The young novices belong to the Provinces of Brazil-Recife (BRE), Brazil-San Paolo (BSP) and Brazil-Porto Alegre (BPA), and are: Alexandre José da Silva (BRE); Erick Alves Pedro de Souza (BSP); Fabiano de Souza Martins (BSP); Francisco Sávio Pereira da Silva (BRE); Josué Lima Sampaio (BRE); Leonardo Luis Donel (BPA); Pedro Vinicius Celenze (BSP); Rafael Leme Fernandez (BSP); Phyerry Souza de Lima (BRE); Vinicius Rafael Andrade Pires (BSP).
The rite was concelebrated by the Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Archbishop Paulo Jackson, and by the Superiors of the three Provinces involved: Fr Francisco Inácio (BRE), Fr Alexandre Luis de Oliveira (BSP) and Fr Ademir Ricardo Cwendrych (BPA).
At the end of the celebration one of the novices, Josué Lima Sampaio, speaking on behalf of the whole group, expressed a message of thanks: “In an atmosphere of faith and gratitude, we have celebrated the Feast of Don Bosco with immense joy, on 31 January, in our beloved Salesian Colony. It was an honour to have the enlightened presence of the Superior of the Salesians, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who brought with him wisdom and inspiration, together with the warm participation of the members of the Salesian Family.
On this special day, I bless our lives because, moved by profound devotion, we made our first religious profession, becoming Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB).
Our paths are now intertwined with the values and teachings of St John Bosco, which guide us towards a caring commitment to service, learning and love for others.
We are also grateful for the illustrious presence of Archbishop Paulo Jackson and members of the Salesian Family, whose participation has further enriched our celebration. May the light of Don Bosco continue to illuminate our paths and strengthen our mission to educate and inspire the young generations.”
Then, in the afternoon, with a gesture of deep fraternity, Cardinal Á.F. Artime opened the rest and care home for the elderly and sick Salesians of the BRE Province. Located in the community of Bongi, near Recife, this house represents a symbol of respect and attention to older priests and religious who have dedicated their lives to service in Salesian communities and missions.
The opening ceremony was a moment of celebration, in which words of encouragement and gratitude echoed through the various halls of the centre, reflecting the collective commitment to the well-being of the elderly and the legacy of love and care proper to the Salesians and aimed not only at the young, but at all those in need.
The new centre, it was explained during the opening ceremony, is more than a house: it is a space designed with attention to detail, offering comfort, medical care and spirituality to residents. Equipped with modern facilities and led by a team of experts and health professionals, the house aims to provide quality of life and dignity to those who find hospitality there.
During the opening, Cardinal Á.F. Artime expressed his deep gratitude for the realisation of this project and stressed the importance of keeping alive in all Salesian works and communities the flame of fraternal solidarity, and underlined the constant commitment of the Salesian Congregation in serving the most needy and in honouring the legacy left by St John Bosco.
