen. She formally entered her journey into the religious life in 2015 and became a postulant on September 8, 2015.  In 2017, on September 8 ^th, she became a canonical novice, also known as the Novitiate.   Sr. Luciana finished her first year of the Novitiate this past August.  Now in her second year, part of Sister’s formation includes the work of apostolic service. The St. Thomas Aquinas community has been graced to be Sr. Luciana’s first apostolic ministry experience.

Upon her arrival to New Mexico, Sr. Luciana has been actively involved in many aspects of our school and parish community.  At the school, Sr. Luciana assists in the third grade classrooms. She gave a special talk to our 3 ^rd, 4 ^thand 5 ^thgraders on the topic “Don’t Give Up”. She also gave an inspirational talk to our 6 ^th, 7 ^thand 8 ^thgrades with the call to “Get Out of the Boat”. The St. Lucy Club also enjoyed her active participation and inspiring testimony at their monthly meetings. At St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Sr. Luciana helps with the religious education program. Sister organized the ASLF women’s retreat at the Filippini Sisters’ convent.  

Sr. Luciana returns to Villa Walsh in Morristown, New Jersey in November, where she will continue her studies on consecrated life.  The second year of the Novitiate is a prayerful time of reflection, work, and realizing the need of integrating contemplation with apostolic ministry. Sr. Luciana will enter into the final period of initial formation, the Juniorate, or Temporary Profession, which consolidates the spiritual and the doctrinal formation with particular emphasis on her professional and apostolic preparation.
Sr. Luciana has been such an inspirational and joyful presence in our STAS community, constantly encouraging a greater trust and deeper love for our Lord. We thank her for sharing her gifts and talents with our children.  STAS will keep her lifted in prayer as she continues her jour ney towards her final vows.