Welcoming Candidates and World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation

By Provincial Fr. Dominic Tran, SDB, and Bro. Christo Philistin, SDB

(New Rochelle, NY – August 27) – The Orange community has welcomed three new candidates for the academic year of 2025-2026. They are Genaro Cantú, Luis Marquez, and Rowan Pham.

Genero Cantú was a Salesian Lay Missioner, who served in Colima, Mexico. Luis Marquez is from St. John Bosco-St. James Parish in Chicago, IL. Rowan Pham graduated from Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, LA, this past school year.

Last week also marked the first week that the five post-novices (Bros. Carlos Cerda, Lorenzo D’Alessandro, Jieo Tecson, Nicholas Jandernoa, and Christo Philistin) and new candidates came to live in the Orange community.

After two days of orientation, on Friday, August 22, they were divided into two groups and went to New York City to visit several sites. Please pray for the post-novices and the candidates as they all embark on the next step in their vocation journeys.

Additionally, this year’s World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation will be held on Monday, September 1. It begins the Season of Creation, which lasts through Saturday, October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Read Pope Leo XIV’s message for this year.

Everyone is welcome to submit articles in celebration of this year’s Season of Creation. They can be either personal reflections or ecological happenings in parishes, schools, communities, and works. Please send them with photos to communications@salesians.org, in accordance with the submission guidelines.