(ANS - Rome) - This year, during the Marian month of May, first professions will take place in the Salesian novitiates in many parts of Asia. Over 100 young people will become Salesians this month.

On 6 May, at Cebu in the Province of the Southern Philippines, 12 candidates for clerical life and 2 Salesian Brothers made their first profession. The Provincial, Fr George Militante, received their professions. Six of the new Salesians come from the Province of the Southern Philippines, 7 from the Province of the Northern Philippines, 2 from Papua New Guinea, and one from the Province of China.

Today, 23 May, four young men make their first profession in Myanmar. All of them are candidates for the priesthood. They made their profession in the hands of the Superior of the Vice-Province , Fr Maurice Vallence.

Tomorrow, the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, it will be the turn of the many novices from the various Salesian novitiates in India.

In the novitiate in Nashik, in the Province of Mumbai, 19 young men will become Salesians,  all - except one - candidates for the clerical life. They are all Indian and will belong to the Provinces of Mumbai (12) and Panjim (7). The Provincial of Mumbai, Fr Godfrey D'Souza, will preside at the celebration.

The 20 novices of the Province of Guwahati are divided: 15 in the novitiate of Sunnyside (Province of Shillong), 3 in Siliguri (Province of Calcutta), and 2 in Sechii (Province of Dimapur). All 20 make their profession as candidates for priesthood.

The novices of the Province of New Delhi will make their profession in the novitiates of the Provinces of Calcutta and Bangalore.

At Padivayal in the Province of Bangalore, a total of 15 novices will make their professions - 12 from the Bangalore province of whom 11 are candidates for the priesthood, and three, as already mentioned, from the Province of New Delhi. Their profession will be received by the Provincial of Bangalore, Fr Thomas Anchukandam.

Fr Nestor Guria, Provincial of Dimapur, will receive the profession of 16 novices at the novitiate of Sechii, all Indians, but belonging to as many as 9 different ethnic groups.

At the Sacred Heart of Jesus novitiate in Manoharabad, ten will be professed, all from that province,  only one of them as a Salesian Brother. The Provincial, Fr Raminedi Balaraju, will receive the professions.

Finally, on 1 June seven novices of the Vice-Province of Sri Lanka will make their profession, 6 of them as aspirants to the priesthood and one as a Salesian Brother. They are being accompanied by their novice master, Fr Joseph Giaime.

Published 23/05/2014