By Fr. Richie Santos, SDB
Photos by Mr. Juni Amora Alexander

       St. John Bosco Parish, Makati City, the Philippines, 23 August 2022 -- Two Salesian Provinces have their most grateful smiles to God, our Lady, and Don Bosco on the morning of August 16, 2022, when their two novices made their first Religious Professions.

       Cleric Benjo Ian Sales Mangila, SDB (FIN), and Cleric Kenji Lorenzo Ruiz Bonifacio Hasegawa, SDB (GIA) entered the Sacred Heart Novitiate a year ago after the Rector Major erected it temporarily for a year in the EAO Salesian Brothers’ Formation House of Bl. Istvan Sandor in Parañaque City, the Philippines.

       Fr. Roneldo Vilbar, SDB as Novice Director--having been such for a few years before--was assisted by Socius Fr. Rusty Dizon, Economer Br. Obet Narvaez, Confessor Fr. Richie Santos and Br. Assistant Br. John Coral.

       The Sandor Salesian Brothers welcomed and coordinated with the Novices in their respective formation paths. Their marvelous enthusiasm deepened their love for meditation and prayer, the cheerful doing of their ordinary life in common, and mutual sharing in music and artworks.

       Despite the pandemic and painful trials of the novitiate notably during the 75-day immersion in the formation houses in Lawaan Cebu, it was a year of growth in faith, hope, and love. With the graces from the two Hearts of Jesus and Mary, everybody grew in their Salesian Life. Surely Sts. John Bosco and Francis de Sales were walking beside them.

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