(ANS – Rome) – Yesterday afternoon, 11 June, the Vicar of the Rector Major opened the formation course for recently appointed Provincials. “The scope of this meeting is charismatic, rather than technical” said Fr Adrian Bregolin. This is the last course for Provincials in this six-year period. The superiors of ten circumscriptions will take part.

During the good night given to the confreres of the Generalate, Fr Bregolin introduced the Provincials who had come to Rome to take part in this formation course for recently appointed Provincials:  

• Fr Néstor Castell, Provincial of Uruguay (URU), inducted on 24 January 2012;
• Fr Pejo Orkić, Provincial of Croatia (CRO), inducted on 24 May 2012;
• Fr Janez Potočnik, Provincial of Slovenia (SLO), on 24 May 2012;
• Fr Alves Francisco de Lima, Provincial of Brazil-Manaus (BMA), inducted on 14 July 2012;
• Fr Leonard Mancini, Provincial of Italy Circoscrizione Centrale (ICC), appointed on 29 August 2012;
• Fr Lanfranco Fedrigotti, Provincial of China (CIN), inducted 11 August 2012;
• Fr Américo Chaquisse, Superior of Mozambico (MOZ), inducted 11 August 2012;
• Fr Néstor Ledesma, Provincial of Paraguay (PAR), inducted 14 August 2012;
• Fr Roberto Dal Molin, Provincial of Italy Nord Est (INE), inducted 1 September 2012;
• Fr José Gabino Hernández Paleta, Provincial of Mexico-Mexico (MEM), inducted 24 January 2013.

The course will be structured following the pattern which has worked well on previous occasions: sessions in common with the Rector Major, the Vicar, the Councillors of the various sectors and those in charge of the principal services at the Generalate; private conversations and other activities aimed at strengthening the understanding of the Salesian Charism, the sense of belonging to the Congregation and the bonds between the Superiors of the different circumscriptions and the Rector Major and his Council.

This was precisely the theme of Fr Bregolin’s goodnight. He emphasized the importance of sharing and mentioned some particularly significant moments such as the day of retreat and, at the end of the course, the Feast of the Rector Major on 24 June, Don Bosco’s name-day. 

As previously mentioned, this is the last course of this six-year period. Each year there are two such courses, one in June and the other in December, always during the time of the plenary sessions of the General Council. On three occasions only, the course was not held: in June 2008, when the Council had just been elected at the 26th General Chapter; December 2009 on account of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation, and last June because of the delicate situation of the health of the Rector Major.

Published 12/06/2013