Salesian Family Welcomes Pope Francis to Mongolia

Pope’s Visit: Salesian Family at Work

(ANS – Ulan Bator, Mongolia – August 31, 2023) –Pope Francis will be in Mongolia from September 1 to 4 for his apostolic visit. The media will focus on the public events. Behind the scenes, many have been working since the Pope announced his visit to the “land of the eternal blue sky.” Many Salesian Cooperators, Salesians of Don Bosco, and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians are involved in these preparations, together with other religious of the prefecture apostolic. Among these there are also a Salesian brother and an FMA sister.

Sr. Hanako Kojima, FMA, is a Japanese missionary who has been in Mongolia for many years. People are easily impressed by her jovial character and ability to communicate well in the Mongolian language. She will be the head of the selected staff who will prepare the Pope’s meals during his stay in the prefecture apostolic. “When I was told that I would have this task I was so happy, but also so scared,” Sr. Hanako explained. Protocol does not allow Sr. Hanako to reveal the papal menu. “I feel really privileged to have been chosen along with other sisters for this humble service to our Holy Father,” Sr. Hanako said with joy shining in her eyes.

Bro. Andrew Le Phuong Tran, SDB, has been a Vietnamese missionary to Mongolia for many years. Previously, he was in charge of the Ulan Bator Technical Training Center. He is currently the treasurer of the SDBs’ Mongolia Delegation, responsible for the Planning and Development Office; he’s also the treasurer of the prefecture apostolic. Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, prefect apostolic of Ulan Bator, appointed him general coordinator of the Pope’s visit. He will be part of the official delegation that will receive the Pope at the airport and see him off on September 4. “My role involves meeting and informing Mongolian government officials, liaising with the Vatican staff in charge of the Pope’s visit, and supervising logistics,” explained Bro. Andrew.

Asked what his biggest challenge is, Bro. Andrew explained that, in addition to the heavy workload and tight deadlines, he had to meet with government officials, many of whom were initially unaware of all the implications of the Pope’s visit. In fact, this is a first for many in Mongolia. “But my joy is even greater when I see the transformation of the understanding of many government officials and ordinary Mongolian citizens regarding the Pope’s visit. When we began preparations, we were dealing with undersecretaries of departments who were not fully aware of the implications of the papal visit. But as the Holy Father’s arrival approached, many government ministers contacted me to verify that the government’s preparations were in place,” explained Bro. Andrew.

“Welcome to Mongolia, Pope Francis!” comments the entire Salesian Family in the country.

Homily for Memorial of Passion of John the Baptist

Homily for the Memorial of the
Passion of St. John the Baptist

August 29, 2023
Jer 1: 17-19
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, New Rochelle

“I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord” (Jer 1:19).

Jeremiah on the ruins of Jerusalem

(Horace Vernet)

The passage from Jeremiah was chosen for this memorial of the martyrdom of John the Baptist because Jeremiah, like John, suffered at the hands of the public authorities for preaching the prophetic message given to him by God.

In the collect we prayed that “we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what [God teaches].”  Most of us were teachers, catechists of one sort or another regardless of our subject matter, bearers of the Gospel at least implicitly.  In fact, we still are.  You are, even at St. Joseph.

By your faith, your companionship with each other and the staff, your cheerfulness, your kindness, and your patience, you continue to testify that the Lord is with you and you know that he’ll deliver you.  He won’t deliver you from public wrath, which isn’t a likely issue here; nor from the travails of age and bodily decline, which is an issue; but from the grasp of the Evil One, from “the gates of the netherworld,” as we heard in Sunday’s gospel (Matt 16:18).  We believe in our deliverance by Christ from the consequences of both our moral and our physical frailty.

53d Pilgrimage of Faith to Chimpay

The 53rd Pilgrimage of Faith to Chimpay
Homage to Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá

 (ANS – Chimpay, Argentina – August 30, 2023) – The 53rd pilgrimage of faith in memory of the young Mapuche native took place between Friday, August 25, and Sunday the 27th in Chimpay, a town in Argentina’s Rio Negro Province, where Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá was born. The event took place under the motto “With Ceferino, sowers of hope today.”

The largest pilgrimage of faith in Patagonia began on Friday with the arrival of the pilgrims on horseback. After traveling many miles, they arrived at the Parque Ceferiniano to bring their offerings, their greetings, and their prayers before the traditional image that is venerated year round.

Religious, cultural, and recreational activities continued on Saturday, the day of the liturgical memorisl of the Blessed. The flow of pilgrims started very early in the morning. As the day progressed, then, the number of pilgrims grew further, with hundreds of people coming to greet Blessed Ceferino. There were celebrations and baptisms, while in the evening there was a prayer by the fire, animated by the Mapuche community. Saturday ended with a song to the earth by the young people of the Chimpay sports center.

On Sunday the 27th, the activities began with the first rays of the sun on the hill of the Fifth Centennial Cross (on National Road 22), with Mapuche prayer and supplication. At 9:00 a.m. the impressive group of people began the pilgrimage to the Parque Ceferiniano, where they arrived after a two-hour walk. At 11 o’clock the Mass began on an altar prepared outdoors.

The celebration was presided over by the Salesian bishop of Viedma, Bishop Esteban Maria Laxague, and concelebrated by Bishops Alejandro Pablo Benna (Alto Valle del Rio Negro) and Juan Carlos Ares (San Carlos de Bariloche) and by priests from different parts of the region and the country. Also concelebrating was the superior of the province of South Argentina, Fr Dario Perera, together with several Salesians from the communities in the area.

This demonstration was, once again, a true proof that if you pray with faith, God works in people’s lives.

Salesians Support Amazon Yanomami Tribe

Salesians Support Amazon Yanomami Tribe

 

Salesian Missions

(ANS – Maturacá, Brazil – August 28, 2023) -- Salesian missionaries in the Maturacá mission in Alto Rio Negro, the Brazilian part of Amazon rainforest, provided support for the Yanomami indigenous community thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions of New Rochelle. Salesians have been in the region for more than 40 years and have a school, pastoral center, and parish.

During the funding period from October 2021 to October 2022, Salesians visited 4 villages and provided recreational and sporting activities for 646 children. In addition, Salesians provided sacraments and made home visits for health and education support. Funding also provided for a range of support including gasoline for motorboats, a 4×4 car rental, diesel for a power generator, educational materials and meals for students, batteries for solar energy, and personnel costs.

One of the biggest challenges is accessing the community given the distance and terrain to reach the mission. Salesians take many journeys between the Maturacá base and smaller Yanomami communities. Fuel for boats and a car to travel over the gravel roads are important for their work.

Salesians work against illiteracy and poverty while cultivating and preserving traditional culture. Education also includes information about healthy living and protecting the environment. More than 500 people are involved in the education programs.

In addition, Salesians focus on ensuring that children have the nutrition they need. A Salesian explained: “Malnutrition is a serious problem in the region. The main food is cassava and caught fish or hunted game. But often children don’t get a nutritious meal. On the mission, the youngest are nourished during breaks between lessons and during the activity in the youth center and parish. Salesians supplement food and vitamins to help prevent malnutrition.”

Funding also provided for batteries for solar energy. In 2008, solar panels and energy storage batteries were purchased that provide electricity at night. The previous batteries are down to 10% of their life, but with the donor funding, Salesians were able to purchase new batteries.

Salesian missionaries in Brazil provide education, workforce development and social services throughout the country. Missionaries help to meet the basic needs of poor youths, including street children, and provide them with an education and life skills to gain employment, break the cycle of poverty, and lead productive lives.

According to the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Brazil with poverty tripling in 2021. Nearly 17 million people fell into poverty in the first quarter of the year, and the poverty rate now is higher than it was a decade ago. Researchers estimate that 12.8% of Brazil’s population, some 27 million people, are now living below the poverty line.

Source: Salesian Missions

Homily for 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Aug. 27, 2023
Collect
Matt 16: 13-20
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx

In the opening prayer of the Mass, properly called the collect because it brings together or collects our silent, personal prayers, we praised God for “uniting in a single purpose the minds of the faithful.”  Now, we might ask ourselves, “What is that ‘single purpose’ on which, by God’s grace, we’ve set our minds?  The prayer answers that question:  that we all may love what God commands and “our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found.”

If you watch TV—which I do now and then—you’re sure to see ads for places to go on vacation and have a good time, such as Quebec, the Bahamas, or an ocean cruise.  If you can afford something like that, you can indeed enjoy yourself and find a measure of happiness, especially if you’re with family or good friends.

But is that “true gladness,” lasting happiness?  If we’re in touch with reality, we know it’s not.  Vacations come to an end, and we return to our everyday lives.  Even honeymoons end.

King Solomon's Plan for the Temple

(Providence Lithograph Co.)

So where ought we to fix our hearts?  Or, in the other words of the collect, what is the single purpose on which we faithful followers of Jesus ought to be united?  Our responsorial psalm suggests that we desire to worship at God’s holy temple, to sing his praise in the presence of the angels (Ps 138:1-2).  In a temporary sense, our church building is God’s holy temple.  But church buildings, like vacations and honeymoons, come and go.  Lord knows, we’ve been reminded of that repeatedly by the closing of parishes and the sale of church properties.  The collect spoke of “the uncertainties of this world.”

Where is true gladness, then?  In eternal life, as we pray always for our loved ones when they pass away:  “Eternal rest grant unto to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”  True gladness is found in a lasting relationship with Christ, who loves us and promises to meet our deepest desires, with whom we hope to feast at an eternal banquet.  We prayed that we might desire what God the Father promises us:  eternal life, true gladness, the perfect satisfaction of all we long for.

How to attain what the Father promises us thru Christ?  By loving what Jesus commands, and pursuing what we love; better, pursuing the One whom we love.

In our 2d reading, St. Paul, quoting the prophet Isaiah (40:13), asks, “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” (Rom 11:34).  Christ has revealed to us “the mind of the Lord,” which is that by repenting of our sins we should be granted forgiveness and be joined to him in eternal life.  Jesus is the true “key of the House of David” of which Isaiah speaks in our 1st reading, the one who opens so that “no one shall shut” (22:22), i.e., he opens for us the road to heaven, the road to “true gladness.”

We hear over and over in the Gospels that the road to heaven entails following Jesus, loving what God commands, viz., loving God and our neighbor—in practice and not just in words.  And how are we to know what God commands?  How are we to know what’s right and wrong?  In the gospel reading today, Jesus tells us that God reveals heavenly knowledge to Simon Peter:  “flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father” (Matt 16:17).  And Jesus gives to Peter “the keys to the kingdom of heaven” (16:19), i.e., true teaching on how to follow Jesus on that road.  That’s why we consider St. Peter heaven’s gatekeeper.

Pilgrims passing by Peter's statue

in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome

If Jesus’ promise to Peter is to mean something in the 21st century, 1,960 years after Peter’s death, if “the gates of the netherworld [the gates of death] shall not prevail” over us who try to follow Jesus into eternal life, then the promise of Jesus must have a permanence that extends into the 21st century.  We find that permanence in Peter’s successors, in the bishops of Rome, the Popes, who secure Peter’s apostolic teaching.  We know what Jesus teaches because Peter tells us and Peter’s successors tell us.  They bring divine teachings, the mind of God, to the 21st century.  In the 1st centuries of the Faith, those teachings mostly concerned Christian doctrine, e.g., that Christ is truly God and that Mary is truly the Mother of God.  In our time, those teachings mostly concern morality:  matters of war and peace, of life and death (e.g., abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment), of human sexuality, of care for the environment, of basic human rights (e.g., the rights of migrants and refugees, resistance to human trafficking).  The divine teachings of Peter’s successors are not part of what the collect calls “the uncertainties of this world.”  The Pope, whether that’s St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, or Francis, points us to where we can fix our hearts, “where true gladness is found”; the Pope helps unite our minds and hearts in a single purpose, helps us discern right from wrong, helps us know what God commands, guides us as Google Maps can never do along the safe road toward eternal life.

Homily for Memorial of Blessed Maria Troncatti

Homily for the Memorial of
Bl. Maria Troncatti

Aug. 25, 2023
Matt 22: 34-40
Provincial House, New Rochelle

The 2d great commandment is like the 1st:  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22: 39).[1]

Bl. Maria Troncatti practiced love of neighbor for her whole life.  She did it as a nurse during WWI, when Italian soldiers suffered horrendous casualties on the front with Austria.  She did it for 47 years in the Amazon forests of eastern Ecuador—the same region where our confrere Fr. Tom Brown ministered a few years after her death in 1969.

Maria went there in 1922, already a mature FMA, and she never went back to Italy, giving herself completely to the native people.

The reading from the Office today is taken from John Paul II’s encyclical on the missions.  The passage seems to have been written with Bl. Maria in mind:  “A commitment to peace, justice, human rights, and human promotion is also a witness to the Gospel when it is a sign of concern for persons and is directed toward integral human development.”[2]

John Paul also speaks of the rich and fruitful motherhood in the spirit that women religious bring to their missionary labors.[3]  Bl. Maria was with good reason called madrecita buena.  She was not only a catechist and evangelizer on that jungle frontier but also nurse, dentist, and surgeon.  She insisted on the rights of women and children, and promoted family life.

Finally, when she was well into her 80s and violence was breaking out between the native people and white settlers who were taking advantage of them—and who had burned down the SDB residence because the Salesians were defending the natives—Sister Maria offered her life to Mary Help of Christians for the sake of peace.  A few days later, when she and some others were leaving for retreat, their plane crashed on takeoff.  Everyone survived except her.  As a result of her funeral, the violence dissipated and peace was restored.  She had offered her life.

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[1] Gospel for Friday, Week 20 of O.T.

[2] Redemptoris missio, 42.

[3] Ibid., 70.

Homily for 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
20th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Aug. 20, 2023
Matt 15: 21-28
Is 56: 1, 6-7                              
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx

Jesus & the Canaanite Woman (Pieter Lastman)

Jesus said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’” (Matt 15: 24).

The story about Jesus that we hear today is quite startling.  It doesn’t sound at all like the Jesus we know, or think we know.  He sounds almost cruel in how he treats this pagan woman who comes to him desperate for him to save her daughter from demonic possession.  We needn’t consider just what that meant, only that the girl’s condition was dire and the mother has only one hope for her:  “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!” (15:22).

This pagan woman calls Jesus “Lord,” recognizing his kinship with God, and “Son of David,” recognizing him as God’s anointed one—someone anointed to liberate, protect, and save.  She goes on to voice remarkable, persistent faith.

Jesus isn’t impressed at 1st.  He says his mission is only for Israel, not for the Gentiles, the pagans.  This issue would later become the 1st major crisis in the infant Christian Church; you can read about it in Acts of the Apostles ch. 15.  But for now Jesus seems closed.

It may help us to remember that Jesus is fully human as well as fully divine.  That’s fundamental Christian doctrine.  Fully human, he’s a 1st-century Jew living under an unfriendly occupying power, the Roman Empire—pagans.  It may help us to remember that, tho he was the Son of God, he was a man with a human intellect, a human heart, human feelings.  Doesn’t St. Luke say in ch. 2 that the boy Jesus “grew in wisdom, age, and grace” (2:40)?  It may be that the human, Jewish Jesus had to grow into more kindly feelings toward Gentiles.

St. Matthew also records how Jesus responded positively to the faith of a Roman centurion and healed his servant (8:5-13), and how he healed 2 demoniacs in pagan territory across the Sea of Galilee (8:28-34).  But in the latter case, Jesus didn’t get a friendly reception from the local people.

But by the end of this same Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus, risen from the dead and about to ascend to heaven, is commanding his followers to go out into the whole world and make disciples of all nations (28:19).

Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets, as he states in Matthew’s Gospel (5:17); he came to fulfill what Isaiah prophesied in our 1st reading, that foreigners—i.e., Gentiles—would join themselves to the Lord and minister to him (56:6), and God’s house would “be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (56:7), not only the Jews.

And so Jesus does respond to the desperate woman who cries out to him in the district of Tyre and Sidon (modern Lebanon).  Her faith overcomes his reluctance.

Isaiah’s prophecy and Matthew’s Gospel message are meant for us, too, brothers and sisters, 21st-century disciples of Jesus.  The 2d Vatican Council taught that the Church is missionary by nature.[1]  Pope Francis tells us that we all are called to be missionary disciples.[2]  Last week we Salesians commissioned—sent forth—4 women and 4 men (4 of them middle-aged and 4 of them youths) to serve as missionaries for a year in Salesian works in Bolivia, Cambodia, East Timor, Mexico, Mongolia, and even Tampa, Fla.,.

Do all of us have to do something like that?  No.  All of us have to do as the Canaanite woman does in the gospel:  persist in faith-filled prayer to our Lord Jesus.  Do what Isaiah says in God’s name:  “Observe what is right, do what is just. . . .  Love the name of the Lord and become his servants” (56:1,6).  Do what St. Paul urged the Christians of Philippi to do:  “Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world” (2:14-15).  Shining like lights makes us missionaries.

By prayer and by living day by day as Jesus teaches us (without grumbling or questioning)—in your families, in your workplaces, in the supermarket, online, on the highway, on vacation—you’ll be missionary disciples of Jesus.  What we say and do, others hear and observe.  They can see and hear Jesus thru us.  That’s why we prayed in the collect of today’s Mass, “Fill our hearts with the warmth of your love.”  That’s why our responsorial psalm prayed for God to “let his face shine upon us,” so that his way might “be known upon earth among all nations” (67:2-3).

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[1] Ad gentes 2; cf. Gaudium et spes 92.

[2] E.g., in his intention for October 2021.

Returning to the Timp

Returning to the Timp

On Monday afternoon, Aug. 14, I hiked for 3 hours from the Jones Point parking lot along 9W up the 1777 Trail to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail and, on to the Timp--a cliff overlooking vast expanses of Stony Point (including Girl Scout camp Addison Boyce, one of the lakes in the view), Haverstraw Bay, the Hudson River, and Croton Point.  

To the west is West Mountain, where the shelter is easily visible (whither I lead the Salesian Lay Missioners last year), 

West Mountain

and to the north Bear Mountain, including the Perkins Tower.  

View toward Bear Mt.

The last time I was up there was in 2012 with my godson.  It seemed to be an easier trip that time.

The 1777 Trail was used by British forces for their twin attacks on Fort Clinton (where the Bear Mt. Zoo is now) and Fort Montgomery (ruins partly preserved adjacent to a state historical museum).  Officially, it's closed at present due to "storm damage."  The damage was evident in 2 long stretches loaded with scree that had been washed down or uncovered in the heavy rains of about 4 weeks ago, and in 2 trees fallen across the trail.  With due care, no problem.

I parked at 97' elevation.  The Timp-Torne and R-D trails cross the 1777 at 860'.  

The 1777 and Timp-Torne intersection, marked by a cairn as well as trail blazes

That ascent was the hardest part of the trek, altho nothing was especially steep.  But to reach the Timp at 1,113', obviously there was still some climbing to do.  (I have an app that gives the elevations.)  About 1/4 mile along the R-D going west, the T-T meets it, and together they reach the Timp.  A couple of turkey vultures were sitting up there; they flew off on my approach.  There are spectacular views in several directions from this cliff, and I took photos.  https://link.shutterfly.com/oiB86eBbiCb

The climb up took about an hour and 20 minutes, including several pauses to catch my breath, drink water, and munch some trail mix.  The descent was a little faster, altho I went off trail at one spot following a well worn track; realized my error when I saw private property signs and a steel hunting blind up a tree, and backtracked about 80' to where I'd gone off.  Just over 3 hours round trip.  Good and tired when back at the car.

Not a single hiker on the way.  One solitary deer.  Lots of birds.  One or 2 dogs barking where the trail passes close to several homes.

Provincial's Homily at Professions Mass

The Provincial’s Homily 
at the Professions Mass

This is a summary of the homily that Fr. Dominic Tran gave at the Mass of Religious Profession of Bros. Pascal Mukuye and John Taylor on Aug. 16.

“God is the author of all good things. Everything we have and are come from God.” We’ll witness the gift of God’s love in the lives of our two brothers Pascal and John.

We’ve all received gifts from God, including the gift of life, the gift of each person’s vocation, God’s continual gift of what we need to live our vocation, such as “the Word of God, the sacraments, food, water, air, family, confreres, fellow believers.” (He called for the congregation to applaud the families of the two men about to profess.)

We have everything we need because of God. We don’t “live our lives out of a sense of obligations or burdens.”

When we read the Bible, we read passages with attention to their context. For example, today’s gospel from Matt 19 (the rich man who asked Jesus what he had to do to gain eternal life) comes after Jesus’ teaching on marriage, which in some respects struck the apostles as burdensome; but Jesus insisted that it’s been a gift of God from the beginning of creation; then Jesus blesses the children brought to him (whom the apostles think are an annoyance). The rich young man seems to approach the commandments as obligations or burdens to be borne, but Jesus sees them as God’s gifts of love for his holy people.

What is our attitude toward keeping the commandments? We don’t achieve salvation by checking off boxes like the rich man who kept the various laws. Rather, we see Jesus as God’s greatest gift to us, and the vocation of the professed religious to follow Jesus as a great gift of God’s love. We state as much in our formula of profession: God consecrated us when we were baptized and gave us Jesus as his greatest gift of love, who in his love calls us to follow him. Our response in love is to offer ourselves totally to God.

Today we pray for Pascal and John, and we ask them to pray for us their brothers, that we may all see the gift that is our Salesian vocation. The vows aren’t obligations but gifts of God’s love. Our confreres are gifts of his love. The young whom we serve are God’s gifts to us.

As Matt 19 continues, Peter asks Jesus what their reward will be for following him. Jesus promises him more opportunities to love God through more brothers and sisters. Then Jesus continues on his way to Jerusalem to meet the cross—which he turns into a sign of his love.

Finally, Fr. Tran urged the two brothers to see their formators as guides who will help them respond to God’s love.

Bros. Pascal Mukuye and John Taylor Make First Profession

Bros. Pascal Mukuye and John Taylor
Make First Profession

Bro. Pascal Mukuye, Bp. Anthony Taylor, Bro. John Taylor, Fr. Dominic Tran

Bros. Pascal Mukuye and John Taylor made their first religious profession as Salesians of Don Bosco on Wednesday, August 16, at the Marian Shrine chapel in Haverstraw, N.Y.

Fr. Dominic Tran, provincial, received the brothers’ vows in the name of the Rector Major and gave the homily. Bro. John’s uncle, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of Little Rock, Ark., presided at the Mass; he received both a warm welcome from those present and warm thanks from the Salesians.

The texts were those of the Mass of Religious Profession with readings chosen by the two brothers: 1 Sam 3:1-10, Ps 40:7-11, and Matt 19:16-26. They also chose the service music, a combination of modern hymns and Gregorian chants. Catherine Ramirez provided musical accompaniment, assisted by Fr. Steve Shafran. Bro. Pascal sang the responsorial psalm with a melody of his own composition.

In addition to the families of the professed, the congregation included 37 concelebrating priests, 13 Salesian coadjutor brothers, 2 Salesian sisters, some seminarians, Salesian Lay Missioners, and other friends of the two newly professed. One of the concelebrants was Fr. Fleming from St. Johns, Newf., where Bro. Pascal lived when he came to Canada in 2009.

Bishop Taylor was pleased to learn that the presidential chair he used was the one made for Pope Francis’s Mass in Madison Square Garden in 2015—the work of Bro. Sal Sammarco and some craftsmen in Port Chester, N.Y.

As the 2 newly professed brothers are presented,

to the applause of the congregation,

Bishop Taylor and the presidential chair can be seen in the background.

The basic rite of profession includes the presentation of the candidates by one of their formators, in this case Fr. John Puntino, from their novitiate staff. The candidates respond and state their intention to profess as Salesians. After the homily, the provincial questions them about their commitment, and the presider and congregation pray over them. The candidates individually pronounce their vows and are welcomed by the provincial. After those intending to study for the priesthood (both men, in this case) change into clerical garb, the provincial presents them first with the insignia of their Salesian religious profession (a medal) and then with a copy of the Constitutions. The congregation signals their approval with applause. The rite concludes with prayers of intercession.

The Mass began at 4:00 p.m. and concluded at 5:30. Photo opportunities followed the Mass, and then a buffet supper in the Shrine pavilion.

Bro. Pascal Mukuye, SDB

Bro. Pascal pronounces vows as a Salesian

with the support of his sister Angelique and nephew Thierry.

The SDB witnesses are Fr. Abe Feliciano and Bro. Tom Dion.

Pascal-De-Madeleine Mukuye was born in 1986 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His father is deceased. His mother lives in a refugee camp in Zimbabwe. He has four older brothers and three older sisters; one brother and one sister are deceased.

After emigrating to Newfoundland (Canada) in 2009, Pascal began seminary studies for the St. John’s Archdiocese. During his discernment, he had some discussions with a fellow seminarian who thought he might be a good Salesian and gave him Teresio Bosco’s biography of Don Bosco. That led him eventually to contact the Salesians in Etobicoke, Ont., in 2018.

In mid-2019 Pascal moved to Ottawa as a preparatory step to joining the Salesians as a “pre-candidate” (Pascal’s term) at Sherbrooke, which he did in September to explore further what the Salesians are about. In August 2020, he came to Orange, N.J., as a candidate, followed by prenovitiate at Ramsey in 2021-2022.

Pascal entered the novitiate on August 15, 2022. He found his study of the Constitutions particularly enriching and valued Fr. Joe Nguyen, the master of novices, a good spiritual guide. He writes, “I have found much joy in living the rule as a way that leads to love; living with Don Bosco; and this desire continues to burn in my heart.”

Bro. Pascal will be part of the SDB formation community in Orange and will continue studies toward ordination in the pre-theology program at Seton Hall University. Besides his studies, he looks forward to working with young people, bringing them his own gifts and experiences; and to meeting the confreres of the province of St. Philip. He’s developing a social media presence that will enable him to reach youngsters more widely.

Eventually, Bro. Pascal hopes to specialize in spiritual direction and retreat work so as to help youths “discover the beauty of the Church; facilitate an encounter with God with these young people; and accompany them on their spiritual journey as they strive to respond to God’s call.”

For himself, Bro. Pascal says: “The gift of the Salesian vocation that our generous, good God has bestowed upon me continues to be the most precious gift that I continue to be thankful for. For the past four years, living the Salesian vocation has been a source of great joy in my life; a path that continues to bring me closer to God in holiness.”

Bro. John Taylor, SDB

Bro. John Taylor pronounces vows as a Salesian

with his parents' support.

The witnesses are Fr. Tim Zak and Bro. Tom Sweeney.

John Lawrence Taylor was born in 1985 in Fort Worth, Tex. He’s the third child of Joseph and Lynnice Taylor, with an older brother and older sister.

John’s vocational inspiration has been his Uncle Tony, who was a priest of the Oklahoma City Archdiocese until he became bishop of Little Rock in 2008. John used to spend parts of the summers of his youth attending Fr. Taylor’s vacation Bible school and accompanying him to various parish events and services.

In 2010, John became a Salesian missionary volunteer and spent 2010-2011 serving at St. John Bosco Parish in Chicago. This interested him in youth ministry and a Salesian vocation. In August 2020 he became a candidate at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., contributing to the school’s ministry; he became a prenovice there the following year. He engaged in youth ministry at St. John Bosco Parish in Port Chester, N.Y.

The part of his novitiate year (2022-2023) that made the biggest impression on John was being at Camp St. Francis in Watsonville, Calif.: “I really enjoyed spending time at summer camp with the young. In this apostolate I was able to get a full perspective of what the young are living. I was able to know their dreams and interests and what bothers them. I got to share in their true joy.”

This year Bro. John will continue formation in the community at Orange while taking pre-theology courses at Seton Hall. He aspires to “keep learning about myself and to grow as a Salesian with the support and help of the Salesians” of the community and the province.

As a Salesian, Bro. John “would like to specialize in promotion of social justice advocacy and service to those in need together with the young.”

Fr. Mike Mendl’s photos: https://link.shutterfly.com/1GdDXTNunCb

Vicky Weekly’s photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjARrwv

Lay Missioners Commissioned at Salesian Retreat

Lay Missioners Commissioned at Salesian Retreat

During their weeklong retreat, toward the end of 3 weeks of orientation, 6 Salesian Lay Missioners were commissioned in St. Joseph’s Chapel at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw, N.Y., on Aug. 15. Salesians on retreat, some Salesian staff, and some family members of the SLMs were present.

Salesian Provincial Fr. Dominic Tran presided over the rite, which took place within a celebration of Evening Prayer II of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. He was assisted by Adam Rudin, director of the SLM program.

Six new SLMs were present: Marjorie Baldenweck (to Poipet, Cambodia), Genaro Cantú (Colima, Mexico), Jocelyn Escudero (Phnom Penh, Cambodia), Jerome Pederson (Tampa), David Ramirez (Colima, Mexico), and Antonia Soave (Ulan Bator, Mongolia). A 7th candidate, Benigno Monteverde (Dili, East Timor) was sick in his room at the retreat house. Yet another SLM, Alexandra Bendixen, is doing a short mission in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and receiving orientation on site from a 2022 SLM, Mara Fenn.

Each missioner was presented with a missionary cross, signed a commitment document, and read a statement of his or her intention.

Fr. Tran took as the keynote of his homily Mary’s Magnificat, which was part of the gospel reading at Mass in the morning and which the congregation was to sing shortly during Evening Prayer. Mary proclaimed that God had recognized his lowly servant, who was blessed by God.

Fr. Tran stated that Mary was blessed because she had become the God-bearer. What God gave to her, he has given to all of us; we are blessed, and we are God-bearers through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

He continued:  What we celebrate in Mary’s Assumption will be ours one day.  We are already with God through his presence within us, and we are charged to bear Christ to the world. The SLMs have the dignity of bringing Christ to others as missionaries. They’ll help the people they go to, to recognize God in their lives; and those people will also help the SLMs more deeply discover God in their own lives.

Finally, Fr. Tran affirmed that the Mother of God is with us. What a treasure! The Mother of God accompanies us as we bring Christ to the world.

Part of the SLMs' orientation is a hike in Harriman State Park.  This year, on Aug. 16, they went to Big Hill Shelter.  When the clouds cleared a little bit, they could see vaguely in the distance part of the Manhattan skyline.

Fr. Dominic Tran Installed as Provincial

Fr. Dominic Tran Installed as Provincial
Fr. Franco Pinto Becomes Vice-Provincial

By Julia St. Clair and Fr. Mike Mendl

Fr. Dominic Tran, Fr. Hugo Orozco, & Fr. Franco Pinto

(New Rochelle, N.Y. – August 14) – On Saturday, August 12, Fr. Hugo Orozco, general councilor for the Interamerica Region installed Fr. Dominic Tran as provincial and Fr. Franco Pinto as vice provincial of the Eastern Province of the U.S. and Canada

The ceremony took place within a votive Mass of St. John Bosco in the chapel of Salesian High School in New Rochelle beginning at 10:30 a.m. About 100 people took part in the Mass, including 32 concelebrating priests, 12 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, 10 Salesian brothers, 2 novices, members of Fr. Tran’s family, numerous Salesian Cooperators, the incoming group of Salesian Lay Missioners, and staff from the provincial center, Salesian High School, and Salesian Missions. Salesian H.S. alumnus Chris Moronta led the sacred music.

Provincial secretary Fr. Dave Moreno read Fr. Dominic’s letter of appointment from the Rector Major.  As a homily Fr. Hugo spoke to Fr. Dominic. He stated how it’s very natural for Salesians to give their lives to young people. He advised Fr. Dominic that the love for his 132 confreres that the Rector Major has entrusted to him is also part of loving Jesus.

“Love them as a father, even if they’re older than you,” Fr. Hugo exhorted. “I know with your goodness and your intelligence you will be able to do it very well.”

Fr. Hugo used the Gospel (Matthew 17:14-20) to comment on the paternal love of the father of the possessed boy. He urged Fr. Dominic to learn from this father, who suffered from the danger that took hold of his son. Fr. Hugo also noted that while Jesus was upset by the crowd’s lack of faith, the father expressed his faith. He urged Fr. Dominic to pray for his confreres.

“Jesus healed the boy, an act that points to the saving power of God,” Fr. Hugo continued. “Our education of the young has the same purpose: to point out God’s love, especially for youths who are in danger. For this, we place our trust in Jesus.”

Profession of Faith

Fr. Dominic and Fr. Franco individually professed their faith in the Christian Creed and the teachings of the Catholic Church. They then signed their official documents, which Fr. Hugo also signed.

At the end of Mass, Fr. Dominic shared some words based on the World Youth Day pilgrimage he attended recently. He was impressed especially by Pope Francis’s frequent repetition, “God loves you.” Therefore, Fr. Dominic reminded us that we are here today because God loves us.

“Jesus came here to reveal God’s love to us, and we are here thanks to the Holy Spirit who pours God’s abundant light on us from the moment of existence,” Fr. Dominic exclaimed.

He voiced his gratitude for Don Bosco and the guidance of Mary Help of Christians. Fr. Dominic stated that we’re privileged to be missioned to the young in our province. He thanked everyone who has supported him in the past and will continue to do so.  Fr. Dominic paid tribute to Fr. Joseph Vien Hoang, presently parochial vicar in Port Chester, N.Y., who fostered his vocation in Vietnam. He finished by commending Fr. Tim Zak, his predecessor; the congregation applauded vigorously for Fr. Tim.

Following the Mass, everyone celebrated with Fr. Dominic and Fr. Franco at a luncheon in the school cafeteria.

Fr. Hugo and the new provincial council

Bro. Bill Hanna, Fr. Dave Moreno, Fr. Dominic, Fr. Hugo, Fr. Franco, Fr. Lou Molinelli

(missing: Fr. Mike Conway, still province treasurer)

DRC's Displaced Persons Come to Don Bosco

Displaced Persons of DRC Come to Don Bosco

Victims of a misery that doesn’t say its name

(ANS – Shasha, DRC – August 11, 2023) – Shasha is a small part of the village of Kituva, in the territory of Masisi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This portion of the village is located on the shores of Lake Kivu on national road 2, which connects the city of Goma to the city of Bukavu. In this village since February 10, a mass of population has come to seek asylum on the soccer field of the Don Bosco Shasha primary school.

The astonished and upset students were demoralized and did not know how to study well. This prompted the Salesians to give the students leave while the war-displaced occupied the classrooms. In total they numbered 79 households. Each household consisted of about 6 people. As the situation persisted, the number of displaced people increased, and as the Salesians could not leave the students unemployed for an indefinite period, they consulted the village chief to convey to him their concern to resume classes. So the village chief asked them to put the displaced people in a camp on Don Bosco Shasha’s land. A new life was beginning for them.

Like the people of Israel who camped in the desert, the displaced people came to Don Bosco Shasha. “Since February 18, 2023, our superiors have authorized us to welcome the displaced persons of the M23 war who came from everywhere and to allow them to build the camp to give everyone a place to sleep. This was the beginning of displaced persons’ occupying the soccer field of the Don Bosco Shasha primary school. They try to live, but without the hope of surviving,” says Fr. Kizito Tembo, Salesian superior in Shasha.

“Before this misery, who could close his eyes? In the camp, life seems to have stopped. The pupils who studied in their schools of origin, the parents who had their fields, the young people who managed here and there can no longer do so…. The war has paralyzed everything,” he adds.

The refugees wake up in the morning not knowing what they are going to eat or how the day will end. It’s worse still when it raine. Families have to huddle around a fire to keep warm. Disease has carried some of them away. In a foreign land, with no way out or hope for tomorrow, misfortune never comes alone. In this chaos that does not say its name, the most vulnerable classes are pregnant women, the elderly, the sick, and children.

After a long road of exile, those who caught some disease along the way began to succumb. The mourning has begun. Children have become victims of cholera, measles, and malnourishment. Pregnant women have miscarriages, and others have stillbirths. Misery upon misery. Breastfeeding women do not have enough breast milk; a disaster for babies.

“Faced with such a situation, silence would be complicity. Worse still is the silence of the humanitarian organizations. They are aware of this situation, because they came to visit, identify, send their agents to see what it was all about. But they do nothing to help these people who are suffering terribly,” Fr. Tembo comments with bitterness.

What are the scourges that threaten them? For many the problem is housing; their huts do not have a tarp. And when it rains, the rainwater gets into the huts, and the people get really wet. Many people fall ill; not only do they not have proper care, but they take the medicine without eating. But medicine without food is poison. Numerous children are malnourished due to lack of food. They were starting to die overnight.

The Salesians organized themselves to celebrate Mass for them every Sunday with the Christians of Kirotshe. In the same line they are available to listen to them and give them the sacraments of the Church. In addition, with the support of some friends and brothers, they’ve started giving porridge to malnourished children, and one meal a day so that they can save the few cases from each category.

So much that the suffering is over, the porridge is not only for the children, but also the grown-ups and elderly come forward to receive their portions.

The Salesians intend to give all the children the chance to go back to school with the other students at the beginning of next academic year, in September 2023 at the Don Bosco Shasha primary school, and teach one or more occupation to anyone who wants it through a vocational training center.

“In front of these crowds of miserable people, our action is like a drop in the ocean,” Fr. Tembo shares. So, he concludes with an appeal: “We invite you all, all over the world, to come to the aid of all these populations who are suffering terribly from a misery that does not say its name and whose end is known only to God.”