By Cl. David Yan Naing Aung, SDB
Photos by Cl. James Aro, SDB

Paranaque City, the Philippines, 31 August 2020 -- The Religious Profession of our five Salesian Confreres, which took place today, was a joyous occasion for these who made their perpetual profession and the whole Salesian Congregation as well.

The following are:

Cl. Jarmy Reignier Atienza Roxas, SDB (FIN)

Br. Ronnel Padua Tiu, SDB (FIN) 

Br. Anthony Nguyen Thien Phong, SDB (VIE) 

Br. Simon Pham Tan Sy, SDB (VIE), and 

Br. Marcelino Ximenes, SDB (TLS)

These confreres committed to perpetually live out their Salesian life in the Mission of Don Bosco traced out for them in the Salesian Constitutions.

The event took place at the Central Chapel of the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco, Paranaque City. The Eucharistic Celebration and the Rite of Profession were presided by Rev. Fr. Gerardo Martin, SDB, Provincial Superior of the Philippines – North. He was joined by Fr. Renato Molina, SDB, Rector of the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco, and Fr. Roneldo Vilbar, SDB, Rector of the EAO Sandor Brothers’ Formation House.

Due to the health protocols imposed by the government and the Diocese of Paranaque, many friends and relatives could not be present at the celebration. Instead, the event was live-streamed on Facebook.

In place of the traditional embrace to signify the warm welcome as perpetually professed confreres, Fr. Gerry made a deep bow before each of the perpetuandi. At the end of the celebration, he handed the families of the professandi a statue of Mary Help of Christians.

Br. Ronnel Tiu, SDB, a Salesian Brother from the FIN Province delivered the message of gratitude. In the same speech, he noted that "It is wonderful to see on this occasion the two forms of Salesian Life: the Clerics and the Salesian Brothers. In the mind of Don Bosco, these two are not about superiority but complementariness of one Salesian vocation for the church. They are like all the pairs on our bodies that will feel incomplete without the other one."

This Perpetual Profession is a choice that these Salesians have made to further fulfill their Baptismal Covenant with God. This time of the pandemic further etches the meaning of the Religious Perpetual Vows that these Brothers are making and for all of us, together with them thank the Lord for choosing us as well, to be His faithful sons and daughters in our baptism and religious profession.

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