Three Salesians Profess Final Vows

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Brother Branden Gordon, S.D.B., Brother Joshua Sciullo, S.D.B., and Brother Rafael Vargas, S.D.B., professed their final vows as Salesians of Don Bosco at a Mass of Religious Profession offered Aug. 21 at Marian Shrine in Stony Point.

All three completed two years of practical training in a Salesian apostolate before taking their final vows. Brother Gordon and Brother Sciullo are studying for their priestly ordination in two years.

Brother Gordon, 34, began theology studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., after completing his practical training as a freshman religion teacher at Salesian High School, New Rochelle, 2017-2019.

The native of Toronto became a candidate in the Salesian community there in 2013; began his prenovitiate at Holy Rosary parish, Port Chester, 2014; was a novice in Rosemead , Calif., 2014-2015; and professed first vows in Port Chester on Aug. 16, 2015.

Brother Sciullo, 28, has been studying theology at the Ratisbonne Institute in Jerusalem, an affiliate of the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, since 2019.

The native of Jacksonville, Fla., did his practical training at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La., where he taught religion to freshmen and sophomores.

Brother Sciullo entered the Salesian formation in 2011; advanced to prenovitiate at Holy Rosary parish in Port Chester, 2013-2014; went to the novitiate in Rosemead, Calif., 2014-2015; and professed first vows in Port Chester on Aug. 16, 2015.

Brother Vargas, 29, will be part of the formation team accompanying the young Salesians in Orange, N.J.

The Paterson, N.J., native served in Guatemala, 2019-2021; and at a camp in Marrero, La., this summer, and did his practical training teaching religion to juniors and eighth-graders at Archbishop Shaw High School, 2016-2018.

Brother Vargas, who attended Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., entered Salesian formation in 2010 and made his novitiate in Rosemead, Calif., 2013-2014. A graduate of Seton Hall University with a bachelor’s degree in Catholic studies, heand professed vows as a coadjutor (lay) brother in Haverstraw on Aug. 16, 2014.