THE PERPETUAL PROFESSION OF BRO. REY MALABANAN, CRS

Bro. Rey Malabanan, center, with Fr. Gabriele Scotti, CRS and the decons and priests.

Francis Raymund Gonzales: Father, what is the term for the "ordination" of nuns and brothers religious?

Fr. Abe, CRS: Bro. Francis, 'Ordination' is reserved for Clerical Order such as Ordination to the Diaconate [Deacon], Presbyterate [Priest], Episcopate [Bishop].

For religious the term is PROFESSION OF VOWS. There are two kinds: 1. Temporary Profession if the consecration has a term limit or fixed effectivity such as one year or three years, etc. and 2. Perpetual Profession, if the consecration of the religious is binding forever. The latter is also called Solemn Profession.

Actually, the question was not posted in this Blog but in my Facebook account. I decided to post it here so that those who are asking the same question concerning religious life will be given simple explanation. When I was about to post it I realized that I needed pictures related to religious profession of vows and so the start of my search in my long, long list of digital pictures in the archives.

I remembered that I have not posted yet in this Blog the Solemn Profession of Bro. Rey which happened few months ago in Lubao, Pampanga. I was not able to bring them here because this Blog was limited in photo capacity then. Our Picassa album was full and only later was I able to enlarge it.

I hereby bring these historic event in the life of our Somascan Congregation in the Philippines. If I'm not mistaken Bro. Rey is only the second Somascan religious from Batangas who professed solemnly after Fr. Melchor Umandal, CRS. Bro. Rey is a late vocation but he is growing fast in his Somascan life and spirituality.

Somascan Seminarians serving as Choir

Bro. Rey pronouncing the perpetual profession of vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience

Bro. Rey signing the profession document of his vows on the Holy Altar of Sacrifice

Bro. Rey being interrogated by our Provincial Superior, The Most Rev. Fr. Gabriel Scotti, CRS

The Somascan Religious are giving Bro. Rey a fraternal hug after he pronounced his perpetual vows.

Bro. Rey Malabanan and Family

The sems are tired and shy after the party

Another group of our sems from Flores, Indonesia

Fr. Don and Rev. Erwin [now Fr. Erwin]

Fr. Dondon, CRS, Rev. Erwin Manalang [now Fr. Erwin] and Fr. Abe, CRS

Our good seminarians from Flores, Indonesia. Now they are living in Tagaytay City and are about to take their Novitiates.

Fr. Abe, CRS with Sem. Paul Avancena whose twin brother, Peter is one of our Varsity Player here in ACI.

Fr. Abe, CRS with the young Somascan Seminarians, he remembers by name only Paul and Mark. Sorry to the rest of the boys.

Fr. Abe and his distant relative Sem. Yves Singson. Like him Yves is also a Knight of the Altar from the same parish. They are neighbors and their families are close.

Somascan seminarians in Lubao preparing things in the kitchen before the Profession. It is our tradition that when there are special events we are cleaning the entire house, the surroundings, we wash dishes and serve during meals and the liturgy. Seminarians are well trained in manual works not just in academic formation.