 |
| Bros. Langan, Gunther, and DeMaio being examined
before admission to final vows. |
The
New Rochelle Province rejoiced on the afternoon of September 7 as Bros. Steven
DeMaio, Travis Gunther, and John Langan made their perpetual professions. The
solemn rite of profession took place within Mass in the Marian Shrine chapel at
Haverstraw, N.Y.
 |
Fr. Tim Zak, at the ambo, conducts the
examination of the brothers
as Fr. Tim Ploch, at the presider’s chair, follows
along.
|
Fr.
Tim Ploch, general councilor for the Interamerica Region, received the
brothers’ vows, presided at Mass, and preached. The Rector Major, Fr. Angel
Fernandez Artime, had originally been expected for the celebration, but his
pastoral visit to Syria back in April led the U.S. government to deny him
permission to enter the U.S. So our former provincial, Fr. Tim, filled in for
him.
 |
With the candidates prostrate on the floor, the
ministers and congregation
pray the Litany of the Saints on their behalf.
|
The
congregation taking part included 43 concelebrants (among them priests from
Bro. Travis’s and Bro. John’s home parishes), 2 deacons, 26 other clerical and
lay Salesians, 10 Salesian sisters, students from Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey and
Salesian HS in New Rochelle, and a great number of family and friends of the
professed.
 |
Each of the professed placed
his baptismal
candle
at the statue of Mary Help of Christians.
|
Bro.
Travis professed as a coadjutor brother. Bros. Steve and John professed as
students for the priesthood. In fact, both are studying theology at the
Ratisbonne Monastery in Jerusalem; Bro. Steve is entering his 2d year, Bro. John
his 3d. Bro. Travis continues to teach art and other courses at Don Bosco Prep
and to accompany students in various extracurricular activities and ministries.
All
three brothers made their novitiate at Rosemead, Calif., in 2011-2012 under the
guidance of Fr. Bill Keane as master of novices, and made their first
professions at Salesian HS in New Rochelle on August 21, 2012.
Fr. Tim’s Homily
In
his homily Fr. Ploch reminded the three brothers and the congregation: “It
might seem that Steve’s, Travis’s, and John’s profession is something they are
doing. But their profession is really about what God is doing, and what God
began doing in them when they were baptized and has been doing in them since—at
their first profession and in their subsequent renewals of [temporary]
profession. Profession is about God,
about his fidelity to our three confreres throughout their lives.”
Speaking
for himself and all Christians, Fr. Ploch also said: “My life is not about me
but about God, who gave me life, who asks me to share my life, who asks me to
follow the path that he has laid out for me (cf. Jeremiah’s call in the first
reading). In Psalm 136 God spoke of ‘knitting [the psalmist] together in your
mother’s womb.’ All of us are God’s creations, his handiwork, his masterpieces.
God supplies what we need to live the vocation that he has given us.”
 |
| Bros. Langan, Gunther, and DeMaio listen attentively
to the homily. |
Fr.
Ploch went on to cite examples from the lives of Jesus, of the Virgin Mary, and
of Don Bosco of complete trust in whatever God is doing in one’s life. These
are models for Bros. Steve, Travis, and John and everyone else to imitate.
Continuing the Celebration
At
the end of the Eucharistic celebration, Bro. Travis voiced his gratitude and
that of his companions. Fr. Tim Zak, provincial, followed with his own
expression of thanks, particularly to the parents of the three perpetually
professed and the rest of their families.
 |
The parents of the perpetually professed
confreres were asked to stand
and receive appreciative applause. From the left:
Steven and Theresa DeMaio,
Raymond and Mary Beth Gunther, and Gerry and Fidelis
Langan.
|
The
parents of the three confreres were present: Steven and Theresa DeMaio from Ave
Maria, Fla.; Raymond and Mary Beth Gunther from Conway, Ark.; and Gerry and
Fidelis Langan from Winsted, Conn. Various siblings also attended.
A
buffet dinner served by Market Basket of Franklin Lakes, N.J., followed in the
cafeteria of the Don Bosco Retreat Center.
 |
All the professed Salesians (except the
photographer) and candidates gather
around Fr. Ploch and Bros. DeMaio, Gunther,
and Langan.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment