Day 21: Friday 26 July
Today was a different day from the previous ones. Today we celebrated the solemn profession of 23 of our brothers of the Calasanz Route in the church of St Pantaleo. There were 14 from the Province of Central Africa: Lendzemo Parfait Nsoseka, Dongmo Kenfack Ronel Christian, Saviour Ndifor Azeh, Kiamo Milkezedeck, Leinyuy Gildas Nyuymengka, Bama Dieudonné Kum, Ndi Chia Kevin, Aboghe Nguema Dougous Ron-Pierre, Fuh Desmond Ngwa Bounwi, Tokono Mondoleba Paulin, Amuche Ngu Eric, Ngala Austin Kanjo, Njungba Chrysanthus Yvesimbom, Abang Lesly Fu-uh. From Asia-Pacific Province, four: Kim Jae Yong, Nguyễn Hữu Lợi, Phạm Văn Lê and William B. Lluvido. From the Province of Bethany: Heribertus Ngalu. From the Province of India: Naveen Vadakkemuriyil Vincent and Sayun Jhadia. From the Province of Slovakia: Marek Lehocký. And from the Province of and Mexico: Daniel Cruz. The celebration was presided over by Fr Pedro Aguado, Father General. The General invited us to pray for our confreres on Thursday evening in the individual residences and on Friday evening for those who were to be ordained on Saturday.
In the morning, each group began the day with Lauds in their accommodation. We gathered in San Pantaleo and briefly rehearsed the celebration of profession. Then we had the final moment of formation of the Route with Fr Pedro, with a text entitled: “The Piarist we need”. After the presentation of the document, we shared our impressions of the presentation in plenary and made the evaluation of the Route.
After lunch, we rehearsed the songs for the celebrations one last time, and at 5.30pm the Eucharistic celebration began. Ivan Ruiz, Provincial of Betania, Matus Palaj, representative of Slovakia, more than twenty Piarist priests, formandi from Slovakia and Italy and many other guests of the brothers of this solemn profession: relatives and friends took part in the celebration. After the Mass, there were refreshments for the guests, followed by dinner and a celebration with the Piarist priests.
Day 22: Saturday, 27 July
On the last day of the route, the celebrations continued. Today we had the ordinations to the diaconate and presbyterate of several friars on the Route by Monsignor Carlos Curiel. We started the morning by praying Lauds together. Then we had the final rehearsal for the ordination ceremony. Aldrin Carlo Perez, Rolan Manalo, Antonio Fidelino and Yulianus Nguru, from the Province of Bethany, were ordained priests. They were ordained deacons from Central Africa: Lendzemo Parfait Nsoseka, Dongmo Kenfack Ronel Christian, Saviour Ndifor Azeh, Kiamo Milkezedeck, Leinyuy Gildas Nyuymengka, Bama Dieudonné Kum, Ndi Chia Kevin, Aboghe Nguema Dougous Ron-Pierre, Fuh Desmond Ngwa Bounwi, Tokono Mondoleba Paulin, Amuche Ngu Eric, Ngala Austin Kanjo, Njungba Chrysanthus Yvesimbom, Abang Lesly Fu-uh. From Asia-Pacific: Kim Jae Yong, Nguyễn Hữu Lợi, Phạm Văn Lê and William B. Lluvido; from Bethany, Heribertus Ngalu and from Mexico, Daniel Cruz Santos.
After the Eucharist, there was an exchange for the guests and then a festive meal. We also celebrated the birthday of Aldrin from Asia-Pacific. All participants on the Route received a facsimile of the memorial to Cardinal Tonti in the four official languages of the Order. For their part, the newly ordained deacons received the traditional mandrill to remind them of the importance of the ministry they had just received. The participants of the Route also thanked Fr Pedro and Fr József, Carles and Jesús for the moments shared in Rome.
After lunch, we travelled to Frascati to entrust the recent vocations and consecrations to the Queen of the Pious Schools and to give thanks for what we had experienced during this time. There we were welcomed by the community. We also visited the local school, the oldest in Europe, founded by St Joseph Calasanz in 1616. In the shrine of the Virgin, we prayed the Crown of the Twelve Stars. Each of the participants received a medal and a reproduction of the Madonna of Frascati, with whom we took the final photo. We also took the opportunity to thank the coordinators of the Route for their accompaniment, service and commitment. After the refreshments provided by the community of Frascati, it was time to say goodbye. Each group returned to the place where they were staying to start their journey back to their places of origin the next day.
This concluded our experience of the Calasanz Route 2024. We entrust ourselves to the protection of our Holy Father St Joseph Calasanz and the Virgin of the Pious Schools to continue betting on our vocation, on the Pious Schools and on the lives of so many children and young people who motivate us every day to be better Piarists.
Chronicler: David Villada López, Sch. P. (Province of Nazareth)
