(ANS - Rome) – The27th General Chapter elected Fr Francesco Cereda as the new Vicar of the Rector Major. Fr Cereda has been Councillor for Formation until now and is currently Moderator of  GC27.

"I am happyto work as Vicar of the Rector Major,  Fr Ángel.   With the help of Mary Help of Christians, I will try to be faithful in this ministry and I accept."  This was Fr Cereda's response to the General Chapter, indicating his willingness for the office.

on Francesco Cereda, born in Veduggio con Colzano, in the Province of Milan, on the 6th of March 1951, made his first vows on the 16th of August 1968 after his novitiate in Missaglia. He made his perpetual vows on 14th of September 1974, after his Tirocinium at Parma. He was ordained deacon at Chiari on the12th of May 1979 and priest on the 24th of May 1980.

Fr Cereda was animator in the post-novitiate community of Nave, in the Brescia province, till 1987 when he became Rector of the community and Head at the school in Parma. In 1986 he got a Mathematics degree at the State University of Parma. After having been Provincial Councillor for three years 1990-1993, he was naminated Provincial  of the Italian Province of Lombardo Emiliana (ILE). At the end of his term he was given the office of Superior of the Visitatoria “Mary, Seat of Wisdom” of the Pontifical Salesian University till 2002 when, during the  GC25, he was elected as  Councillor for Formation.

He was confirmed in this office at GC26, when he was Moderator for the first time.

Published 26/03/2014