DBFC, Lawaan, Talisay City, Cebu, the Phlippines, 24 June 2020 -- On Wednesday the 24th of June 2020, the solemnity of Saint John the Baptist, the Society of St Francis de Sales welcomed into the Congregation seven newly professed Salesians. Five are from the Mary Help of Christians Province, Philippines South (FIS) and two from the Vice- Province of Blessed Philip Rinaldi, Papua New Guinea-Solomon Island (PGS). Among them, five professed as clerics and two lay brothers, both from the FIS province. Four of their batch mates are yet to profess in their respective provinces on a later date, one from FIN provinces and three from CIN province.
The profession took place in the Don Bosco Formation Centre (DBFC) Chapel, Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines. The Holy Eucharist began at 9:00 am and was presided by Fr. Eugenio G. Maglasang, SDB, delegate for the Pakistan delegation, since the situation of travel restriction due to CoVID-19 in Cebu City did not allow the Provincial of the FIS, (Fr. Godofredo T. Atienza) to attend and accept the newly professed Salesian to the society. The celebration was quite simple and those who attended and witness the profession were the Aspirants, Prenovices, some Salesians from the Don Bosco houses in Cebu and a few family members and friends of the newly professed Salesians. Since the situation we are facing today, the CoVID-19 pandemic, is still affecting the country and the world as a whole, preventing people to travel, the parents, relatives and benefactors of the newly professed were invited to watched and followed the celebration live via Live streaming, on the Don Bosco Formation Centre (DBFC) Facebook page.
This profession was unique and significant because it reminds us of how the first Salesians made their profession on January 26th, 1854 with Don Bosco himself. Don Bosco established the Society of St. Francis De Sales in an era of the industrial revolution, where people were also in crises and the profession of the first Salesians that time was very simple. Don Bosco gathered four young man in his room, two seminarians in clerical dress, one of whom was Michael Rua (his first successor) and two students, one of whom is John Cagliero, (the first Salesian missionary). Today we saw something similar, amidst this time of crises of the pandemic, God, in his mercy and love, still calls young dedicated individual like this seven young men into religious life more so into the Salesian life to continue the mission set out by Don Bosco in proclaiming the Gospel following the example of His son, Jesus who is the model of all Christians and most especially consecrated person.
