Brs. Castonguay and White Make First Profession

By Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB

(Stony Point, NY – August 15, 2020) – Brs. John Patrick Castonguay and Kevin Robert White made their first profession of vows as Salesians on Saturday, August 15 at the Marian Shrine in Haverstraw, NY. Both professed as clerical members of the Society. Fr. Tim Zak received their vows in the name of the Rector Major.

More than 200 of the faithful took part in the Mass, nearly as many as permitted in the Shrine chapel under the rules obtaining during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them were 23 Salesian priest celebrants, 14 other Salesians, family members of Brs. John and Kevin, students and alumni from Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ, and other friends and members of the Salesian Family.

Brs. John and Kevin completed a year of novitiate in the Salesian community of Richmond, CA guided by the master of novices Ff. Joseph Thinh Nguyen of the San Francisco Province and Father John Puntino, socius, of the New Rochelle Province. Prior to that, they made a year of prenovitiate at Don Bosco Prep under the direction of Br. Tom Dion.

An extraordinary situation: Father Tim Zak’s homily

The Provincial’s homily highlighted some extraordinary factors—not only the pandemic but also the Virgin Mary’s vocation (on her feast day, the Assumption) and the vocation of Brs. John and Kevin.

The relatively new master of novices, Fr. Joe Nguyen, expected a “regular year,” as the two novices had told Fr.Tim in the run-up to their profession. Of course, it didn’t turn out that way. According to Father Tim, events unfolded because God was sending a message that religious profession extraordinary rather than “regular.” It’s a lofty choice that deepens one’s baptismal commitment—the beginning of a new life.

The two new Salesian brothers had an extraordinary year because they listened to God’s call and responded. They’re ready to follow the regula (rule) of Jesus Christ.

On the feast of the Assumption, Fr. Tim continued, we note that Mary is a model of faith. She found the hand of God in the unexpected circumstances of her life, starting with the Annunciation. She understood and grasped what God was doing in and through her, as she acclaimed in her Magnificat. She expressed her participation in the people of Israel and what God has done for them. Brs. Kevin and John can sing with Mary of what God is doing in their lives.

The feast of the Assumption, said Father Tim, affirms that the human person, both body and soul, is precious in God’s eyes. On the Assumption, we celebrate God’s victory shown in Mary. It’s a celebration of hope for all people, that one day we’ll sing God’s glory in our bodies and souls as whole, saved persons.

Today many young people are without hope. They use their bodies in unhealthy ways, and they discard persons who are no longer useful. Pope Francis notes the “throwaway culture” of our society.

The Salesians, on the other hand, are signs and bearers of God’s love for the young, including those without hope. Brothers Kevin and John have taken on the vocation of showing the young, the little, and the poor how precious they are to God. Like Mary, they’re putting their lives at God’s disposal; they’re ready for whatever surprises God may have in their future. They’re ready to show the young how much they’re loved.

At the end of Mass, each of the newly professed men spoke briefly, thanking God, the Virgin Mary, and their families for the gift of their vocation, and thanking their brother Salesians for their support. Brother John stated that he’ll be able to be a “sign and bearer of God’s love” because he has first experienced that love from God and others.

Br. John Castonguay: Eucharist, music, and the classroom

Br. John, 27, grew up in Pennington, NJ. His parents, John and Theresa Castonguay, now live in Richboro, PA. He’s the oldest of their four offspring (two boys, two girls). His sister Kate has served as cantor at several Salesian celebrations. In his family, he learned devotion to the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary.

Br. John started to discern religious life as he attended Fordham University and evolved in his prayer life and a desire to give his life to God’s service. Due to his experience working with young people, a friend suggested he consider the Salesians. The vocation office put him in touch with Fr. John Serio for spiritual direction, which he continued during graduate studies at Providence College. There, he earned an M.Ed. in secondary education. Truly, Br. John found in Fr. John “a true model of Salesian accompaniment.”

Having pursued his passion for music, John sang and directed vocal music ensembles, arranged music, and partook in international a cappella and barbershop quartet competitions.

During his candidacy year (2017-2018) at Don Bosco Prep, and then his prenovitiate (2018-2019), he found in the local Salesian community “incredible models of joyful fraternity [and] self-sacrificing love for the young people at Ramsey.” He was naturally attracted to Salesian spirituality’s “two pillars of the Blessed Sacrament and Mary Help of Christians.”

Moreover, Br. John was first drawn to the Salesians by our apostolate. His experience as a history and vocal music teacher while he was doing graduate studies confirmed his vocation of working with the young. Additionally, mission trips with Don Bosco Prep students and staff to Belle Glade and Haiti deeply impressed him.

As a novice, he especially liked working with the Salesians of Richmond, as well as Cooperators and Salesian sisters in fostering Eucharistic adoration, which received greater emphasis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Br. John will join the Salesian formation community in Orange, NJ, and will take pre-theology and Spanish courses at Seton Hall University. He also hopes to continue his musical education. He plans “to continue to grow as a man of prayer, allowing my relationship with God to illuminate every aspect of my life” and to continue to serve God, his brothers, and the young.

Moreover, Br. John expects to use his musical talent and love for teaching to build relationships with the young and introduce them “to God through beauty and joy.”

Br. Kevin White: Salesian example, prayer, and schools

Br. Kevin, 22, comes from Glen Rock, NJ, and is an alumnus of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey. His mother is Kathleen White; his father, Patrick White, is deceased. He has a twin sister, Meghan White.

At Don Bosco, Br. Kevin was strongly influenced by Father Matt DeGance, the school’s CYM. “He showed me that real joy consists in serving God first and foremost in your life,” and he “helped me start my relationship with Christ.” As a result, Br. Kevin wanted to do what he saw Father Matt doing: finding joy in serving God and the young and leading other young people to have a sound experience of God. His prayer life affirmed his desire “to give myself fully to God by following his Son Jesus Christ in the footsteps of Don Bosco.”

From Don Bosco, Br. Kevin went to Orange for two years of candidacy (2016-2018). In the novitiate, he particularly treasured the time given for personal prayer, “incredibly helpful for my growth and depth in relationship with our Lord and for my discernment and preparation for consecration.”

Br. Kevin will be part of the Orange formation community in 2020-2021, as he works toward a degree in theology and philosophy at Seton Hall. His aspiration for the immediate future is “simply to do [his] duties well …, to put all my effort into whatever I am asked to do, whether it be to study, to teach, etc., so that I give myself most fully to the young to whom God sends me.”

Eventually, he hopes to be involved in youth ministry through schools and sports. Moreover, Br. Kevin would also like to help with digital ministry. Through this platform, he can meet the young where they are and have a positive impact on their lives.

View photos from this momentous occasion on Shutterfly and Facebook.