By Bro. Eng Sarorng, SDB

Lawaan, the Philippines, 6 May 2016 - As every year in the international novitiate of the Sacred Heart was celebrated the first profession on May 6. Thanks to all superiors and formators (Novice master Fr. Ronel Vilbar) and congratulations to the TUI SUMUS, DOMINE novices on their First Religious Profession day: Cl. Reynaldo M. Durango, Jr., SDB - FIS, Cl. Edlazir Franz P. Lloren, SDB - FIS, Bro. Eng Sarong, SDB - THA-Cambodia delegation, Bro. John Dominic M. Coral, SDB - FIN, Cl. John Jospeh S. Aguila, SDB - FIN, Cl. Gerondio S. Trujello, Jr., SDB - FIS, Cl. Jojo Agar A. Villanueva, SDB - FIN (two Salesian Brothers and five candidates to the priesthood).

Among the newly professed is also the first Cambodian Salesian Brother - who is sharing his vocation story.

My name is Eng Sarorng. I was born in 1989 in Thkov village, Kompong Trabek district, Prey veng province, Cambodia. I have two sisters, and a brother. I am the youngest in the family with 4 siblings. My father is a farmer and my mother name is a housewife. My younger sister is a religious in the Congregation of the Providence.

As a child I dream of becoming the singer or actor. I wanted to become famous rich. Especially I wanted to help my family. I have talent in my voice and to learn fast the song and I liked singing or watching concert and want to act like the superstar.

It was in the high school that I started closer with church in the community, and I also received the contributed from Don Bosco Children Fund for my study. That time I knew some missionary in Cambodia that made me started have feel want to learn more about the religious life, but I didn’t want to become a priest. Due my own family and famous singer dream I joined only the youth group and prepare mass and help my Catholic community.

After graduated high school I took up an electronic course in Don Bosco Technical School - Phom Penh. I do not like it, but I need to learn, because my family had not money for me to study in the University. During that time, I joined the choir, I became a leader in Sunday Oratory - I was singing, dancing and playing with the young people.

When I graduated in Don Bosco Technical school I had the chance to work for two years. First, I worked at Cambodia Catholic Catechist Center for one year, also with the youth as their catechist and my vocation started to grow up. I started to ask my parents, since I didn’t want to enter the seminary. I was waiting for them, because it was not easy to accept this, especially my mother who was non Catholic. But after few days she gave her OK and I applied to Father Rector in Cambodia and he accepted me to continue my vocation journey with Don Bosco Salesian Family - and my vocatoin was strengthened. Then, I transferred to work at Don Bosco Children Fund (DBCF) for one year and lived with the Phnom Penh community.

All experiences to work with the young and poor people make me happy that I can help other people in my country, this happiness make me up for some difficulty that I met in my vocation life, because of love I also learn to accept my formation, now I have feel happy that I belong to my community.

So now as I lived for one year in the international community of novice in Lawaan - Cebu (Philippines) and I was getting in touch with my inner most disposition, I want to study more about the preventive system of Don Bosco, deepen my spiritual life in order to live like Don Bosco for the poor youth and with the young people.

I am really opened to myself, to my formators and to other novices, so we can journey together towards Christ. I opened my heart and listen to God’s will in my life and my vocation, especially to know myself better, in faith, community life and spiritual life. This journey made me more humble and learn how love others. This happiness helps me cope up from any difficulty that I met in my vocation life, because of love I also learn to accept my formation, now I have feel happy that I belong to my community.

Only with God’s grace I will succeed in my vocation. And I will do my best for the success of my vocation life, as Salesian of Don Bosco, as the first Salesian Brother of Cambodia. I hope and pray that I am able to continue my Salesian vocation until the end of my life.

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