Newly ordained Norbertine priest Fr John De Agnel Anthoni Samy O Praem will be a living sign of Christ among us as the one who gives everything for His peo-ple, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said.

Organised by the Vocations Office and Committee, the event forms part of the Archdiocese’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing of seminarians through initiatives that foster connections with the Catholic and wider community and support their personal and social development.

In celebrating 40 years of life as a priest and religious, Norbertine Fr Peter Joseph Stiglich O Praem says he drew his spiritual strength from having grown up in a faithful Catholic family.

The Norbertine Order has expanded their community on 14 November 2021 with the Profession of Vows of Brothers John De Agnel Anthoni Samy O Praem, Kenneth Torogori O Praem, and Stephen Tee Chean Leng O Praem at St Joseph’s Church, Queens Park. The professions coincided with the 900-year anniversary of the founding of the Order by Norbert of Xanten in 1121.

On Christmas Eve in 1120, the first 40 Norbertine Canons professed in the Valley of Prémontré, France. This year, Norbertine Canons worldwide will celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Order founded by Saint Norbert of Xanten with a year-long jubilee.

In 2021 – 900 years after the first Norbertines made their first profession in the Valley of Prémontré – communities all over the world will be celebrating the inspiration of St Norbert, who started out as a frivolous and worldly cleric but was changed by God’s grace into a powerful preacher and an important reformer of the Church during the early 12th century.