This is Home.

A post from your Pre-Novices:

There's something about going home that somehow brings things into perspective. Home--a place of security, a place of rest, a place of community, a place of God. "Home" can mean many things to different persons. To us, this word may have meant many things before; but, as of yesterday, this world took on a whole new meaning.

We had the opportunity of visiting the birthplace of our Salesianity here in the Eastern province, our very roots--Mary Help of Christians Church, New York, NY.  We participated in a Sunday Mass so very alive with the mission of Don Bosco, in a church that has since been closed down. The echoes of history of youthful spirituality and Christian formation journey from wall to wall.

It was a privilege not only to sing along "Friend of the Young and the Poor" to the old organ there but also to dedicate our year to Mary, our Mother and Help of Christians, there at the altar. It was a beautiful experience that can hardly be explained in words!

It is our hope that the roots of Salesianity can take hold of our hearts and remain a firm foundation, a foundation that can't be closed or torn down. May our very bodies become the church, the temple of the Holy Spirit.  And may all that is within us forever praise the God who loved us into existence and continues to love us forever.

Finally, we urge all those that have not had the opportunity to visit or pray at our first true Salesian parish east of the Mississippi River to do so, as the church is officially scheduled to have her last Holy Mass on September 9th.

To Christ Through Mary,

Your Salesian Pre-Novices

START YOUR ENGINES!

Today marks the first day of classes for the Spring semester!
Most of us are readjusting to the daily and weekly routines (which do not exactly exist for us as Salesian seminarians, considering the Lord never ceases to bless us with surprises!).

The Sons of Mary were able to experience the peacefulness of the Jersey Shore at Stella Maris Retreat House in Elberon, NJ, for a week-long retreat. It was a beautiful occasion blessed with the Salesian spirituality taught by our very own Fr. Lou, Director of the House at Archbishop Shaw in Marrero, LA.

The break from school ended by spending time with great and beautiful young souls from parishes in the Eastern province at the annual January Leadership Retreat. It was an awesome experience, which was captured in many pictures that you can find on facebook!

But today, as we start this semester, we would like to turn your attention to the YouTube debate over Jesus and Religion. A video began on YouTube called "I Hate Religion, But I Love Jesus." This sparked a worldwide debate of many different religions and beliefs. It is quite something to witness...to watch as persons defend their faith, for it something that is TRULY IMPORTANT.

What is even more beautiful is that our very own novice, Steve DeMaio, captured an inspiring video response to this phenomenon! Be sure to check it out and feel called on in your own faith this day!

Check back tomorrow as

Salesian Steve Eguino

will give us some insights

into this video!

"Lift up your hearts!"

On behalf of all of the seminarians here at the Don Bosco Residence, I'd like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. You may be saying, "Well, certainly this is coming quite early..." But for us Sons of Mary (Candidates and Pre-novices), Thanksgiving break begins today! Today is our last day of classes. Thus, we are let go to journey back home to our families that love and support us so much.

The blog may be continued by some of the post-novice brothers, who remain here at the house through this academic break. So keep tuning in for their wise words.

We thank you for your support via prayers, offerings, etc. We need you, we recognize that, and we are very grateful. May your Thanksgiving be filled with great blessings and joy, unified around one table as a family.

St. Cecilia, pray for us.

Salesians: Contemplatives in Action

In my previous blog post I spoke about our induction into the pre-novitiate. I also mentioned how we go on “outings” weekly as a group, and that the Thursday blog posts will be dedicated to speaking about these outings. Well…………that will not be the case this week.

This Wednesday we did not go on an outing, because we are preparing for a week long excursion next week to Chicago and Indianapolis. We will be leaving this upcoming Sunday afternoon, and driving to Chicago through the night, visiting St. John Bosco Parish in Chicago for a time, and then leaving on Wednesday to drive to Indianapolis for the NCYC. Look forward to next week’s Thursday blog post for updates on our trip.

Now to the title of this blog! What does it mean to be a “contemplative in action”. For us as Salesians, we are always working. Even for us in formation, though we are not involved in any set daily apostolate (teaching at a school, running a daily youth center), we are always busy with our studies or travels. So when do we pray?

We need not look any further than Don Bosco. It is interesting to know that when Don Bosco’s cause for canonization was under scrutiny, there were many objections that Don Bosco prayed very little. He was so caught up in work that he never took significant time aside to pray. But a Cardinal answered this objection by saying this: “It is not true that Don Bosco prayed very little, but the truth is, his whole life was a prayer!”

Every moment of our lives we are in God’s presence. He is a part of our world, and His Spirit is always moving, if only we listen and are open to it. In this way, for us as Salesians, we recognize this presence, and are always mindful, just as much as we would be in Chapel and prayer. And when we do this, our action becomes our prayer! Therefore the title: Active contemplative. Always working, but always praying!!!!

Lord, help me to always be aware of your presence in my life. May I work with tireless zeal for whatever you call me to do in my life right now. May I listen to your call for where you want me to go. Help me to always know you are with me. Guide my feet!

St. Leo the great, pray for us.

Trips of the Pre..What??

Hey everyone! Today we talk about the "Prenovice Outtings/Trips". From the previous post you can read more about the Prenovices as to who we are and what we do. Since we're a small group of guys and spend a lot of time with each other, it's important that we grow to learn more about one another on a personal and spiritual level. We take classes at our Formation House in Orange, NJ and one of the classes is called "Salesian Prayer". Honestly, this is one of my favorite classes because I'm learning a lot about my prayer style and I'm learning about my bro's in formation with how they like to pray and what makes them work! Some are contemplative, others are vocal. I think I'm somewhere in between. Besides getting to know one another through how we like to pray, trips are taken each week on Wednesday. Two weeks ago we went hiking through Harriman State Park and last week we spent the day at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ.

When I was a senior in High School one of my friends told me, "If you really want to see how a girl responds to certain situations, take her bowling or to mini-golf." Kind of confused I said why and he responded with, "...because you can really see her patience level and how she makes the best out of some 'not so good situations' like a 7-10 split!" This made sense to me and now I apply this somewhat to our trips. They help us to get to know one another better and grow as brothers in Christ. Also these trips give us the abilities to showcase our strengths among young people so we are able to "combine forces" and really work together to bring young people closer to Christ through the spirit of St. John Bosco. Please continue to pray for us men in formation and we continue to pray for all those reading this awesomeblog...and those who don't read it too!

Officially Pre-Novices!!!

Yesterday morning, during our daily mass as a community, six of us were formally inducted into the pre-novitiate. It was a time of great joy for us, to make the formal profession of our desire to study more about the Salesian spirituality, and dedicate this upcoming year towards our spiritual growth towards Christ, and discernment of our vocations.

The pre-novitiate is a special year in formation, described as follows in our Salesian Constitutions (our rules as Salesians):

“To anyone who is thinking of becoming a Salesian, an environment and suitable conditions are offered to enable him to discern his own vocation and to mature as a man and a Christian…A period of special preparation is required immediately prior to the novitiate to deepen the candidate’s vocational choice, and verify his suitability for beginning the novitiate. This preparation is made through an experience of Salesian community and apostolic life.” (Constitution 109)

This upcoming year is sure to be filled with many graces. I myself am blessed to have lived in our house in Orange for the past two years as a candidate, and am now very eager to see what this year has in store. Aside from being able to continue our experience in community life, community prayer, apostolic work, teaching catechism and running youth centers, we also take classes in Salesian spirituality and history, as well as theology. These classes are taught by Salesians, who are living examples of Salesianity.

In addition to all of this, we are blessed to go on weekly outings (mostly on Wednesdays) as a group, many times to visit Salesian works in the province. Most recently we visited Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ. We spent the day giving vocation talks in theology classes, eating lunch with the students, having a faith sharing with the students that attended the October Leadership Retreat, and shared in prayer and meal with these men and the Salesian community. Every Thursday the blog will be dedicated to a reflection on our most recent outing, or on another part of our pre-novitiate year, so BE ON THE LOOKOUT!

As we prepare to embark on this journey, we ask all of you for your prayers. We pray for you always. Know that your prayers make an impact on our discernment, and for that we are eternally grateful.

(From L-R) Lenny Carlino, Mark O'Dea, Matt Marchand,

Fr. Steve Leake, SDB (Director), Greg McClung,

Craig Spence, Stephen Eguino

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.

O Praise Him!

What a glorious day for the Church!

Today, more than ever, we remember and honor all those holy men and women who led the way before us! All sufferers and martyrs, all confessors and pastors, doctors and consecrated virgins, be with us! Bishops, monks, priests, abbots, founders, and apostles, be with us!

     For all those who feel alone in these days, for all those who feel that God has abandoned you, for all those who are unsure of the your own vocation in life, for all those confused, today is for you! God has give us a great gift--the communion of saints, all those who have felt this way before us. And God says, "I tell you that they are in heaven now, in my peace!" How inspiring this is to us--to us poor sinners! Join in the community of the Church in giving honor to these individuals while at the same time giving hope to ourselves!

     Today, as priest/brothers-in-training, we celebrate this day in our own unique way. Today, we celebrate the saints by inducting our once candidates into the pre-novitiate of the congregation. They join themselves to the congregation and to the Church to aspire to become holy men for God's greater glory. What better day to perform such a commitment than today!

     Today especially, we remember all of the members of the Salesian family that have gone before us in holiness. What a legacy they leave us! May we never cease to ask for their intercession, that we might imitate the gentle charity of St. Francis de Sales and the pure joy of St. John Bosco.

 

 Be blessed this day and always!

All you Saints, pray for us!