(ANS - Rome) - Many young people made their first profession as Salesians during this month of January, the month of Don Bosco and many other figures of Salesian holiness.

Interamerican Region

The first of these were eighteen young men who made their profession on 18 January in the novitiate of La Ceja, Colombia, where they had spent a year of formation with Fr Armando Álvarez as Master of Novices. Fifteen of them are candidates for priesthood and the remaining three are Salesian Brothers. They come from the provinces of Central America (9), Colombia-Bogotà (5), Colombia-Medellín (3) and Bolivia (1). Fr John Jairo Gómez Rúa, Provincial of the Medellín Province, received their professions.

America Southern Cone

On 24 January, seven young Brazilians made their first profession – five from the Manaus Province and two from Campo Grande. They had made their novitiate at the Saint John Bosco novitiate at Dourados in Indapolis, Brazil, under the guidance of Fr Augusto Kian, Master of Novices.

Thirteen young Salesians made their first profession on 30 January at the Salesian House Divino Niño Jesús in Alta Gracia, Argentina. Seven of them are Brothers and the other six are candidates for priesthood. The new Salesians belong to the provinces of Northern Argentina (7), Southern Argentina (3), Paraguay (2) and Chile (1). Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Provincial of the Southern Argentina Province, received their professions.

Last Friday, 31 January, ten young men made their first Profession as Salesians at the novitiate in Curitiba, Brazil. Eight of them are candidates for the priestly life and two are Salesian Brothers. Two belong to the Province of Recife, three to that of Porto Alegre and five to that of Sao Paolo. Their professions were received by Fr Orestes Carlinhos Fistarol, Provincial of Porto Alegre.

East Asia-Oceania

In Seoul, at the Provincial House of Korea, five young Koreans made their first profession, four as candidates for priesthood and one as a Salesian Brother. The celebration took place on 24 January and was presided over by the Provincial, Fr Stephanus Nam, accompanied by Fr John Chong Jae Jun, Master of Novices.

On the feast of St. John Bosco, 31 January, two young candidates for the clerical life made their profession in Suva, Fiji, before Fr Bernard Graham, Vice-Provincial and Youth Ministry Delegate of the Australia-Pacific Province. Fr Taisali Leuluai, Master of Novices, was also present.

Africa - Madagascar

Also on the feast of Don Bosco, eight young Africans made their first profession, seven of them as candidates for priestly life and one as a Salesian Brother.  They had done their novitiate with Fr Luiz Gonzaga Piccoli as Master of Novices. Five of the new Salesians are from the Vice-Province of Angola and three from the Vice-Province of Mozambique. They made their profession in the presence of Fr Américo Raúl Chaquisse, Provincial of Mozambique.

Published 03/02/2014