Eight Young Salesians Renew Vows

Eight Young SDBs Renew Vows

Eight young Salesians renewed their temporary vows in the chapel of Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw, N.Y., on August 15 at the end of their annual retreat.

Bros. Steve DeMaio, Travis Gunther, and John Langan professed for 3 years; Bro. Eddy Chincha for 2 years; and Bros. Lenny Carlino, Steve Eguino, Craig Spence, and Rafael Vargas for 1 year.

Bros. Craig, Rafael, Lenny, Steve E.; Fr. Steve; Bros. Eddy, Steve D., Travis, and John after Mass.

The normal practice among the SDBs is that for the first 3 years of vowed life the confrere professes annual vows.  (He’s free to leave the Society when the vows expire at the end of each year, and he must apply to be accepted for renewal of vows.)  After 3 years, he may apply to make vows for a 3-year period.  Having completed 6 years of temporary vows, the SDB usually seeks admission to perpetual profession (see previous post), tho for various reasons his period of temporary profession may be extended for up to 3 more years.

Fr. Steve Shafran received the vows of these 8 men in the name of Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, and Fr. Ken Germaine and Bro. Jim Wiegand were the witnesses.

Celebrating the Mass of the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary with its gospel of the Visitation, Fr. Steve linked Mary’s commitment to following Jesus and serving her neighbor to the commitment these eight confreres were making.  He voiced a prayer that the woman of Revelation 12, who is the new Ark of the Covenant carrying Jesus, embrace these brothers just as she once embraced and guided John Bosco.

Fr. Steve preaching at the renewal of profession/solemnity of the Assumption Mass.

Fr. Steve cited Mary’s Magnificat that speaks of God’s love for the lowly as a call for these brothers to trust God enthusiastically even without knowing how their commitment to him will turn out (as Mary didn’t know when she said “yes” to God); their commitment includes not only the lowliness of complete trust but also service to the young and the poor—the lowly of the earth—in the way set out by Don Bosco.

Mary praised the greatness of the Lord, and the greatness of the Lord is what the young must see in Don Bosco’s followers.  That is a challenge to everyone on the June 9-15 retreat to examine our commitment to be witnesses of the Gospel.  Having heard Mary’s words and seen her discipleship, we say “yes” to God, to the young, and to community life.

Taking part in the retreat’s closing Mass were almost 30 other confreres who had made the retreat, the 5 novices (who had arrived from Rosemead, Calif., on Thursday night), and 14 Salesian Lay Missioners, who had been on their own retreat as well.