Interview with Br. Efren Umandal, SDB

By Our Own Correspondent

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24 July 2018 -- "I have encounter many model Salesian Brothers". Br. Efren is a Filipino missionary in Ethiopia - Addis Ababa, Mekanissa Don Bosco (AET) since 2014, one of the 11 EAO Salesian Brothers - missionaries living and working out of our region.

What makes you joyful as Salesian Brother?

I really thank God for the giving Don Bosco to the Church. I thank Don Bosco for creating the Salesian Brother vocation. With my personality, my talents and limitations I am able to serve God in the Salesian Brother way of life. I do not need to be a priest to serve God. I can be faithful as a brother. Serving the way I do is for me my vocation, and contribution to the great plan of God. I believe I am able to do what I do because I am a brother. There are many events in my life that affirms me in my vocation as an Salesian Brother. One of them are the comments, that I receive after giving a good morning or a good night talk or a sharing. Others would come to me and congratulate me for the inspirational thought then they would say “you can be a priest” or “why not be a priest” and I would always answer like: “that is why I choose to be a brother because I can be a priest. It’s my vocation and not a limitation”. I believe the Lord wants me to be a brother. The joy of knowing that I am doing the will of God is what makes me joyful as a brother.

Who is your Salesian Brother model?

Being in the Aspirantate since 13 years of age, I have encountered many Salesian Brothers. Each has its own good qualities (even those who are already out of the Salesian congregation). These little examples of different Salesians SDB inspired me a lot: One Brother is really for the poor migrant youth; another is constant in assistance, rain or shine, in sickness and in health; one is good in all technical aspect and another with all his busy activities in life never gets late or misses community prayers, etc. These little but exemplary expressions of dedication in Salesian vocation inspire me and became my model as a Salesian Brother.

What is the specific contribution of the Salesian Brother to the missionary work in Africa? (16 of 96 SDB in Ethiopia are Brothers)

The Brothers here in Ethiopia are engage in administration, TVET and directing the schools. Although there are priest who also are into these positions they say the Salesian Brothers have their peculiar way of doing them. I do not know what, but they say the Salesian Brother does it in different way.

The foundation of the SDB in Ethiopia is anchored in the two Salesian Brothers. The first three SDB sent in Ethiopia - one priest from Italy and two Brothers, one Italian and one American. That is why among the confreres, they see the Salesian Brother as an active agent in the province. However in the Ethiopian Orthodox heritage and tradition, great respect is given to the Abbas (= priests).

How to make the vocation of Salesian Brother more visible in the Church?

It is really a challenge to make the Salesian Brother vocation understood by the people. Being in an ‘Abba’ (priest) oriented religion this is really a challenge. But I think our presences can be made visible through an outright presentation. Explanation of our vocation among our students and lay collaborators is a must. At least in the Philippines the Brother vocation has been highlighted by Br. Gonzalez and Br. Luistro of the De La Salle Brothers who became Dep. Education Secretaries. We might not have somebody like them here in Ethiopia but every Brother has to do his part in making known the Salesian Brother vocation to every setting he is assigned to.

What does sustain and motivate your vocation?

The one that sustains and motivate my vocation is my relationship with the Lord. Community prayers helps me to be consistent but personal meditation and adoration strengthens my relationship with God thus my Salesian Brother vocation is affirmed. Through my experience, personal adoration and meditation I’m able to keep balance in my life. There are problems in the Salesian life and some of them are too much to bare but with personal prayer it keeps my balance in life and walk through it peacefully and patiently. I picture myself as some body carrying two loads in a stick on my shoulders. Challenges on the left and relationship with God on the right. I feel the load but without a perfect balance it’s hard to walk through life.

Any suggestion for the EAO 2018 Salesian Brothers Congress?

I do not know if I remember it right… but Don Bosco would always say, hearts in heaven but our feet on the ground. I think this is what Salesian Brothers are known for! We are more in touch with the realities of life. Let us really focus our eyes in the surroundings and walk in the realities of life but let us attach our hearts in Christ. I heard one Salesian saying we should be like ‘metal attached on the magnet’. The longer the metal is attached to the magnet, the more the metal becomes a magnet. Let us attach our hearts in the heart of Christ so that we can become more Christ to others.

Also be serious in formation! Whether you have 3 or 5 years of practical trainee never miss the two years of specific formation before perpetual profession.

Any advice as EAO Salesian Missionary in Africa?

Missionary life is part of the SDB vocation, but not all are called to go out of their country. Don Bosco wants to be a missionary but the lord has other plans for him, but his desire for the missions makes the charism grow in 133 countries. Support the missions, discern for the missionary vocation and once you feel, that you are called, go! Age and time does not matter. I went out of the country when I was 43 years old. I never regretted it. I do not even say I should have gone at an earlier age. No. The Lord has its own time. We must go when we are asked to go. Do not doubt! As the pop song goes …. “don’t you worry, don’t you worry child, heaven’s got a plan for you. Don’t you worry, don’t you worry now, yeah”.

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