The Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord was celebrated with great joy and solemnity at the IVE House of Formation in Lipá, Batangas. The Seminarians and Novices of the Houses of Formation were joined by the Sisters of the SSVM and our neighbors for the Holy Mass, presided by our Provincial Superior, Fr. Miguel Soler, IVE. The crowd again overflowed our limited space and seats were placed outside to accommodate all the people.

During his homily, Fr. Soler preached on the great risk that Our Lord took in being incarnate, the risk of weakness, the risk of non-recognition, the risk of rejection by His very own and how in in the Mass, He continues taking such a great risk in being hidden under the species of bread and wine, facing all those same risks for love of us, even today.

After the Mass, all the people lined up to venerate the Christ Child, the Almighty God who took on the weakness of flesh to save us from our sins and restore us to the sonship which we had lost through sin while the choir sang O Holy Night.

After the Mass and the veneration of the Christ Child, there was a presentation of carols. The Choir of the IVE Religious Family presented a selection of traditional choral carols such as Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World. After this, the brothers and sisters of the different communities also presented a selection of carols.

The IVE Community in Lipá wishes all of you a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with God’s blessings.