Salesian Brothers Mukuye and Taylor make first profession

Brothers. Pascal Mukuye, SDB, and John Taylor, SDB, made their first religious profession as Salesians of Don Bosco on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the Marian Shrine Chapel in Haverstraw, N.Y.

Father Dominic Tran, SDB, provincial, received the brothers’ vows in the name of the Salesian Rector Major, Cardinal-elect Angel Fernandez Artime, SDB, and gave the homily. Brother John’s uncle, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of Little Rock, Ark., presided at the Mass. He received both a warm welcome from those present and warm thanks from the Salesians The texts were those of the Mass of Religious Profession with readings chosen by the two brothers: 1 Sam 3:1-10, Ps 40:7- 11, and Matt 19:16-26. They also chose the service music, a combination of modern hymns and Gregorian chants. Brother Pascal sang the responsorial psalm with a melody of his own composition.

Pascal-De-Madeleine Maitela Mukuye was born in 1986 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His father, Duniani Maitela, is deceased. His mother, Salima Zawadi Madeleine, lives in a refugee camp in Zimbabwe. He has four older brothers and three older sisters; one of his brothers and one of his sisters are deceased.

Brother Pascal himself was a refugee in Zimbabwe before he emigrated to Newfoundland (Canada) in 2006. He began seminary studies for the St. John’s Archdiocese. During his discernment, he had some discussions with a fellow seminarian who thought he might be a good Salesian and gave him a biography of Don Bosco. Eventually Pascal contacted the Salesians in Etobicoke, Ont., in 2018.

In mid-2019, he moved to Ottawa as a preparatory step to joining the Salesians as a “pre-candidate” (Pascal’s term) at Sherbrooke, Que., which he did in September to explore further what the Salesians are about. In August 2020, he came to the Salesian formation house in Orange as a candidate, followed by prenovitiate at Ramsey in 2021-2022. He served at summer camp in Tampa in 2022. Pascal entered the novitiate in Richmond, Calif., on Aug. 15, 2022. He found his study of the Constitutions particularly enriching and valued Fr. Joseph Nguyen, SDB, master of novices, as a good spiritual guide. He writes, “I have found much joy in living the rule as a way that leads to love; living with Don Bosco; and this desire continues to burn in my heart.”

Brother Pascal professes as a “cleric” and will continue studies toward ordination in the pre-theology program at Seton Hall University. Besides his studies, he looks forward to working with young people, bringing them his own gifts and experiences; and to meeting the confreres of the province of St. Philip. He’s developing a social media presence that will enable him to reach youngsters more widely.

Eventually, Brother Pascal hopes to specialize in spiritual direction and retreat work so as to help youths “discover the beauty of the Church; facilitate an encounter with God with these young people; and accompany them on their spiritual journey as they strive to respond to God’s call.”

For himself, Brother Pascal says: “The gift of the Salesian vocation that our generous, good God has bestowed upon me continues to be the most precious gift that I continue to be thankful for. For the past four years, living the Salesian vocation has been a source of great joy in my life; a path that continues to bring me closer to God in holiness.”

John Lawrence Taylor was born in 1985 in Fort Worth, Texas. He’s the third child of Joseph and Lynnice Taylor, with an older brother and older sister. John’s vocational inspiration has been his Uncle Tony, who was a priest of the Oklahoma City Archdiocese until he became bishop of Little Rock in 2008. Brother John used to spend parts of the summers of his youth attending Father’s Taylor’s vacation Bible school and accompanying him to various parish events and services.

In 2010, Brother John became a Salesian lay missioner and spent August 2010 to August 2011 serving at St. John Bosco Parish in Chicago. This interested him in youth ministry and a Salesian vocation. In August 2020 he became a candidate at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, contributing to the school’s ministry. He became a prenovice there the following year and ministered at St. John Bosco Parish in Port Chester, N.Y., teaching catechism to Confirmation students and assisting at teen nights and a Penance service for youngsters preparing for first confession. The part of his novitiate year in Richmond (2022-2023) that made the biggest impression on Brother John was this summer at Camp St. Francis in Watsonville, Calif.

“I really enjoyed spending time at summer camp with the young. In this apostolate I was able to get a full perspective of what the young are living. I was able to know their dreams and interests and what bothers them. I got to share in their true joy,” he said.

This year Brother John will continue formation as a “cleric” in the community at Orange while taking pretheology courses at Seton Hall. He aspires to “keep learning about myself and to grow as a Salesian with the support and help of the Salesians” of the community and the province. As a Salesian, Brother John would like to specialize in promotion of social justice advocacy and service to those in need together with the young.

Featured image: Brother Pascal Mukuye, SDB; Bishop Anthony Taylor, SDB; Brother John Taylor, SDB; and Father Dominic Tran, SDB (Provincial).