Br Kevin Takes Final Vows in Waterford.

In the first ceremony of its kind for several years in Ireland, Br. Kevin Mascarenhas made his final profession as a Presentation Brother at Mount Sion in Waterford city yesterday. The ceremony took place in the chapel which houses the remains of Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of the Presentation Brothers.

Br. Kevin has been living in Ireland for the past five years and isthe director of the Information and Support Unit for asylum seekers,refugees and immigrants in Waterford which has some 1000 clients.

"Little did I ever think as I grew up in Karachi inPakistan that one day I would end up as a Presentation Brotherthousands of miles away in Waterford! I met the Brothers in Canada,worked with them in the West Indies, did my novitiate in Dublin and nowI'm making my final vows in Waterford- the city in which the Brotherswere founded. Today, I want to thank them – they have allowed me tobecome the person that I always hoped that I could become."

Br. Kevin made his vows in the presence of Br. MartinKenneally, the Congregation Leader of the Presentation Brothers.Speaking during the ceremony, Br. Martin said that "on an ordinarySaturday morning in Waterford something extraordinary is happening inthis chapel. Br. Kevin's strange and wonderful choice is a sign of hopethat God is doing something new among us."

This weekend's final profession comes at a time whenvocations in Ireland are on a ten year high. Figures released in Augustrevealed that the numbers entering seminary were at the highest levelsince 1999.

 

 

Read Kevin's life story in our Monthly Profile section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Photo Credits:
Photo 1: Congregation Leader, Br Martin Kenneally, congratulates Br Kevin after he makes his Final Profession in Waterford on Saturday.
Photo 2. Thumbs Up!
Photo 3: Br Kevin lies prostrate in the chapel at Mount Sion.
Photo 4: Kiss for Uncle Kevin- Natasha Mascarenhas, Kevin's niece congratulates her uncle after the Profession ceremony.
Photo 5: Br Kevin kneels during his Final Profession. Fr Mike Serrage, MSC,and Br Martin Kenneally, Congregation Leader, are pictured on the right