Salesian Family Celebrates Ordinations in the Western United States

por Judy Álvarez, cooperadora salesiana

(Corpus Christi Church – San Francisco) On Friday, August 16, 2024 (Birthday of St. John Bosco), the Salesian Family of Don Bosco in the Western United States joyfully celebrated the ordination of two Salesian brothers. Surrounded by the love of their families, members of the Salesian Family, parishioners, friends, and special guests, Br. Jhoni Chormorro was ordained to the priesthood and Br. Quang-Damien Ho was ordained to the transitional diaconate.

The diverse community gathered at 11:00 AM for the Eucharistic Celebration at Corpus Christi Church in San Francisco on a bright, sunny morning. For weeks, the parish community, led by Fr. Thomas (Tom) Thodukulam, SDB (pastor/director), prepared for this liturgy to ensure that liturgical rites and ministries were all in place to welcome those who would come.

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, honored his longstanding friendship with the Salesian province with his presence. The concelebrants included numerous Salesian priests, including Fr. Mel Trinidad, Provincial, Fr. Thomas (Tom) Thodukulam, Director and Pastor, and a strong showing of diocesan priests, deacons, and liturgical ministers. Salesian brothers and sisters were also present, along with the family and friends in attendance who had traveled long distances to celebrate the ordinations.

The Opening Song of the liturgy captured the hearts of the assembly as they sang:

Somos el curepo de Cristo.

We are the body of Christ.

Hemos oido el llamado;

We’ve answered “Yes” to the call of the Lord.

The readings proper to the liturgy reminded the assembly:

“Those who fear the Lord prepare their hearts and humble themselves before him.” Sirach 2:17

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.” Phil 4:4

“Let the greatest among you be as the youngest and the leader as the servant. I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:26-27

Cardinal Rodriguez delivered the homily, holding up Don Bosco as the role model for Salesian pastors. He recognized that it is not easy to work with young people, but Don Bosco knew how. We must be close to the young and be the alternative to what the world offers. As Salesians, we are heralds of the preventive system based on reason, religion, and love. Referring to the dream of St. John Bosco at age nine, he charged the brothers to not tire of dreaming and to link their vow of poverty to love:

“The theme of love is linked to the theme of poverty. The Church must be rich in love and rich in poverty. Whoever is poor is free to be with the poor, to be like the poor. In these times of globalization, this is an imperative. It is not a matter of having anything but of knowing that if you have something, it is to serve the one who has nothing. If you have it, it is to give and to give of yourselves. The corporal works of mercy require us to detach ourselves from the material things we possess. The spiritual works of mercy require us to give from the most intimate part of ourselves of what we are.

Christ has told us that the shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The mystery of the cross is at the heart of Jesus’ service, and as Shepherd, it is the great service he renders to all of us. He gives himself away, and not just in the past. He does this every day in the celebration of the Eucharist. He gives himself through our hands. He gives himself to us. That is why rightly at the center of priestly life is the Holy Eucharist, in which the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is always through us. The Eucharist is not only a Mystery to be consecrated, received, contemplated, and adored but also a Mystery to be imitated. Consider what you do, imitate what you commemorate, and conform your life to the Mystery of the Cross of the Lord.”

The sacred rites of priestly and diaconate ordination followed, during which Deacon Jhoni and Br. Damien were consecrated to God for the building of the Kingdom in their new ministerial roles. Please continue to pray for our newly ordained Salesian ministers, Fr. Jhoni Chormorro, SDB and Deacon Damien-Quang Ho, SDB.

Photo Credits: Patrick M. Gee
To view more photos of the celebration, please visit this link.

(https://www.pmgphotography.net/Events/240816-Salesian-Ordination-Jhoni-Chamorro-Quang-Damien-Ho)