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