FR. JOHN BERGER

THE NEW PROVINCIAL OF THE SALESIAN PROVINCE OF  KOLKATA

By Fr. Samuel Mondol SDB

 Fr. John Berger, the Vice-Provincial, has been appointed the new Provincial of the Salesian Province of Kolkata by Rev. Fr. Pascual Chavez SDB, the Rector Major.  Fr. George Madathett, the Provincial Economer, announced the good news to  the Province of Kolkata on 8 June 2002 at the Provincial House in the presence of 55 confreres gathered from the neighbouring communities.

 Fr. John Berger, the fourteenth Provincial of Kolkata, succeeds Rev. Fr. Francis Alencherry recently elected as the Councillor for the Missions at the General Chapter 25.    The new Provincial will be taking up his responsibility officially on June 22, the feast of St. Joseph Cafasso.

 Born on 11 July 1948 at Hubli (Karnataka), Fr. John belongs to St. Mary’s Parish, Rippon Street, Kolkata.  He made his first Profession on 24 May 1970 at Shillong and was ordained a priest on 15 December 1979 by  Cardinal L.T. Picachy S.J. at St Mary’s Church, Rippon Street, Kolkata. In 1997 he was appointed the Vice-Provincial of Kolkata Province.

 Fr. John Beger holds a Licentiate in Spirituality from the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. Immediately after his ordination  he was appointed the Socius, (Assistant Novice Master)  at Polsondamore (1980 –1981). He  continued to be the Socius for two more years after the Novitiate was shifted from  Polsondamore to Siliguri (1981-1983).  He completed Licentiate in Spirituality at the Salesian Pontifical University in 1985 after which he returned to Siliguri as the Socius for two more years (1985-1987). He has served as the Novice Master at Nazareth Bhavan, Siliguri from 1987 to 1996 initiating nine groups of Novices to Salesian Religious life..  He was In Charge of Dharan (Nepal Mission) for one year before being appointed the Vice-Provincial.