By Cl. Jojo Valenzuela, SDB;
Cl. Alfons Panganiban, SDB;
Cl. John Paolo Romero, SDB;
and Br. Romnick Tabaquero, SDB
Photo credits: Br. Francisco Nuwa

       FIN Province, April 29, 2021 -- This Fourth week of Easter witnessed a thread of renewal of the Salesian profession among the confreres in their Practical Training and Specific Formation.

       Last April 26, Br. Romnick T. Tabaquero, SDB, a Lay Salesian who is in his practical training in Don Bosco Mabalacat made his renewal. Fr. Jose Armando Cortez, SDB, rector of the community, presided over the celebration.

       In his homily, he underscored the act of generosity. “The simple act of generosity can change the world,” he said, pertaining to the generosity of our parents in saying “yes” to each other, as their act of giving, and the generosity of one person starting the trending community pantry and lastly, the generosity of Bro. Romnick as he renews his commitment once more to offer his life for the Lord.

       Afterward, Br. Romnick, gave a short speech about his life as a religious. He shared with his community that “Whenever you’re in doubt or at the point of giving up your commitment, never end at the question: ‘Do I still love you, Lord?’ Rather, we ought to embrace the question ‘Lord, why do you still love me?’ For we can never continue in our vocation unless we realized that it is God who loved us first.”

       On the same day, Cl. Alfons Jayzar Panganiban, SDB & Cl. Mark Soriano, SDB renewed their religious profession at the Mary Help of Christians Chapel in Don Bosco Technical College. Fr. Ronilo Javines, SDB, rector of the community, presided the evening prayers and in the same rite, received the vows of the two confreres who are in their practical training.

       The next day, 27 April Cl. John Paolo Romero, SDB had the renewal of his Salesian Profession at the Community Chapel of Don Bosco Tarlac at 6:30 PM. Fr. Jerry Santos, SDB, rector of the community, presided the Holy Mass and received the vows of Cl. Paolo.

       In his homily, Fr Jerry said that following Christ is never easy, that it entails sacrifices. He challenged Br. Pao to see the Christian meaning of all the challenges in his Salesian journey.

       Meanwhile, 28 April is a day of gratitude to the Lord for blessing the Salesian Congregation with the Renewal of the Vows of four Clerics. They are students of theology and presently assigned at the Salesian Community of Seminaryo ng Don Bosco. They are:

Cl. Alfred Barnard, SDB (FIS - PAK)

Cl. John Joseph Aguila, SDB (FIN)

Cl. Enrico Mercado, SDB (FIN)

Cl. Jojo Agar Villanueva, SDB (FIN)

       Their vows were received by Rev. Fr. Gerardo Martin, SDB, the Provincial Superior of the Philippine North Province in the Community Mass. Fr. Renato Molina, SDB, Rector and Fr. Federico Manalo Jr, SDB, Economer, stood as witnesses.

       In his Homily, Fr. Gerry expounded on the Light of Christ illuminating the darkened world accustomed to darkness and grayness. He exhorted the Salesian Community, especially the four brothers, to continue to be vessels of love, conduits of generosity, and persons of kindness.

       We continue to pray for the four brothers, that they may continue to live their Religious Profession and grow in the Salesian Vocation to be signs and bearers of God’s Love to the young, day by day.

---

---