Tokyo July 8, 2014 -- Dear Confreres,
A cordial greeting in the Risen Lord! Two months after the
consultation visit for the new Provincial, I’m glad to
announce to you that the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel
Fernández Artime, with the consent of his Council, has
appointed Fr. Achilles Loro Piana as the
new Provincial for the next six year
period (2014-2020).
In the name of the Rector Major I express our gratitude to Fr
Aldo Cipriani and his immediate collaborators on the
provincial council for their commitment, hard work and life
witness!
Thanks to all confreres of the Japanese provincial community
for their active and prayerful participation in the process of
consultation. There was an historic record 92% response to the
consultation. It means not only complying with the duty we
find in the Regulations no.143 but also expresses love
for the Congregation and interest in the common good of the
provincial community.
Thank you for the rich group sharing during the consultation
and personal contributions about the assessment of the present
state of the Province, priorities for the next 6 years and a
clear profile of the new provincial.
Indeed, from the consultation a clear picture emerged of a
growing provincial community in terms of Salesian life and
mission in the context of the Japanese Catholic Church. You
have highlighted the spiritual strengths, growth of planning
mentality and teamwork, growth of Salesian Family and
especially a faithful commitment to the Salesian mission on
behalf of young people. There was also a clear convergence on
the common challenges to be faced and on pointers to the
future of your provincial community.
Therefore a special thanks to Fr Achilles Loro Piana, who said
his YES to the Rector Major with faith, obedience and trust in
God's grace. He will take over his new service of authority on
October 25, 2014. Until that time Fr Aldo Cipriani will
continue his current service and will conclude the annual
provincial visitation to the local communities (R. 146).
In the name of the Rector Major I assure you of continuous
accompaniment of the Province in this six year period!
Yours in Don Bosco,
Fr Václav Klement, sdb
Regional Councilor EAO
2014-2020
Some bio details of interest:
Currently the Rector and Parish Priest at Meguro, Tokyo, Fr
Loro Piana is originally from Trivera, Biella diocese,
Piedmont (born in 1944). He made his novitiate at Pinerolo,
but immediately afterwards, at 19 years of age, went to Hong
Kong for his philosophy and postnovitiate, then on to Japan
where he has been ever since.
Fr Achilles has held many different responsibilities in the
Japanese Province, leading him to occasionally call himself
the 'spare tyre' of the Province! If so, he is not showing
signs of wear and is sufficiently inflated! He has been
Rector, Parish Priest, Master of Novices, Provincial
Secretary, Vice Provincial, Provincial Delegate for various
activities, Cooperators, for example and was for nine years in
charge of the Don Bosco Overseas Young Volunteers Group.
Internationally he has been a member of the World Consultative
Body for the Salesian Missions, has been to Africa where he
preached the confreres' Retreats in various parts and if you
have attended an international meeting anywhere in the Region,
you are bound to have run into him. Obviously he is fluent in
Italian and Japanese, but also English and a dab hand at
French as well.
