Etobicoke: A Month of Transition

By Fr. John Puntino, SDB

(Etobicoke, ON – September 5) – August began with Fr. Frank Kelly in the hospital, Fr. Sean McEwen moving from Don Bosco Residence to St. Benedict Rectory, and my coming in from California. Soon, SummerDaze Camp ended, and Br. Peter Nguyen returned to Vietnam.

The community unexpectedly hosted eight pilgrims returning from World Youth Day when their connecting flights got canceled. Among the pilgrims was Fr. Provincial Dominic Tran. The community once again hosted Fr. Dominic, as well as Fr. John Louis Mariapragasam, former director, when they passed through Toronto on their way to and from the Salesian retreat in Caledon, ON.

Toward the end of the month, Pre-Novice Lorenzo D’Alessandro came into the community as he awaited his visa approval to join his fellow pre-novices at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ. Then, shortly before the end of the month, Fr. Kelly was released from the hospital and returned to Don Bosco Residence under home healthcare supervision while he awaits a room at Kipling Acres Long-term Care Home.