Bro. Richard Pasaik, SDB (1938-2026)

BRO. RICHARD PASAIK, SDB (1938-2026)

Bro. Richard Pasaik lived very quietly as a Salesian brother for almost 67 years, and he passed away very quietly on the morning of June 14, 2026, in his room at the Marian Shrine in Haverstraw, N.Y. He was 88 years old.

Bro. Rich had concluded his annual retreat just the day before, renewing his religious profession along with his confreres. At least one of the retreatants had noticed that he wasn’t looking well, though Brother said he was fine.

Richard Pasaik was born on February 12, 1938, in Oswego, N.Y., a small city on the shore of Lake Ontario founded as a British trading post in 1722. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Polish immigrants came to the city to work in its factories or its shipping businesses. Richard’s parents, Joseph and Mary Bogdziewicz Pasaik, worshiped at the city’s Polish parish, St. Stephen the King Church, and Richard was baptized there about two months after his birth. He was confirmed at another Oswego parish, St. John the Evangelist, in 1951.

Richard enrolled as a Son of Mary at Don Bosco Seminary in Newton, N.J., in September 1957. A year later he began his novitiate in Newton under the guidance of Fr. Aloysius Bianchi. When the elenco was published early in 1959, the class numbered 44, including the future Fr. Joseph Davie, Bro. Joseph Ferrari, Fr. Jack Gibson, Fr. Frank Kelly, Fr. Gerry Pellegrino, Fr. Dave Purdy, Fr. Jeremiah Reen, Fr. Floyd Rotunno, Fr. Frank Twardzik, and Bro. Gerald Warner. They made their first religious profession on September 8, 1959, at Newton.

Six years later, Bro. Richard made his perpetual profession, also at Newton. In the meantime, he continued his formation at Don Bosco Tech in Paterson, N.J., learning electromechanics for two years. In 1961 he was assigned to Don Bosco Technical Institute in Haverstraw, the aspirantate for boys aspiring to become coadjutor brothers. For the next 15 years, he undertook the general maintenance of the school building (which was eventually transformed into part of the Don Bosco Retreat House), the Marian Shrine, the residence, and the extensive property—at that time still over 200 acres. He did his work and participated in the community’s life with competence and unfailing good cheer, always present and punctual.

In 1976 Bro. Rich was assigned to Don Bosco College in Newton to take care of the extensive maintenance there—grounds, plumbing, electricity, machinery, etc. Fr. Richard Alejunas remembers Bro. Rich’s trying to teach some of the young brothers how to mow the lawns with the tractor, and being told he’d been selected because “I know you won’t run it into the lake,” as some other trainees had done. Bro. Rich carried on at the College for 15 years.

Then in 1991 he returned to the Marian Shrine, carrying on steadily but eventually slowing down with age. When his 60th anniversary rolled around in 2019, he still described his role as “maintenance team,” and stated that the most significant aspect of his Salesian vocation was “availability in serving the needs of my brothers in community.”

Bro. Rich, 3d from right, with regional councilor Fr. Hugo Orozco (center)
and other confreres celebrating profession jubilees in 2024.

Bro. Bernie Dubé surely isn’t alone in remembering Bro. Rich “for his kindness and gentleness and [as a] hard-working Salesian brother.” Fr. John Nazzaro confirms that: “[He] was always a very kind gentleman who was a great example of service and commitment as a good Salesian.”

Fr. Ken Shaw, who lived with Bro. Rich at the Marian Shrine for many years, goes into more detail: “What comes to mind when thinking of Bro. Richard is his availability and willingness to help others confreres, doing whatever task that was asked of him.” For example, if you needed something, you did well to ask him first—“he was a renowned collector”—and often already had the item on hand or could offer a good substitute.

Fr. Ken also testifies that Bro. Richard showed concern regularly for confreres in a nursing home, visiting and bringing snacks. He was jovial and loved to repeat jokes as well as to visit the Dollar Store, Wendy’s, Carvel, and Shop Rite.

As a Salesian brother, his dress was simple and presentable, in keeping with Reg. 55 of our Rule. One of his favorite hymns was “Morning has broken,” and often someone in the community would quip, “Bro. Richard will fix it!”

Bro. Richard’s funeral arrangements

Marian Shrine

174 Filors Lane

Stony Point, N.Y. 10980

Wake: June 17, 2026, from 4 pm to 6:45 pm

Funeral Mass at 7 pm 

Burial: Thursday, June 18, at 9:30 am in Salesian Cemetery, Goshen, N.Y. 

Salesian Missions Funds Comprehensive Care for Youths

Salesian Missions Funds Comprehensive Care for Youths at the Casa Hogar

(ANS – Colima, Mexico – June 12, 2026) – Thanks to funding from Salesian Missions of New Rochelle, the Salesians in Mexico have been able to support 62 young people in vulnerable situations at the Casa Hogar in Colima. The young people at the center have faced situations of vulnerability due to abandonment, physical and psychological violence, or an unsafe family environment. Some joined the program after living on the streets. A Salesian working at the center explained: “One of the most significant outcomes of this period has been the ability to retain the entire interdisciplinary team, meaning the young people have had the same support staff, which has fostered their emotional stability, bonds of trust, and the effectiveness of therapeutic and educational processes.” Having received continuous support, the Salesians noted that these young people experienced a reduction in severe behavioral crises, improved emotional regulation, and strengthened bonds with the educational team. As for their education, 85% of the young people maintained or improved their academic performance.

World Day Against Child Labor

World Day Against Child Labor

Educational investments from Salesian Missions help keep youths in school, safe from child labor

(ANS – New Rochelle, N.Y. – June 12, 2026) – Salesian Missions of New Rochelle joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in honoring World Day Against Child Labor. The day has been celebrated on June 12 since 2002, and it brings attention to the global extent of child labor and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.

Child labor is associated with lower educational attainment and later with jobs that fail to meet basic decent work criteria. Those who leave school early are less likely to secure stable jobs and are at greater risk of chronic unemployment and poverty. Many of those who leave school early, particularly youths between the ages of 15-17, are engaged in work that is hazardous and classified as the worst forms of child labor.

Father Michael Conway, SDB, director of Salesian Missions, said, “Salesian programs rescue children from labor and ensure they have their basic needs met and are enrolled in school. Children need hope for the future and the skills to find and retain stable, safe employment later. We support those efforts by providing scholarship funding and ensuring Salesian schools have what they need to provide high-quality education for youth.”

In honor of World Day Against Child Labor 2026, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight educational investments that help youths remain in school instead of being forced into child labor.

INDIA

Don Bosco Nava Nirman, located in Muniguda, India, provided scholarships for 32 girls thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The school was developed in 2010 after the Kandhamal violence in the region in 2008. One of the greatest contributions Salesians make in the region is through their education, especially for youths who are poor and marginalized.

A Salesian noted, “We have been concentrating on the education of girls and young women, which is an urgent need in this area. Generally, girls are marginalized by the parents as well as the society at large as they are not seen as potential earners in the workplace. Our entry into the education of the girls is in a way an attempt to transform this general perception. Today, through support provided to us, we are able to educate many girls through our scholarship program.”

Donor funding helped to offset the cost for hostel fees, as well as academic fees and book purchases. Although the school received funds for 26 scholarships, it was able to make scholarships available for additional children. In total, 32 children received financial support for their education.

ISRAEL

Salesians in Nazareth, Israel, were able to provide scholarships and psychosocial support for youths thanks in part to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The project was funded through the Don Bosco Network with support given by several Salesian organizations including Salesian Missions.

Through the project, Salesians provide scholarships to 106 students who are enrolled at the Salesian School in Nazareth. They were also able to provide 78 hours of psychosocial support to 50 staff and around 170 young students (grades 1-6) affected by war and unrest in the area.

The scholarships were provided to students, including 39 females, in the form of school fee deductions. The students are from families severely impacted by the broader socio-economic challenges affecting the Arab community in Israel, many of whom experienced job loss, business closures, and reduced income as a result of the conflict.

SOUTH SUDAN

Youth attending the St. Vincent de Paul School, run by the Salesian Sisters in Gumbo, South Sudan (outside Juba, the capital), have improved sanitation and access to workshops, along with a new equality club, thanks to donor funding. The funding was provided by Salesian Missions. Donor funding helped with the construction of new bathroom facilities for girls, strengthening gender equality in the school community.

While construction was happening, teachers implemented regular hygiene and gender equality awareness sessions. From March to September 2025, the sessions were delivered during daily school assemblies. In total, 24 awareness sessions were conducted, covering topics such as personal hygiene, hand-washing practices, oral hygiene, safe use and maintenance of toilets, menstrual health, body changes, and maintaining a clean environment at school and at home. More than 1,100 students participated in these sessions.

In addition, an equality club was established and became active during the academic year. The club reached 53 students from grade 3 until grade 7. The club promoted equal participation among boys and girls in the school and strengthened gender-sensitive practices. A total of 14 leaders were appointed to motivate their peers and support the implementation of the planned program. Under the guidance of teachers, the club organized mixed sports tournaments, gender-themed debates, and shared responsibilities for school duties. These activities fostered collaboration, encouraged balanced participation, and promoted positive gender roles across the school community.

Charity Poni Lino, one of the teachers at the school, said, “Life in Gumbo is challenging, and it is not easy as a teacher. I see that most people struggle even to pay school fees, but we know that education can change our future. My wish is to study hard and become a doctor so that I can help others girls and my community.”

WEST AFRICA

Salesians were able to provide scholarships to 325 youths thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The youths came from 18 communities in countries in West Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea Conakry, and Mali. The Antonio Cesar scholarships covered schooling, supplies, and support for transportation.

One youth supported through the program was 16-year-old Nathan. He is a student at St. Jean Bosco in Cotonou, Benin. Nathan lost his father when he was young and lives with his mother, who has few resources.

Nathan said: “For a long time, I thought that my school journey would stop due to a lack of resources. I didn’t believe I’d be able to continue my studies, let alone be able to attend professional training. But everything changed thanks to the scholarship that I received. I was able to complete my secondary education and obtain my baccalaureate. I am now pursuing professional training with the firm desire to succeed and learn a profession and one day be able to support my family as they have supported me.”

He finally stated: “This scholarship transformed my life. It gave me hope, confidence, and a real direction to follow. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the school and to all partners and benefactors who make this project possible. Thanks to you, young people like me can dream again and especially believe in a better future.”

Homily for 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
11th Sunday of Ordinary Time

June 14, 2026
Collect
Ex 19: 2-6
Ps 100: 1-3, 5
Rom 5: 6-11
Matt 9: 36—10: 8
Villa Maria, Bronx
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx

Undoubtedly, you’re aware that our country is gearing up to celebrate the semiquincentennial of our Declaration of Independence.  That fancy word means “half of 500 years.”  Our recent history as a nation has laid plenty of emphasis on independence, on personal freedom, to do, say, and be whoever we want whenever we want wherever we want.  Not a few people have lamented that as destructive of social and political cohesion, of human solidarity; rather, as a tendency to factionalize, even atomize, who we are.

Today’s liturgy highlights dependence.  In the collect, we addressed God as the “strength of those who hope in you” and admitted “without you mortal frailty can do nothing.”  We prayed for “the help of your grace always” in order that we might follow “your commands” and thus “please you” in mind and action.

In other words, we acknowledge that God’s in charge, and we depend upon him to overcome our weakness of mind and heart, our sinful inclinations and misdeeds.  We may be independent from King George III and Great Britain, but we’re certainly not independent of God’s kingdom.  The Declaration of Independence itself acknowledges “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” and that our “unalienable Rights” come from our Creator and not from ourselves or our government, and that our welfare relies “on the Protection of divine Providence.”

That, of course, is a political manifesto.  Our Scriptures make a moral and religious statement.  The Lord tells Moses at Mt. Sinai that if the Israelites “hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people,” and they will enjoy a royal, priestly, holy status in his presence.  Israel’s well-being depends on their closeness to God and obedience to his commands.

Writing to the Christians at Rome, St. Paul reminds them that we are helpless (5:6) sinners who depend upon God’s grace to “be saved thru Christ from the wrath” of God’s judgment (5:8-9).  Christ’s death is our life, “thru whom we have now received reconciliation” (5:11).  Forgiveness and eternal life are gifts from God, freely offered to us.  We depend on his mercy, on the love he has proved to us in Christ (5:8).  Without him, “mortal frailty can do nothing” (Collect).  Independence from his love would be our destruction.  Serving the Lord is cause for gladness and makes our hearts joyful (Ps 100:2).

The gospel observed that “Jesus’ heart was moved with pity” for the crowds who flocked to him, “troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36).  We’re helpless and lost, sick and confused, until the Good Shepherd takes us in charge.  When he let him lead and direct us, then we find healing and security—not in a political sense but in a moral and spiritual sense, in the sense suggested by St. Augustine’s most famous line:  “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” (Confessions 1, 1)

The Psalmist assures us, “The Lord is good; his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” (Ps 100:5).  You can depend on it.

Pope Leo XIV in Barcelona, "in Don Bosco's Company"

Pope Leo XIV in Barcelona, “in Don Bosco's Company”

(ANS – Barcelona - June 12, 2026) – Pope Leo XIV spent the 2d, extended stage of his apostolic journey in Spain in Barcelona, a city with deep ties to Don Bosco. Pope Leo’s messages and gestures as a true shepherd didn’t leave the faithful who had gathered there indifferent, just as Don Bosco’s visit to the Catalan city was not without fruit. With the help of an authoritative son of Don Bosco who is a native of Barcelona, Fr. Joan Lluis Playà, delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family, let’s revisit some of the key moments of this Catalan leg of the papal journey through a Salesian lens.

On Wednesday, June 10, from the central balcony of the façade of the abbey of Montserrat, one of Catalonia’s great spiritual symbols, Pope Leo XIV delivered a message of unity and asked, before the thousands of faithful listening to him, that they live “all united as one family” – an image that became one of the key themes of his visit to this Autonomous Community of Spain.

Similarly, during the Mass he presided over on the centennial of Antoni Gaudí’s death, at his masterpiece the Sagrada Familia, Pope Leo XIV once again issued an appeal to the heart of every Christian, calling for peace and hospitality, emphasizing that those who believe can’t kill the innocent nor “abandon those who suffer, those who weep, those fleeing poverty.”

Indeed, Don Bosco was also present at both these Christian landmarks from which Pope Leo addressed his messages of unity and brotherhood. Fr. Playà explains: “The promoters of these works wanted them to feature saints born in Barcelona or those who had had a direct connection with the city. And Don Bosco is certainly one of them.”

The saint of youth visited Barcelona in the final phase of his life, in 1886, but still found time there to arouse great attention and zeal for the Lord, so much so that he received a donation of land on Mount Tibidabo and had the great shrine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus built there, which stands there today as an ideal continuation of the work in Rome to which he had dedicated the last years of his life. “Now that the church of the Sacred Heart in Rome is almost complete,” said Don Bosco upon receiving the unexpected donation in Barcelona, “we must consider how to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus ever more. And an inner voice assured me that I would find the means to fulfill my desire. This voice kept repeating to me: Tibidabo, tibidabo (I will give, I will give – in Latin)” (MB XVIII,114).

DB at Monserrat

Returning to the two statues, the rector major’s delegate for the Salesian Family adds: “In the case of the abbey of Montserrat, the image of Don Bosco flanked by 2 children is situated directly in front of the basilica, as if to establish a direct dialog with the abbey and with our Lady venerated there. In the case of the Sagrada Família, it was Antoni Gaudí who, from the very start of construction, desired the presence of the saints as living symbols of the practice of virtue and examples for the world, so that their contemplation might foster remembrance and inspire imitation.”

Furthermore, the reference to Don Bosco in the Sagrada Família Basilica offers a natural link to the Salesian basilica of the Sacred Heart on Tibidabo.

DB at Sagrada Familia

 Fr. Playà concludes:

 “Just as the tower of the Sagrada Família is the highest point of the city’s buildings, so Tibidabo, presided over by the Sacred Heart, is the highest point of the mountain that surrounds the city. And Don Bosco, always depicted with young people by his side, invited us precisely to ‘Raise Our Eyes’ – the motto of this apostolic journey – to rekindle our faith, nourish our hope and practice charity.”

Venerable Constantine Vendrame, Apostle of the Sacred Heart

Venerable Constantine Vendrame
Apostle of the Sacred Heart

by Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General

(ANS – Rome - June 11, 2026) – On May 22, Pope Leo XIV authorized the promulgation of the decree of venerability for Fr. Constantine Vendrame (1893–1957), a Salesian missionary who brought the Gospel to northeastern India, finding the source of his heroic charity in the mystery of the Heart of Jesus.

A life dedicated to the mission

Born in San Martino di Colle Umberto (Treviso) in 1893, Fr. Vendrame arrived in Shillong in 1924. From the very beginning of his frontier apostolate, he distinguished himself through his total dedication to the local people, who felt loved by him with the heart of Christ. For Vendrame, the mission was not the imposition of rules, but the communication of a love that had changed his own life. In his missionary apostolate, we find the hallmarks of great heroism, not only in how he lived it, but also in the fruits of faith and adherence to the Gospel among the people he encountered. For him, God came before anything else. The words of Pope Francis in Dilexit Nos suit him perfectly: “Mission, as a radiation of the love of the heart of Christ, requires missionaries who are themselves in love and who, enthralled by Christ, feel bound to share this love that has changed their lives. They are impatient when time is wasted discussing secondary questions or concentrating on truths and rules, because their greatest concern is to share what they have experienced. They want others to perceive the goodness and beauty of the Beloved through their efforts, however inadequate they may be.” (no. 209).

The Mawlai Shrine: a dream come true

The most tangible sign of his work is the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Mawlai, Shillong. To build it, he sought the help of Italian benefactors; yet, being a man of the utmost modesty, he wanted everything there to be beautiful, for a church to shine as a sign of Catholic truth and a visible center of unity. A touching detail concerns the choice of name: it was a child who suggested he dedicate it to the Sacred Heart, and the missionary listened to him. The opening on April 13, 1935, represented for Fr. Constantine the fulfilment of a prophetic dream: years earlier, a woman had described to him a great church on top of a hill surrounded by an immense crowd. On the walls of the altar, even today, stands the invitation that guided his entire inner life: “fili, praebe mihi cor tuum” (son, give me your heart).

To mark the culmination of those days, there was also “a solemn consecration of all the participants to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” In just over 10 years of missionary life, they had succeeded in building that important center of faith and prayer, through which the Sacred Heart would reign in the hearts of so many.

It was the extension into souls of the Kingdom of that “King of Love” for whom Fr. Constantine had set out in 1924.

His spiritual legacy

Fr. Vendrame conceived of his own existence as a fragrant sacrifice for the Church and for the world, writing that “thus we break our life, it perfumes the mystical body of Jesus… and purifies the air.” Before leaving for India, he had sealed his commitment on the back of a small image dedicated to the Sacred Heart: “I have entrusted everything to you, I have hoped for everything from you, and I have not been disappointed.”

He passed away on January 30, 1957, on the eve of Don Bosco’s feastday, having expended every ounce of energy for his brothers. Today his remains rest in the Mawlai Shrine, next to the Salesian Theological College, remaining a “living stone” and a source of inspiration for the many vocations that continue to flourish on Indian soil.

Homily for Memorial of St. Barnabas

Homily for the Memorial of St. Barnabas

June 11, 2026
Acts 11: 21-26; 13: 1-3
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

St. Barnabas healing the sick
(Paolo Vernonese)

“The Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13: 2).

Jesus taught that no disciple is greater than his teacher, but when fully trained will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40).  St. Paul probably is an exception to that rule.  Barnabas, given name Joseph (Acts 4:36), nicknamed “son of encouragement,” proved to be a good patron and mentor for Paul, but by the end of their missionary journey thru Cyprus and part of Asia Minor, Paul had become the leader.

And not long after, they broke up.  Acts tells us “their disagreement was sharp” (15:39, over whether Barnabas’s cousin John Mark should come on their proposed 2d mission.  When they split, Paul returned to Asia Minor, accompanied by Silas, and Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus.  That’s the last we hear of Barnabas, According to tradition, he was martyred on Cyprus.  Tertullian suggested that he authored the Letter to the Hebrews, and Pope Benedict commented that, being a Levite (4:36), “Barnabas may have been interested in the topic of the priesthood; and the Letter to the Hebrews interprets Jesus’ priesthood for us in an extraordinary way.”[1]

The Holy Father found it “very comforting” that “there are also disputes, disagreements, and controversies among saints … because we see that the saints have not ‘fallen from Heaven.’  They are people like us, who also have complicated problems.”

Benedict goes on:  “Holiness does not consist in never having erred or sinned.  Holiness increases the capacity for conversion, for repentance, for willingness to start again, and, especially, for reconciliation and forgiveness.”[2]

That reconciliation seems to have happened.  At the end of Paul’s life, thrice he refers to Mark as one of his fellow workers (Col 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24), and both Colossians (4:10) and 1 Corinthians (9:6) speak mildly of Barnabas.

One hagiographer sums up:  “If it needed the intense fire of a Paul to set the Mediterranean world alight, it needed the quiet encouragement of a Barnabas to make that fire the light that would enlighten the world.”[3]  The Holy Spirit was at work in both of them.

---

[1] Jesus, the Apostles, and the Early Church (SF: Ignatius, 2007), pp. 141-142.

[2] Ibid., p. 141.

[3] The Saints: A Concise Biographical Dictionary, ed. John Couson (NY: Guild Press, 1958), p. 99.

Homily for Tuesday, Week 10 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Tuesday
Week 10 of Ordinary Time

June 9, 2026
1 Kings 17: 7-16
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Elijah & the Widow of Zarephath
(Bartholomeus Breenbergh)

“Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink” (1 Kings 17: 10).

Elijah’s request of the widow at Zarephath calls to mind Jesus’ promise, “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ … will surely not lose his reward” (Mark 9:41).

The widow goes beyond that, trusting completely in the prophet’s promise that God will provide for her and her son in addition to him.  Her faith is so great that Jesus cites it in his famous, poorly received sermon in his hometown synagog (Luke 4:25-26), indicating that the faith of Gentiles pleases God.  Given how God cared for this faith-filled woman, how could anyone deny that?

The poor widow wasn’t an accomplished person.  She had no wealth, no talent, no connections, no influence to offer God—only her faith.  She acted on her faith, and God saved her.  Our faith in God, in spite of our limitations, our weaknesses, and our failures, is our salvation.

Rite of Beatification for Fr. Jan Swierc and Companions

The Rite of Beatification for Fr. Jan Swierc and Companions

Photos: Karolina Krzyminska

(ANS – Krakow – June 8, 2026) – On Saturday, June 6, at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Krakow, 9 Polish Salesian martyrs were beatified: Frs. Jan Swierc, Ignacy Antonowicz, Ignacy Dobiasz, Karol Golda, Franciszek Harazim, Franciszek Miska, Ludwik Mroczek, Wlodzimierz Szembek, and Kazimierz Wojciechowski.

Greetings from the archbishop of Krakow

At the start of the beatification ceremony – presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, representing Pope Leo XIV – Cardinal Grzegorz Rys, archbishop of Krakow and host of the event, welcomed all those present, greeting the ecclesiastical, political, and Salesian representatives, and offering a special thought to the young people, whom he urged to befriend the youngest of the new blesseds: Fr. Karol Golda, who at the outbreak of World War II was a newly ordained priest and was arrested and killed at Auschwitz because he heard the confessions of German soldiers, including members of the concentration camp staff: “Dear young people, I trust that you, too, would like to love in this way and experience a love so intense that it transcends all boundaries, overcomes evil with good, and is unstoppable.”

The biographies of the Blesseds and the apostolic letter

Fr. Dariusz Bartocha, SDB, provincial of the Krakow Province, presented a brief biography of the priests. Card.  Semeraro then read the Pope’s apostolic letter, in which the Holy Father, in response to the request of the archbishop of Krakow, as well as other bishops and the faithful, granted the elevation to the honors of the altars of the Venerable Servants of God Jan Swierc and his 8 companions – “fervent proclaimers of the Gospel, who, out of love for their brothers, did not fear to bear witness to Christ the Lord even unto the shedding of their blood.” According to the document, they may henceforth be called blessed and venerated every year on May 23, in accordance with the procedures and in the places established by canon law. Following the reading of the letter, a long and thunderous round of applause rang out throughout the sanctuary.

The unveiling of the painting and the procession with the relics

Following the unveiling of the portrait of the blessed martyrs, created by the Salesian brothers Fr. Robert and Fr. Leszek Kruczek, the priests from the parish where the martyrs had been baptized and representatives of their families carried relics associated with the lives of the new blesseds during a solemn procession. During the procession, everyone sang the beatification hymn “Jak zloto w ogniu” (Like gold in the fire).

The Holy Father’s representative paid homage to the relics, after which the archbishop of Krakow and the postulator of the cause expressed their gratitude for the beatification.

Cardinal Semeraro’s homily

Card. Semeraro emphasized that the newly beatified join the “immense multitude” of martyrs and saints mentioned in the book of Revelation. He recalled St. John Paul II, St. Faustina Kowalska, and Venerable Jan Tyranowski. He also mentioned the parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Debniki, served by the Salesians, which played an important role in shaping Karol Wojtyla’s vocation.

“The martyrs whose beatification we celebrate today expressed to the very end, usque ad effusionem sanguinis, the preciousness of the Salesian charism. Jan Swierc and his companions were practical guides in the education of young people, caring for the poor and the suffering. Like St. John Bosco, they saw in every young person they met in the parish fields, in the courtyards of the oratories, or in the school classrooms, a beloved lamb, precious in the eyes of the Lord. And if Don Bosco used to say to young people: ‘I study for you, I work for you, I live for you, and I am even willing to give my life for you,’ they truly gave their lives as martyrs of Christ and of the Church: when anti-religious hatred, when violence and injustice, which raged in the last century, sought to scatter the flock, they did not flee,” said the cardinal.

Drawing on the witness of the martyrs, Card. Semeraro addressed a special message to the Salesians: “Today, in a certain sense, the legacy of these new Blesseds is placed in your hands: be shepherds of the flock with the same zeal that distinguished them,” and he also quoted the apostolic exhortation Dilexi te, in which Pope Leo speaks of “the great Salesian work, based on the three principles of the ‘preventive method’ – reason, religion, and charity” (no. 70).

Words from the Rector Major

Before the final blessing, Fr. Fabio Attard also offered a few words of thanks, emphasizing that the newly beatified, in a world full of violence and fear, had remained faithful to Christ and to their Salesian vocation. For this reason, he paid tribute to their perseverance and their witness to holiness. “May it inspire us today, young and old alike, to profess our faith and remain faithful to our vocation, in hope and joy,” he said.

The young people’s thanksgiving

Following the ceremony in Krakow, which concluded with a message from the president of Poland, a thanksgiving celebration organized by the young people was held in the evening in Oswiecim. This included a concert by Magda Aniol, a time of communal praise to God for the gift of beatification, and a joyful moment of fellowship among the participants. It was a time of gathering, prayer, and community-building in an atmosphere of gratitude for the new Salesian blesseds.

The full text, in Italian, of Card. Semeraro’s homily is available: Omelia_della_Beatificazione.docx

Nine Salesian Martyrs Beatified in Krakow

Nine Salesian Martyrs Beatified in Krakow
“A Light of Hope in the Darkness of War”

(ANS – Krakow – June 6, 2026) – Nine Polish Salesian priests, victims of Nazi persecution during World War II, were beatified this morning at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Kraków. Presiding at the Mass on behalf of the Holy Father, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, described them as “a true seed of peace and fraternity in an age so dark and violent.”

The new Blesseds – Fr. Jan Swierc and 8 companions – died between 1941 and 1942 as a result of torture, beatings, and extreme hardship suffered in the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Dachau. Following the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, persecution was unleashed with particular severity against the Catholic Church.

Card. Semeraro described that period as “a dramatic page in the nation’s history.” Yet, he emphasized, the celebration was not intended to commemorate the sorrow of those events, but rather to give glory to Christ, borne witness to by the 9 priests, “sons of St. John Bosco,” who “like Christ and with Christ gave their lives.”

Martyrs Known to the Young Karol Wojtyla

The beatification enriches the already numerous ranks of Polish saints and blesseds, among them St. John Paul II – archbishop of Krakow and later Supreme Pontiff – and St. Faustina Kowalska, who from Poland spread thruout the world the powerful message of Divine Mercy.

Card. Semeraro also recalled the Venerable Servant of God Jan Tyranowski, the spiritual mentor with whom the young Karol Wojtyla took an active part in the life of the nearby parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Debniki, entrusted to the Salesians. Several of the newly beatified priests carried out their pastoral ministry there. St. John Paul II himself wrote about them in his book Gift and Mystery.

Faithful to the Salesian Charism

In his homily, the cardinal highlighted the Salesian charism embodied by Fr. Swierc and his companions. Their vocation was expressed thru concrete dedication to the education of young people and care for the poor and the suffering. Like Don Bosco, they saw in every child “a beloved sheep, precious in the eyes of the Lord.”

In the face of anti-religious hatred, violence, and injustice that raged during the last century, the 9 Blesseds did not flee. Instead, they remained faithful to their calling until death, shedding their blood as a sign of peace.

An Appeal to the Young

The beatification, Card. Semeraro continued, represents a threefold invitation. 1st, it is addressed to young people, “the future of society and the living present of the Church,” in whom the Church places her trust.

In today’s world, he observed, freedom, happiness, and success are often detached from truth, responsibility, and sacrifice. The ideals offered may appear easy and immediate, promising much yet leaving the heart empty. Christ, by contrast, makes life “beautiful and great,” bringing to fulfilment humanity’s deepest desires.

He therefore urged young people to open their hearts to Christ, especially in moments of uncertainty, confusion, and loneliness. “The Lord does not call us to renounce our dreams,” he said, “but to purify and enlighten them,” so that life may become full, authentic and capable of self-giving.

Encouragement for Salesians and the Faithful

The 2nd invitation was directed to the Salesians of Don Bosco. Card. Semeraro expressed the hope that the legacy of the new Blesseds would enable every priest to respond generously to the voice of the Good Shepherd. Quoting St. John Paul II, he exhorted them: “Do not be afraid. Do not let yourselves be frightened by the vertigo of a holy priestly life.”

The 3rd and final appeal was addressed to all the faithful. In an age marked by “digital loneliness,” where virtuality can create the illusion of genuine relationships thru ever more sophisticated means, holiness consists above all in listening to God’s will without yielding to weariness or discouragement. What is required, he said, is to learn anew to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd, in order to belong to him more fully and to make courageous choices as true disciples of Christ and his Cross.

A Sign of Peace Amid Today’s Wars

In conclusion, Card. Semeraro turned his gaze to the present historical moment, “once again marked by the sadness and cruelty of war.” In this difficult context, the 9 Salesian martyrs beatified today bear witness to “the gift of peace,” reminding the world that even in the darkness of history there are always those capable of bringing “a light of hope, love, and fraternity.”

Diocesan Phase of Fr. Braga's Cause Concludes

Diocesan Phase of Fr. Charles Braga’s Cause for Beatification Concludes

(ANS - San Fernando, Philippines – June 3, 2026) – On  June 1, the archdiocese of San Fernando celebrated the closing session of the diocesan inquiry into the cause for beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Fr. Charles Braga (1889–1971), a Salesian missionary who dedicated his life to evangelization and the education of young people in China and the Philippines.

The ceremony took place in the chapel of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, located within the complex of the archdiocesan chancery of San Fernando. Abp. Florentino G. Lavarias of San Fernando presided. The event was attended by priests, men and women religious, members of the Salesian Family, and numerous faithful, gathered to give thanks to God for the Servant of God’s witness to holiness.

During the session, the diocesan tribunal officially presented the acts of the inquiry, containing the testimonies, documentation, and evidence gathered on the life, heroic virtues, reputation for holiness, and signs of Fr. Braga. Following the declaration of authenticity of the acts and the prescribed oath by the officials of the cause, Abp. Lavarias formally declared the diocesan inquiry concluded.

Also present was Fr. Ronilo Javines, SDB, Salesian provincial of Philippines North, together with representatives of the various groups of the Salesian Family, who wished to share this significant moment for the Congregation and for the Church in the Philippines.

The postulation was represented by Fr. Gabriel Cruz, collaborator of the postulator general, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, SDB, who coordinated the final preparations for the concluding session. With him was Matteo Penati, who oversaw the organizational and documentary aspects of the cause.

The ceremony concluded with the sealing of the documents and their preparation for transmission to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, where the examination of the cause will continue. With this important step, the Church entrusts to the Holy See the evaluation of the spiritual legacy of Fr. Charles Braga, whose life continues to inspire the Salesian Family and all those dedicated to the service of young people, especially the poorest and neediest.

Fr. Braga with a Chinese boys band

Homily for Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Homily for the Solemnity of
Corpus Christi

June 7, 2026
John 6: 51-58
Deut 8: 2-3, 14-16
Villa Maria, Bronx
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx

“Jesus said, ‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven’” (John 6: 51).

Jesus has been speaking at length to the people who’ve looked for him after he multiplied bread and fish to feed thousands of men and women.  They chased him down from across the Sea of Galilee to the synagog in Capernaum.

He speaks 1st of the nourishing power of his teaching (6:26-50).  Then he speaks of a more wonderful food, the “true food” and “true drink” of his own body and blood (6:55).

In their dialog with Jesus, the people had referred to the manna that God had provided for their ancestors when they wandered as nomads in the Sinai desert for 40 years.  When the Hebrews saw the manna for the 1st time, the book of Exodus tells us, they “asked one another, ‘What is this?’ for they didn’t know what it was” (16:15).  The manna appeared each morning, “fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground,” according to Exodus (16:14).  It’s further described as “like coriander seed, but white, and it tasted like wafers made with honey” (16:31).  And “Moses told them, ‘This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat’” (16:15).

The Hebrews gathering manna
(anon. painting, ca. 1460)

However tasty and nutritional, that manna wasn’t a live thing.  It sustained life for the day, and God provided it for years in the desert.  But, Jesus cautions his audience in the synagog, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life” (6:27).  He points out, “your ancestors ate and still died” (John 6:58) during all those years.

They died because the manna was temporary and because, St. Paul reminded the Christians at Corinth, they ate without faith in God or in Moses (I, 10:1-11); they were constantly complaining and rebelling.  “Most of them failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert,” Paul writes (10:5).  The Letter of St. Jude warns, “I wish to remind you … that the Lord who once saved a people from the land of Egypt later destroyed those who did not believe” (v. 5)

Jesus offers living bread—living because it is “my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51).  Jesus is alive, his flesh and blood are alive, and they fill with his life “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood” (6:54), even unto eternal life, the life that Risen Jesus enjoys in heaven.

That’s why the Church celebrates the Eucharist every day and requires our participation in the Eucharist at least every Sunday, the day of the Lord’s resurrection.  That’s why we have this one extra-special celebration of the Lord’s body and blood, the feast of Corpus Christi.  Jesus wants us to have life for eternity, as he does, and in this sacrament he offers that to us:  truly not bread and wine but his living body and blood under the outward appearance of bread and wine, just as he said to the apostles at the Last Supper, “This is my body for you.  Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24).