by BISMumbai Correspondent

Every year, 24 May, is a solemn festival celebration commemorating Mary Help of Christians. This is the day on which young men make their religious profession to live the three evangelical counsels - poverty, chastity, obedience - as Salesians of Don Bosco. The first profession is made by young men who have completed a year of Novitiate formation and are admitted to the Salesian Society as confrères with temporary vows. Others make their renewal of profession and those who are admitted to the perpetual commitment also profess to live the evangelical counsels for life.

This year, accompanied by the Novice Master Father Wyman Gonsalves, six young men - Darryl Cheradil (INP), Joseph Puthenveethil, Leroy Mascarenhas, Mahesh Vasunya, Pranit Kokya, and Veenus James (all INB), made their first profession on the completion of their Novitiate year at Salesian Training Institute [STI] Nashik. MumbaiSalesians' ViceProvincial Father Ashley Miranda presided at the solemn ceremony where the six young men professed their vows publicly and were then presented with the Cassock and the Constitutions of the Society of St. Francis deSales.

Seven MumbaiSalesians in temporary vows made their final/perpetual profession at the Crypt of the Shrine of Don Bosco's Madonna Matunga. Aegidius Pereira, Agnel Dias, Christopher Nadar, Kiran Ruptakke, Selvin D’Mello,Vinay Ganawa and Coadjutor Salesian Allan Netto, professed their vows for life, in a solemn Eucharistic celebration. MumbaiSalesians' Provincial Father Savio Silveira recounted Don Bosco's dream at the age of nine and exhorted the seven young men to "be humble, strong and steadfast all through life," heeding the advice of Mary to Don Bosco. They were presented the Salesian Cross with the image of the Good Shepherd.

Other young men renewed the profession of the evangelical counsels in their respective communities.