EAO Salesian Brothers at Sacro Cuore, General House 2018

By Our Own Correspondent

RMG, 2 August 2018 -- Before the 7th Salesian Brother Congress many EAO Brothers have been asking about the Salesian Brothers role and task in the General House. And the answer is simple - without the Salesian Brothers the General House would stop to work.

The most senior member of our community is Br. Renato Celato, who is already more 60 years living at working at the service of the Rector Major - since the times of the 5th successor of Don Bosco, Don Renato Zigiotti in many different service, starting as his personal driver. Until now Br. Renato (92 years) is busy working at the Sacro Cuore Post Office with Mr. Antonio. That means he served not less than six Rector Majors - Don Ziggiotti, Don Ricceri, Don Vigano, Don Vecchi, Don Chavez and now Don Angel F. Artime. Br. Celato is really a living memory of the General house.

Over past few years we could meet at 'La Pisana' Salesian Brothers in many different roles - starting from the house, car park and garden maintenance, through the various sectors of Social communication (with many Brothers over past 20 years), Youth Ministry (Br. Mario Olmos from Central America was a World wide coordinator of Salesian Universities), Economy (Br. Jean Paul is already the second Brother - Economer General). Of course, we might miss the presence of Salesian Brother especially in the sector of Formation, Missions or Salesian Family.

Now at Sacro Cuore there are 3 in 1 (two community of the ICC - Central province of Italy and ICC Provincial house) and the most felt presence of a Salesian Brother is the custodian of Don Bosco Rooms (Camerette di Don Bosco), Br. Cosimo Cossu, who can guide anybody in Italian, Spanish or English with passion and dedication around the small Museum of Don Bosco at the back of the Sacred Heart Basilica.

Indeed at present only two East Asia - Oceania confreres are members of the St Joseph community of the RMG - General House based at Sacro Cuore, and both are Brothers - Br. Jess Garcia (PGS Viceprovince, Local Economer) and Br. Hilario Seo (KOR Province, Soc.Com. Sector). In the recent years we might remember Br. Peter Swain (AUL) who served two Regional Councilors as their secretary, Br. Marcal Lopez (TLS) assigned to the Salesian Bulletin digitalization, Br. Ephrem Santos (INA) in the SC sector or Br. Francesco Tien (VIE) world wide famous for his multiple services to the SDB Central digital archive, Sacristy and wonderful decorations during the last years of 'La Pisana'.

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