District SFNO – First Profession in Mont La Salle, Napa, CA

Two new professions were celebrated on 13 July 2023 in Mont La Salle, Napa, CA, for Brothers Matthew and Halen, together with their families, Brothers, and SFNO Partners.

The liturgy for the first vows began with an official welcome by Brother Christopher Brady, FSC, Auxiliary Visitor, and the opening address by the Director of the RELAN Novitiate, Brother Steven Vasoli, FSC, who emphasised the sacredness of the vows and recounted the intense year of novitiate that Halen and Matthew had experienced, carried out “as St John Baptist de La Salle wrote, to acquire the ‘spirit of faith essential for the life of a Brother of the Christian Schools'”.

Brother Matthew Chiantella grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. He taught at De La Salle High School in New Orleans and Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley. He lived in the Saint Mary’s College High School community during his Juniorate and Postulancy. He has been assigned to the Brothers’ Community in San Miguel, Tucson, AZ, and will be the Director of Student Life at San Miguel High School.

Brother Halen Gamino, on the other hand, grew up in Fresno, CA, graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California and lived in the Cathedral High School community in El Paso during his Juniorate and Postulancy. He has been assigned to the Brothers’ Community at Cathedral High School, Los Angeles, CA, where he will teach mathematics.

Brother David, who has accompanied both Brother Matthew and Halen in the early stages of their religious discernment and formation, stated, “[…] I look forward to their future in association for our Lasallian Mission, both with the Brothers and with our Partners.

For further information: https://delasalle.org/2023/07/sfno-celebrates-brothers-profession-of-first-vows/