Golden Jubilee of Religious Rrofession
On behalf of the Don Bosco Embu Salesian community I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Br Umberto very heartily on this occasion of his Golden Jubilee of Religious Rrofession.
Needless to say, Br. Umberto’s religious life remains an inspiration to all who have come in contact with him. Though a man of few words he is known for his exactitude in all that he does.
Personally I have had time to live with Br. Umberto very closely at three different moments. One of the characteristic traits that attract one’s attention is his immense faith in Divine Providence and love for Don Bosco and the Salesian mission. This, of course, is characterized by a trusting smile that captivates everyone.
Brother Umberto also portrays a non-threatening countenance, thus making him lovable and a confidant.
Punctuality, sense of precise matters time management and regularity is second nature to him. Though you will find him doing a myriad of activities in a day yet no one will beat him when it comes to precision and punctuality. Come community prayer, he is the first to arrive; meals time, brother is there waiting for all of us in the community refectory. He has a regular time for going to bed and time for arising. Indeed he is a model for every human and spiritual value one may think of.
The celebration of the Golden Jubilee is truly a moment for us to thank God for the wonderful gift of Br. Umberto to the Church, the congregation and more especially to our community. Words alone would not suffice to express our deepest sentiments gratitude for whom and what he is.
Kudos, kudos and kudos Br Umberto!
But who is Br. Umberto?
He is a Salesian Brother. A Salesian Brother is a man who lives his commitment to God through religious profession as a non ordained member of the congregation. Don Bosco referred to them as coadjutors, meaning living and working alongside the priests. He is therefore just as a Salesian as a priest is, save that he does not carry out a sacramental ministry.
Membership or vocation to the Salesian congregation attracts both the ordained and the non ordained on an equal footing. Br Umberto belongs to the non-ordained membership of our congregation.
According to our holy founder, St. John Bosco, a Salesian community is not truly ‘Salesian’ if it does not have both the lay and priestly element.
Our school has been fortunate because right from the time of its opening we have had a consistent presence of non-ordained Salesians in the persons of Alfonso Morcelli, Umberto Rizzetto, Giorgio Conte, Stephano Giubergia and Celestine Nathan. This year God has blessed us with another coadjutor Salesian, Br. Benedict Njagi a Kenyan that comes from Kirinyaga in central province.
It is a fact that without a brother in any of our communities, the Salesian community may run the risk of not being in touch with the secular world and therefore with the reality of the mission.
Br. Umberto is in fact THIS BROTHER. Indeed his good natured-ness and friendliness with all has won him the name of korokocho with the street children and the common folk in Embu town.
Congratulations once again Br Korokocho!
Rector – Don Bosco Embu
