On the weekend of March 11-13, the Institute of Salesian Studies (ISS) in Berkeley, CA, hosted 12 candidates who were furthering their process of discernment in doing a year of service with one of the Salesian service branches: Salesian Domestic Volunteers (coordinated by Megan Fraino), Salesian Volunteers (Juan Carlos Montenegro), Salesian Lay Missioners (Adam Rudin).
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While on the weekend, the candidates learned about who Don Bosco and the Salesians are, the Salesian Oratory Criteria, the discernment process and how we are called to be missioners, and also learned of the different placement opportunities within the different programs. Presenters included: Fr. John Roche SDB, Fr. Gael Sullivan SDB, Fr. Vincent Mandal SDB (province of Calcutta, India) as well as a panel of returned volunteers: Bryan Sullivan (Bolivia), Carlo Fiatarone (Sierra Leone), and Miriam Hernandez (Mexico). It was a great gathering of those who feel the call of service to the youth in the church. Those in attendance were:
- Tyler Crandall
- Beatriz Florez
- Eric Gamboa
- Reymundo Gomez
- Jose Hernandez
- Carmen Hilmes
- Iris Lee
- Taaj Lewis
- Kevin Lopez
- Andy Neria
- Carlos Rodriguez
Many thanks to the Salesians of Berkeley for their hospitality and Salesian insight. Please keep all candidates and those out serving in the missions, both foreign and domestic, in your prayers!
