By Br. John Raymond Montejo, SDB

Parañaque, Manila, 23 October 2019 -- Following are details of events earlier this month concerning the Blessed István Sándor Salesian Brothers Community, established in 2013 to provide the Brothers of the East Asia-Oceania (EAO) region a venue for their specific formation.

7 October: Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, Moving In. After a good long wait, the Salesian Brothers’ Community, commonly known as the Blessed István Sándor Community, finally moved into their new home, constructed within the compound of the Don Bosco School of Theology (DBST). Notwithstanding their schedule of classes and schoolwork, the community, headed by their rector, Fr. Arnold Sanico, spent this second week of October in dusting and cleaning the place and in transferring things to their new dwelling. Each one was eager to feel the exhaustion of all the work they had to do as long as they have now a place they can call their own.

8-11 October: Canonical Visitation. During these days as well, the Provincial Superior of the Philippine North Province (FIN), Father Gerardo Martin, had his canonical visitation to the Community. His visit started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the early morning of October 8. During his stay with the Community, he witnessed the simple living of the Brothers and the strong fraternal bonds permeating every aspect of their community life. Amid the hustle and bustle of the Community’s moving in, Fr. Gerry was able to talk with its members in rendiconto. In his concluding conference in the evening of October 10, he expressed his gratitude for the Community’s warm hospitality and gave recommendations for its growth. Throughout his stay, he stated that he felt that the Bl. Sándor Community was not just a community of Salesian Brothers but a Community where each one was a brother to the other.

11 October: Celebration of Blessed István Sándor. Since the Community could not celebrate Bl. István’s feast on 8 June, for the past several years the Community had been celebrating the feast of their patron in October. This was to commemorate his birthday on 26 October 1914 and his beatification on 19 October 2013. Thus, on Friday, 11 October, the end of the canonical visitation, the Community celebrated the feast of Blessed István Sándor.

The festivities began with a solemn morning Mass presided by Fr. Gerry Martin and actively participated in by the Blessed István Sándor Community and the Community of the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco. In the afternoon the two Communities together enjoyed games organized for the feast: frisbee and bucket-ball.

Blessing of the Community Chapel. The feast of Bl. István Sándor was capped with the simple yet joyful blessing of the new chapel of the Community. After Vespers held in the Seminaryo chapel, the Communities and guests moved to the Bl. István Sándor building. There, Fr. Gerry Martin presided over a series of Blessings: first, the chapel itself, then its altar, the tabernacle, and a chalice and paten. A sumptuous dinner followed, made more delightful by a program of music and songs performed by the Brothers under the leadership of Br. Anthony Phong; a Jewish celebratory dance led by Fr. Steve Placente, our resident Scripture scholar; and the internet game quiz Kahoot, organized by our Hungarian Brothers, Gabor Kirner and Aron Jani, which tested the audience’s knowledge about Bl. István Sándor. Winners of the game received prizes courtesy of Br. Raddie Lagaya, the Community’s Economer.

Fr. Arnold took the opportunity to thank those who contributed to the construction and completion of the Community’s new building: the Rector Major and his Council; the Provincial superiors of the various EAO provinces; the architects who volunteered their services; the engineers, construction workers; various benefactors and friends. He especially mentioned Fr. Gerry Martin, the FIN Provincial who continues to be supportive of the still on-going projects and Fr. Edwin Ulanday, the FIN Provincial Economer who continues to seek funding for these projects.

It was truly a celebration of gratitude for the blessings received and an appreciation of Salesian Brotherhood.

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