Eight SDBs Renew Vows

(Haverstraw, N.Y. – August 16) – Eight young Salesians renewed their temporary vows on August 15-16—seven of them during the annual retreat at Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw, and one at the annual retreat for Canadian Salesians, held this year at St. Francis Centre in Caledon, Ont.

Fr. Tim Zak, provincial, received the professions, all of which were for one year, in accordance with SDB practice.

Fr. Tim Zak and the 7 candidates for renewal of profession

at Don Bosco Retreat Center carry out the ritual questioning of intention.

The confreres who renewed their vows on August 16 in Haverstraw were Bros. Ronald Chauca, Sasika Hokuhettige, Ky Nguyen, Joshua Sciullo, Simon Song, and Rafael Vargas and Fr. Derek Van Daniker. Bro. Branden Gordon, a Canadian, renewed on August 15 in Caledon.

Bro. Ron Chauca reading the formula of profession,

witnessed by Fr. Greg Fishel and Bro. Bob Metell.

Fr. Zak said in his homily at Haverstraw that we Salesians love to hear and to tell stories of Don Bosco, and Don Bosco points us to Christ. These young Salesians present to us living stories of Don Bosco, a living memory of Don Bosco. They aren’t professing that they will be Don Bosco but that they will follow Christ in his spirit.

According to Vatican II, Fr. Zak said, religious life is the living memory of Jesus Christ in the Church. The lives of religious so reflect their commitment to Christ that we see in them, also, the living presence of Christ.

Fr. Tim preaching.

The Salesians renewing their profession this day, he continued, are making a commitment to live in community, to practice the vows, and to carry out an apostolic mission. This commitment is Christ-like. They will preach the Good News, live in a fraternal community, and be clear witnesses to the world. They will be prophets of the world to come, signs of the heavenly life that we all hope for, when Christ will fill our hearts and be our true treasure, when we’ll do the Father’s will. By their vows, they strive to bring heaven to earth.

In the name of the province, Fr. Zak thanked the 7 young confreres for saying “yes” again and bringing the story of Jesus to us.

Fr. Zak recalled how the Salesian motto (Da mihi animas, caetera tolle) was decided upon, and saw in that decision that our eyes are set on Christ, that we’re missionaries sent out to save souls for Christ, that we are to bring others into God’s family. This is our Salesian passion.

Fr. Derek Van Daniker, Bro. Simon Song, Bro. Rafael Vargas, Bro. Ron Chauca,

Fr. Tim Zak, Bro. Josh Sciullo, Bro. Sasika Hokuhettige, and Bro. Ky Nguyen.