June 6, 2010 (City of San Fernando, Pampanga)—On Sunday, June 6, 2010 (Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ), Cl. Albert O. Garong and Cl. Eric Mark S. Salamat consecrated themselves to God and fortified their response to Jesus’ call to live as He lived. They professed the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and fidelity to the Pope, becoming temporary professed members of the Society of St. Paul. The celebration was held at the St. Paul Novitiate Chapel in San Fernando City, Pampanga, where both spent a year of their novitiate.
The celebration was officiated by the Provincial Superior, Fr. Ruben C. Areño, along with novice Master, Fr. Joe Aripio, and Fr. Alan Gamutan, the master of the Juniors together with the several priests of the Congregation. Also in attendance were representatives from various congregations including those of the Pauline Family, family members and friends of the two newly professed, as well as many friends and benefactors. Many braved hours of travel and irregular spells of sweltering heat and pouring rain to personally attend the event. After the solemn rite, a simple feast followed.
As a temporary professed members, Albert and Mark will foray into new challenges as they begin their formal theological studies and are given official assignments in the Congregation’s various apostolic works. As they move into the congregation’s Provincial house in Makati, these two newly professed wishes everyone to continue to lift them up in prayers so that each step they make in this new journey will be meaningful and will bring them closer to the One who called them to the Pauline religious life.
On the same occasion, eight of the temporary professed members renewed their vows solemnly.
