On August 15, Brothers Carlos Cerda Gutierrez, SDB, Lorenzo Carlo D’Alessandro, SDB, Nicholas Kurt Jandernoa, SDB, Christo Ruben Philistin, SDB, and Jieo Aleksander Tecson, SDB, made their first religious profession as Salesians of Don Bosco during a celebration of the Eucharist in the chapel of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in Haverstraw/Stony Point.

Father Dominic Tran, SDB, provincial, presided at the Mass and received the vows of the five young men. The five had completed a year of novitiate at the Salesian house of formation in Richmond, California, under the guidance of Father Joseph Thinh Nguyen, master of novices.

The newly professed

Brother Carlos Cerda, 25, was born in Mexico and entered the Salesians from Lockport, Illinois, in August 2021 at the Salesian formation house in Orange, New Jersey, followed by a year of prenovitiate formation at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey, in 2023-2024.

Brother Carlos professed as a coadjutor brother so that he can become “a friendly role model for other young people” and witness to the “call given by God to men who seek to dedicate themselves totally to God in community, living out the lay dimension of our Baptism,” particularly through the evangelical counsels.

Returning to the house in Orange for postnovitiate formation, Brother Carlos will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Seton Hall University, aiming eventually to teach at one of the Salesian schools.

Brother Lorenzo D’Alessandro, 27, comes from Vancouver, British Columbia, and was a diocesan seminarian before deciding to follow a Salesian vocation so as to work with the young within a consecrated life in community. He became a candidate in August 2022 and completed the prenovitiate year at Don Bosco Prep in 2024, during which he taught CCD at St. John Bosco Parish in Port Chester. Intending to become a priest, he will pursue philosophy studies at Seton Hall University.

Brother Nicholas Jandernoa, 26, comes from Pewamo, Michigan. After two years as a NET Missionary, he wished to adopt a consecrated life while working with young people. He became a Salesian candidate in Orange, New Jersey, in January 2021 and was a prenovice at Don Bosco Prep and Orange in 2022-2024. He will study philosophy at Seton Hall University, aiming toward priesthood.

Brother Christo Ruben Philistin, 23, was born in Haiti. Desiring to serve God and young people, he was a Salesian candidate and prenovice in Haiti. After his parents immigrated to the United States, the Haiti and New Rochelle provincials arranged for his transfer of provinces during his novitiate. He will study philosophy at Seton Hall University, intending priestly ordination.

Brother Jieo Aleksander Tecson, 24, is a native of the Philippines. His family immigrated to Calgary, Alberta. Seeking religious life and possibly a missionary vocation, he joined the Salesians as a candidate at Orange, New Jersey, in August 2022 and was a prenovice at Don Bosco Prep in 2023-2024. During his prenovitiate year, he taught catechism at St. John Bosco Parish in Port Chester. He will pursue studies in philosophy with the intent of becoming a priest.

The Eucharistic celebration

Forty priests concelebrated the profession Mass, assisted by over 200 members of the Salesian Family and family members of the newly professed, Sisters of Life, students from Salesian schools, and other friends.

Introducing the Mass of Our Lady’s Assumption, Father Dominic voiced thanks to God for calling us, thanks to Our Lady, thanks to the brothers for their “yes” to God, and thanks to their parents, who were commended a couple more times during the rites.

Father Dominic’s homily focused on God’s initiative. On our own, he said, we’d never be ready to do God’s work. The Virgin Mary shows us that he can do great things in us. He commented on how the qualities of humility, obedience, and chastity that Mary demonstrated are applicable to religious life.

Father Dominic concluded by linking the day’s rite with two historical events of 2025: the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian missionary expedition (1875) and the Church’s Jubilee year. Don Bosco told the first missionaries that they would be doing God’s work; doing God’s work unites all of us wherever we may be. The theme of the Jubilee is hope. A Salesian, said the preacher, is always cheerful because he or she bears Good News. With God we have hope and can do great things.

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Father Michael Mendl, SDB, prepared this recap for The Good Newsroom.