On August 16, 2007, Wilgintz Polynice became the first Haitian-American to make his first religious profession of vows as a Salesian. Brother Polynice, age 34, completed a year of novitiate at Holy Rosary Parish in Port Chester, N.Y., and made his vows within a Mass of Religious Profession at Holy Rosary’s Don Bosco Center.

The Very Rev. James Heuser, S.D.B., provincial, presided over the Mass and Rite of Profession. Twenty-four Salesian priests concelebrated, and numerous Salesian brothers, sisters, and candidates participated, as well as the four young men who had entered the novitiate the previous evening. A number of Holy Rosary parishioners also attended the Mass. Music was provided by youths of the parish and the novices under the
direction of Brother Salvatore Sammarco, S.D.B., and by the Haitian Spring Valley Choir.