Men in Formation

I grew up in a strong Catholic family in Omaha, Neb. God blessed me with good parents and five active siblings. My mother and father made Mass and evening prayer important parts of our routine when I was growing up. During high school and college, I always had a feeling that I should go to church and pray, but my faith was superficial and did not impact my life. I was fortunate to get into the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) at the University of Notre Dame. I was sent to Pensacola Catholic High School in Florida to teach high school math and social studies. There were many great witnesses to authentic Catholic life there, such as my principal, local priests, and coworkers. As a young man from Notre Dame, I was always sent on the class retreats. Eventually, I was asked to give testimonies about prayer and being Catholic. Preparing for these talks made me examine my own meager faith, and I started asking bigger questions about myself and about Jesus Christ. Slowly, I started to understand that being Catholic was about a relationship with God and not just a series of tasks to accomplish. I also realized that following Christ could never be one of many things but had to be, whether I liked it or not, the most important part of my identity. I began to pray more, read spiritual books, and attend Mass more often. Ultimately, I asked the big question, “God, what do you want to do with my life?”

I decided that maybe I should consider the priesthood or religious life. I moved back to Omaha and started working at the Catholic high school that I had attended. I prayed more but did not feel ready to make any big life decisions. Through the grace of God, Fr. Dominic Tran was celebrating Masses at my home parish, St. Leo’s, in Omaha during the summer of 2016. We talked after Mass one day and then had dinner a few times together. He told me about the Salesians and the life of St. John Bosco. I was enamored with St. John Bosco and his whole-hearted commitment to young people. I spent the summer of 2017 in Chicago at Camp Don Bosco and felt fulfilled living, praying, and working in that community. Ultimately, these were enough signs for me to take the next step to officially join the Salesians. I thank God for placing so many people in my life to steer this stubborn young man into the direction of religious life with the Salesians.

During my first year as a candidate, I taught American History at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J. This was a rewarding experience because I got to see a Salesian school firsthand. During my pre-novitiate year, I stayed in Ramsey to take classes focused on Salesian spirituality, the Old Testament, the Catechism, and human formation. Additionally, I was able to help around the school by taking students to a soup kitchen each week, coaching cross country, and directing morning traffic.

Following that, I entered the novitiate in Richmond, Calif. The novitiate year is a period of deepening one’s prayer life and discerning whether God is calling one to become a consecrated religious — namely a Salesian of Don Bosco. On August 15, 2021, I made my first profession as a Salesian of Saint Don Bosco. I was privileged to make profession at the same time as Br. Francis Nguyen and Br. Reegan Ledet (who took his vows in California).

After profession, I studied philosophy and theology at Seton Hall University while helping with various apostolates at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Orange, N.J. During my practical training, I was sent to Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (DBCR) in Takoma Park, Md. to teach sophomore Geometry. Getting to teach and know the young people and staff at DBCR was a very rewarding and enriching experience. My favorite memories are playing pick-up basketball outside during lunch with a motley crew of students and staff, always hoping for a few more minutes of basketball before the bell rang to return to class. There is a part of my heart that will always be part of the DBCR Wolfpack.

After my two years of practical training, I was sent to begin my Theology studies at the Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago, Ill. I am currently entering Theology II at CTU. I live at our Salesian parish, Saint John Bosco-Saint James, in Chicago. I very much enjoy getting to know the parishioners and helping with the youth and young adult ministry in the parish.

It was in 1981 when my Papa—then only a thirteen-year-old high school freshman—first set foot in the halls of Don Bosco Academy in Pampanga, Philippines. It was only in hindsight when I realized how his decision to attend that Salesian school, a seemingly insignificant one in many respects, would echo throughout the years and affect the course of even my own life.

It was probably due to my Papa's insistence when, on one Sunday evening thirty years later, I decided to take out a film from the parish library. Holding the DVD in my hands, I gazed at the title displayed across the cover: St. John Bosco: Mission to Love. I hardly knew what to expect, but as I watched it, I was blown away by its portrayal of Don Bosco, of his work with troubled boys, of the depths of his compassion, his joy, and his faith. My imagination was so stirred that I even recall telling my grandmother (who was watching with me) that "if I become a priest, I would be a Salesian!" I was not serious at the time, but the film made such an impression on me that I watched the movie once more that same week.

The seeds regarding the possibility of a priestly vocation were planted in the first grade, when a year spent in the Philippines exposed me to the vibrant beauty and intense devotion that characterized the Faith there. It somehow survived the turbulent years of high school in Calgary where, though I tried my hardest to push it away, it kept on resurfacing. I knew that I wanted to have my own family, but the notion of living out my fatherhood in a different, more radical way, scared, challenged, and intrigued me all at once. I started to think about various religious orders, but it was only after my first year of university when I began to ponder the possibility of devoting my life to the young, inspired by the sense of fulfillment I felt as a high school student working among younger grades. I began to work as a classroom aide and recess supervisor at a Catholic school, desiring to see if it was truly something to which I wanted to devote my life. This desire to labor for the salvation of the young eventually led me to a more serious consideration of the Salesians as a possible vocation.

Since then, I've had the opportunity to further explore the spirit of Don Bosco, spending an unforgettable summer in Toronto's Camp Summerdaze, as well as an amazing year in Tampa where, through helping in the high school, parish, and home for retired Salesians, I was able to more deeply immerse myself in the Salesian life. It is a life which I am beginning to envision for myself, and though only God knows where He leads me even now, I am confident that with His grace and if He wills it, I may be able to find sainthood here, both for myself and for the souls with and for whom I am embarking upon this greatest of adventures.

I’m Genaro, a lifelong Catholic born in Piedras Negras, Mexico, and I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m an avid sports fan, and I enjoy playing board games, watching superhero movies, and spending quality time with good friends. 

The “call of the Lord” for me to consider religious life started in my early 20s, as an upperclassman at Texas A&M University. Years passed, and that call was a total afterthought for me as I continued my daily life following graduation in 2017. It was easy to push aside any vocational thoughts because I simply did not have any true spiritual accompaniment. For years, I didn’t seek any sort of vocational support. I really isolated myself from the ample help a good spiritual director and others around me could provide. 

Despite this, the call to give of myself in a more concrete way was ever constant in my life; it never really went away, in spite of my stubbornness to respond. 

I became interested in the Salesians around 2023, and pretty providentially, it was because of the Salesian Lay Missioner (SLM) program. I was discerning the priesthood more seriously, but I also felt the call to serve in mission before starting any sort of religious formation. I was sent as an SLM to Colima, Mexico, where I got to accompany boys and girls for 15 months at a Casa Hogar (a shelter for at-risk youth). This experience was fruitful, eye-opening and gratifying in many different ways. By spending time daily with the kids of Casa Hogar and establishing those relationships of trust and guidance, I could then turn their hearts in some small way to the Lord. I was able to give of myself, but I received a whole lot more from the youth in Colima! During my mission, I also got to learn about Don Bosco and many facets of the Salesian spirit. 

What motivates me to enter formation with the Salesians is the opportunity to be a present-day model of St. John Bosco, in my own unique way. I love being involved in church and evangelizing ministry, and it would be worthwhile to serve the Lord as a sign and bearer of His love for the young. Above all, I would love to be an instrument of God, through the intercession of Mother Mary, in leading youth to value Christ in their personal lives. 

Thank you to my family, close friends, and the Salesian contacts who have helped me along this path up to this point. A shout-out to St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M, whose ministry was instrumental in leading me back to the Church and to being a fully practicing Catholic. Thanks also to the young adult group at my parish in Fort Worth, Juventud Hispana — you have been such a huge support in my discernment journey, more than you can imagine, and I appreciate you all. 

Please pray for me and for my companions in formation. May God bless you!

Hello! I’m Br. Nicholas Jandernoa, and I grew up in the small town of Pewamo, Mich. I have one older brother and three younger sisters. I played football, basketball, and golf in high school. After high school, I participated in NET Ministries Ireland and Scotland. This experience had a profound impact on me, and I discovered I had a passion and gifts for working with young people and leading them to Christ. Slowly, I developed a curiosity for religious life, and I began to be more and more open to where God was leading me. 

I enjoyed playing sports and leading young people to Christ. I also had a desire to be "all in" for God. I found that consecrated life as a Salesian was a perfect fit! Throughout my time with the Salesians, it has been anything but boring. Life as a Salesian is full of adventure, and I am happy to be doing the Lord’s work and following His will. I never imagined I would be a religious brother and, eventually, God willing, a Salesian priest. I also never imagined that I would get the opportunity to live in Ecuador for a year, which is where I am right now!

I encourage all young people, if they're curious about religious life, not to be afraid of what God has in store for them. 

Please continue to pray for me as I live the consecrated life as a Salesian Brother.

My name is Francis Chazhikattu, but most know me as "Franky".

I was about five years old when my life changed—I told my mom I wanted to be a priest. Before then, I grew up being formed by two communities. One was my zealous Indian community (which meant being at all church/community services practically twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week), and the other was my public school. Since I went to school with other low-to-middle-class children from culturally diverse backgrounds, I had the blessing to grow up as part of the “99 percent”, as a “man of the people”.

I told my mom that perhaps thinking about becoming a priest looked cool. It was from then on that things changed. The Indian community heard of it, and there was a lot of pressure on me to follow through. As it was the only thing I was known for, after years, I began to despise the idea of me being a priest.

Things also changed with my school community, which used to be a safe space for me. I was sent to Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School after Fr. Steve Ryan informed my family about me joining the just-opened school. That meant leaving all my friends to go to a new school, where I knew almost no one. As a result of having felt confused, I fell into a very toxic friend group.

Though I was very involved in my church and had much knowledge about the faith, I felt completely lost, since I had no direction in life, and alone, since it felt like neither man nor God was there for me. Little did I know that God was slowly placing the bricks in my life.

It was during my junior year, at my lowest point in life so far, that I attended the Salesian Leadership Retreat (SLR), because no one else signed up. Despite my initial disregard, that retreat changed my life. It was where I felt I could truly be myself, around people who loved me for who I was at that point, to the point that it was clear that Christ was drowning me in His love through them.

Following that experience, I became more active in my communities. The next brick God placed was when Fr. Eddie Chincha invited me to work the summer camp that year. Despite the intensity of those two weeks, I discovered my passion for serving the youth, being able to minister in small ways and have fun with them.

During my senior year, I was heavily involved with campus ministry. Next, I went into my first year of college with the desire to be a youth minister after being inspired by summer camp and the example of Salesian Lay Missioner (SLM) Andy Lagunas.

Despite having my most consistent prayer routine through my first year at college, I didn’t feel the deep connection with God that I desired. That was when I was invited to help as a member of the core team for an SLR, which reignited my passion for the youth and was where I started speaking with two guys in discernment with the Salesians, who were spending the year with the Tampa community. It was through their witness and the support of my family and friends that I accepted the invitation from Fr. Franco Pinto and Fr. Eddie to spend some time better discerning wherever God was calling me by living with the Salesian community in Tampa.

That year helped me grow in unimaginable ways. It allowed me to see what it meant to be in that Salesian community, how human they are from brotherly banter, and how spiritual they grew by their life experiences. With the school’s campus ministry, I was pushed to grow by the challenge to really get to know these kids, which made me become a better example for them. I was welcoming and myself around them. As a result, they let me in their lives and were open to accompaniment in all parts of their lives. I encouraged them to have fun and foster the desire to grow in their spiritual life. Through their opening of their own selves and teaching me things, I was truly able to encounter Christ’s love through them. These kids came from broken families, tough backgrounds, yet had the biggest hearts, which allowed me to really share my life with the young and the poor.

Through the guidance of the various Salesians in community life and the experiences of the youth helping me grow in holiness, I made the choice to officially apply for Salesian formation. My first year was as a candidate in the Orange community, and I am now a pre-novice at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ.

For you who are reading this, wherever God is calling for you, just remember the advice that I was once given. Even if you’re unsure if this is where God is calling you and even if you discern out, you will still have such fruitful experiences that you’ll grow from. So don’t be afraid that it might be a waste; just try spend time to at least get to know the Salesians, and be open to whatever life God calls you to.

To the reader of this autobiography,

My name is Rowan Pham. I was born on February 14, 2007. I am from Marrero, La., and I am a candidate with the Salesians of Don Bosco. I am entering my second year of formation!

I grew up in a traditional Vietnamese Catholic family, in which it was heavily emphasized to me as a child to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as a foundation of one’s life. Despite my family’s good efforts of catechesis, I grew indifferent to the Catholic faith and became a Catholic by name. I never liked attending Mass, I zoned out of religion class, and I believed that I forged my own path, not God.

However, as I entered high school in 2021, I began to wrestle with the question of the purpose of my life. I felt empty and unfulfilled. This heavily affected my mood and overall perspective of my day-to-day life to the point where I struggled to get out of bed in the morning. By the providence of God and Mary Help of Christians, I enrolled in Archbishop Shaw High School, which was run by the Salesians, to begin my high school journey. There, I began to truly learn the person of Jesus Christ in my freshman religion class. This created a spark of interest in Catholicism, and I began a deep period of research into the faith, especially in knowing God Triune. After this, at the beginning of my sophomore year, I decided to truly pursue a deep relationship with our Lord.

After making a good confession and attending Mass frequently, the interest in the priesthood came nearly immediately. However, I initially dismissed this out of fear, not thinking I was worthy of that vocation, nor did I ever truly consider it. It was not until I attended the Salesian Gospel Roads Retreat in the summer of 2023 that I discovered something extraordinary: I was truly at peace and in deep contentment within the Salesian charism. So, I began to truly discern the vocation to the Salesian priesthood at the beginning of my junior year. After being presented with plenty of discernment opportunities (SLR, Catechist, Music Ministry, Peer Ministry, etc.), I am now entering my first year in formation!

For whatever reason you may be reading this, I hope that my story can provide good spiritual fruit for your relationship with Christ. Please know that you will always be in my prayers, and I humbly ask for your prayers as I discern the Salesian priesthood and to pray for our young people.

I was born and raised in Mexican lands and my Catholic faith was always present. Though my faith wasn’t strong, now that I look back on my childhood and adolescence, I am happy about the education and values I received from my family. I am an only child who at the age of 13 migrated to the United States. It was in the United States that I got to know more about my Catholic faith. I felt the call to serve God in the young people in my home parish. I knew the young people desired to be listened to and understood. They wanted a safe place for them to express their authentic selves. Being accompanied by a Carmelite Friar helped me to know St. John Bosco and his mission, and that is when I decided to become a Salesian. I also knew that my path to becoming a saint is not alone but in the company of brothers following the same mission.

After living and discerning in the initial stages of formation, candidacy, pre-novitiate, and novitiate, and being assisted by my formators and novice master, I made my first profession on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary as a Salesian of Don Bosco in August 2025.

As a Salesian coadjutor brother, I am continuing to discover the beauty of my vocation and how to live and share it with others. It's a beautiful path that was unknown to me at first. As I journeyed through the different stages of formation and rediscovered the gifts and talents God has given me, I came to realize that I am called to be a consecrated lay Salesian. Through my consecration, I seek to fully live my baptismal promises by dedicating my life to God as "a sign and bearer of God's love for the young."

"We, the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDBs), form a community of the baptized. Submissive to the bidding of the Spirit, we are resolved to carry out the Founder's apostolic plan in a specific form of religious life: to be in the Church signs and bearers of the love of God for young people, especially those who are poor. By carrying out this mission, we find our own way to holiness" (Art. 2, Salesian Constitutions).

Hello there! My name is Brother Tim Hughes. I am originally from Carlsbad, Calif., and I am the youngest son of Patrick and Regina Hughes.

Growing up, I had a passion for acting and the performing arts that I discovered in the sixth grade when I played one of the villains in a production of Cactus Pass Jamboree. I went on to study it through high school and college and had plans to pursue a career in acting when, in September of 2021, I began discerning a call to the priesthood. At the time, this was a bit of a shock, but little by little God began guiding me on a path that would eventually lead me to the Salesians.

While discerning, I went on a FOCUS mission trip to Lima, Peru, that had a decisive impact on my vocation in two ways:

1. I encountered the joy and the beauty of mission; and
2. I met my first Salesian, Fr. Steve DeMaio, who was, at the time, our province's vocations director.

Following this trip, I knew I wanted to discern mission more. Providentially, through a series of events, Fr. Steve invited me to apply to be a Salesian Lay Missioner (SLM). While I first balked at leaving for a year-long mission, I discerned that this was God's will for me and so said "yes." This mission would go on to change my life.

I served for a year in the Casa Hogar del Niño Colimense (a home for at-risk youth) in Colima, Mexico. I spent that year serving 40 of the most incredible young boys and girls alongside a group of dedicated and passionate missionaries, volunteers, and asistentes. All of them together taught me so much about the mission and life of Don Bosco, especially that "it is not enough to love the young; they must know they are loved." It was halfway through that mission that I began discerning with the Salesians. Once I returned from the mission, although I at first struggled to say "yes," I eventually couldn't resist the conquering love of God the Father and the tremendous love of the young people I served. So, in August of 2024, I finally said "yes" and entered formation with the Salesians of Don Bosco as a pre-novice. 

I spent my pre-novitiate in Ramsey, N.J., and my novitiate in Richmond, Calif. During my time in formation, I have learned so much about what it means for us as Salesians to be "a sign and bearer of God's love for the young." I have learned that it is in encountering the young that I encounter Christ, that it is in living in communion with my brothers that I grow in holiness, that professing our evangelical counsels brings me the freedom to love and be loved, and that without a union with God I can do nothing. It was an immense joy to make my first profession on August 15, 2026, and I am overjoyed to now be an officially professed member of the Society of St. Francis de Sales. I now continue in my initial formation here in Orange, N.J., where I will be completing my post-novitiate studies at Seton Hall University and continuing to ask God for the grace to be "faithful day by day" to my apostolic consecration. 

I could go on and on about my discernment, but here is the most apropos part, I feel. Meeting the Salesians came by way of something so ordinary: my neighbor, who had studied with a few Salesians in Rome, casually told me about them. She told me who they were, their charism, their founder, etc. I became intrigued immediately.

Here is why: I was a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Vancouver for four years. During the last few years of formation there, the thought of, "it would be so nice if I could minister to the young more than what the average archdiocesan priest does, and possibly even teach them, then my priesthood would be so much better!" crossed my mind. Alas, that was not the case, as an archdiocesan priest has more duties to attend to, and running a parish with all its facets is not easy. So, I was prepared to bite the bullet for God.

However, while God asks us to surrender everything to Him, He does not necessarily take everything. When my neighbour told me all these things, I was absolutely elated. After a period of discernment, it became apparent that God wanted to use these gifts he gave me for others, and, ultimately—as this is what formation is all about—to perfect them—as goes the oft-quoted saying of St. Thomas Aquinas, "Grace perfects nature." So, here I am three years later as a Salesian Clerical Brother, consecrated to and following Jesus in the spirituality of St. Francis De Sales through the lens of Don Bosco. Deo gratias! He is so good!