In recent months, the Santa Cruz Educational Center (CESSC) has had a special experience, welcoming the novices of the Congregation of the Holy Cross as part of the official itinerary of their religious formation. More than just a one-time visit, the novices’ presence is an integral part of the formative journey that prepares them for religious life—combining spirituality, service, and direct contact with the reality of the Congregation’s social ministries.
During their time at the center, the novices actively participated in the daily life of the organization, interacting with the children, adolescents, and families served there. Their presence strengthened the family spirit that characterizes the mission of Santa Cruz, offering the students a tangible experience of faith, welcome, and brotherhood.
In addition to educational activities and interacting with the community, the novices also helped revitalize CESSC’s physical spaces by helping to paint the building. This gesture reflects the understanding that the mission is equally fulfilled through caring for the facilities placed at the service of the community—a collaborative effort carried out in a spirit of fraternity, simplicity, and dedication.
For CESSC, welcoming the novices also means bearing practical witness to what it means to educate minds and hearts. Every day spent together, every activity carried out, and every space revitalized reinforces the organization’s commitment to an education that welcomes, transforms, and points toward the horizon of hope.
