Viktor Petrus Bani was born on November 17, 1976 in Kefamenanu in the Diocese of Atambua in Indonesia. He was in the Novitiate in Batu, Indonesia from 1996 to 1998. On September 1, 1998, he professed his First Vows in Malang where he also studied Theology before he decided to continue his theological studies in St. Augustin.
Coming from the Province of Cebu,Simon Eric Boiser II was born on February 8, 1974. After High School he entered the Divine Word Formation Center-Cebu, Philippines and finished his philosophical studies in Christ the King Mission Seminary in Manila. He entered the Holy Spirit Novitiate in 1997 and professed his First Vows on June 2, 1998. He studied two years of Theology at the Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay City before coming to Germany.
Remigiusz Alojzy Cwikalowski was born in Koscierzyna in Poland on October 21, 1976. He had his Postulancy in Gorna Grupa from September 31, 1996 to August 31, 1997. From there he went to Chludovo for the canonical Novitiate Formation. On the Fest of the Society in 1998, he professed his First Vows in the Divine Word Seminary in Pieniezno where he also studied a year of Theology before applying for the Exchange Student Program (ESP).
Phil Archimedes Gonzales was born on June 6, 1974 in Bislig, Surigao del Sur, Philippines but he grew up in the southern city of Tagum and entered the Divine Word Formation Center in Davao City. In this seminary he started his SVD Formation. He finished his degree in Philosophy in Christ the King Mission Seminary-Manila. From June 1997 to May 1998 he was in Tagaytay City as postulant and went to Calapan City for the Novitiate, June 1998 to May 1999. On May 30, 1999 he professed a life of poverty,chastity and obedience for the first time. He arrived in Germany on September 18, 2000.
Nikolaus Meran Koban hails from the Indonesian Town of Lembata. He was born on March 2, 1977 in Tobilolong, Lembata in the Diocese of Larantuka. he was baptized on March 15, 1977 and received the First Communion on June 7, 1986. He stayed in the Novisiat St. Josef in Timor from 1996 to 1998 before professing his First Vows on September 15, 1998. He started his theological studies in Ledalero and decided to continue this in St. Augustin.
Yulius Agung Nugroho was born in Sidoarjo, Surabaya, Indonesia on July 20 1977. On May 20, 1986, he received the First Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation on August 25, 1997. He spent his Novitiate in Batu Malang after which he professed the Vows for the first time on September 7, 1998.
Peter Matthias Platzer, the only German among the new fratres was born in Brüggen (Diocese of Aachen) on February 25, 1956 and was baptized three days hereafter. He was in St. Michael Haus in Steyl as a postulant from Sept 7, 1998 to September 4, 1999. Then he entered the Novitiate in St. Paul in Wittlich-Wengerohr where he stayed from September 5, 1999 until October 15, 2000, the day he professed for the first time to live in evangelical poverty, consecrated chastity and apostolic obedience.
Paskalis Seran comes from the Indonesian island of West Timor. He was born on April 26, 1976 in Makbalin-Rabasa, Atambua. On September 8, 1976 he was baptized and on March 29, 1987 he received the First Communion. He was from 1996 to 1998 in Nenuk as novice and on the Feast of Mary's Assumption, August 15, 1998 he professed his First Vows. He started his Theology Theology studies in Ledalero.
Born in the Philippine city of Cebu, Genesis Velez first saw the light of day on December 23, 1975. He received the Sacrament of Baptism on
February 21, 1976 and the First Communion on May 30, 1982. He was in Tagaytay City as
postulant from June 1997 to May 1998. He stayed for one year in the Holy Spirit Novitiate in
Calapan City and on May 30, 1999 professed his First Vows. He studied one year of
Theology in the Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay City before coming to Germany for ESP.