austraLasia #2875 Australia-Pacific has a new Provincial
MELBOURNE: 24 June 2011 -- Apart
from it being the traditional feast day of the Rector Major,
harking back to the day established by Don Bosco's
youngsters at the Oratory in Valdocco, it is also an
appropriate moment to let the Region know of the appointment
of a new Provincial for the Australia-Pacific Province in
the person of Fr Greg Chambers. He will replace Fr
Frank Moloney, who concludes office in December of this
year. We can let the latter's words complete this wider
announcement to the Region, as he informs members of his own
province of the occasion....
"I am very pleased to write to the Province and inform
you that Greg Chambers has been appointed by the Rector
Major and his Council to govern the Australia-Pacific
Province from 2012-2017 as Provincial. I personally
congratulate Greg on this appointment. He had very strong
support from across the Province in the recent
consultation. I pray that your support will remain with
him over the next six years.
Sincere and heartfelt support is
crucial to the Provincial, for his growth as a human being
and as a religious leader. The opposite is very
destructive, not only of the Provincial, but of the fabric
of the Province. At the moment Greg is travelling in
Europe, but will be back in Australia on 3 July. Fr Andy
Wong and the Rector Major were able to establish contact
with him, and Greg has told me that the Rector Major
expressed his concern for the issue of vocations to the
Salesian life and the development of our Pacific mission.
They are certainly matters that will occupy Greg’s time
and talent over the next six years.
Greg has a long experience of
leadership in the Province. He has been the Rector of
several of our major communities, and one of the
outstanding Principals of our Australian schools for many
years, only last year ending a long period as Principal at
Salesian College “Rupertswood,” Sunbury. We are very
fortunate to have Greg as our Provincial for the next six
years. I have also spoken to Greg on a couple of
occasions, and he assures me that he is looking forward to
getting home, and working closely with me between now and
the end of the year, so that he can start 2012 already
running.
Greg will be officially installed as
Provincial at a liturgical ceremony at Ascot Vale that
will take place on December 16". --------
On a slightly different but connected note, a group of 'new'
provincials have just concluded a ten day session in Rome
with the Rector Major, Council members and the various
Sectors and departments. They conclude on this
occasion with the Rector Major's feast, an important event
for the Congregation in terms of Frank's second paragraph
above seen at the wider level. You will have noted, no
doubt, the banner on sdb.org which enables you to drop the
RM a brief line - he has already put up a small note of
thanks in advance - it would be impossible for him this time
to reply to everyone individually.
_________________
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