First Appointments for 2011-2012 Pastoral Year

First Appointments
for the 2011-2012
Pastoral Year

While most Americans are thinking of other matters on April 15, the SDBs of the Eastern Province got something to think about when Fr. Tom Dunne sent out a letter announcing the appointment of a new member of the provincial council and 4 new directors, plus the reappointment of 3 present directors.

The directors and councilor were selected several weeks ago, but their appointments had to be confirmed by the Rector Major in consultation with his council, who only last week returned to Rome after some months visiting the far corners of the Congregation as part of their duties.

Fr. Steve Leake, presently the director of the house of formation for candidates and young SDBs in Orange, N.J., was named provincial councilor and delegate for formation. His 3-year term will begin on July 1. He replaces Fr. Bill Keane, who is also the master of novices and will be relocating with the novitiate to Rosemead, Calif., in August.

Fr. Steve Leake (r) seated next to Fr. Tom Dunne at a province celebration last year.

Fr. Steve will remain director in Orange. He's a daily blogger at http://salesianity.blogspot.com/

The terms of the new directors will begin on July 15. Those terms also are 3 years. The new directors are:

Fr. Lou Molinelli, director of the SDB community in Louisiana, which includes Abp. Shaw HS in Marrero and 2 parishes in Harvey, St. Rosalie and St. John Bosco, as well as 2 parishes in Birmingham, Ala., and Leeds, Ala. Fr. Lou succeeds Fr. Jim McKenna.
Fr. McKenna (at right) will become director of the Marian Shrine and Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw-Stony Point, N.Y.

And the current director of the Marian Shrine, Fr. John Puntino (below), will change not only his community but even his country, moving to Etobicoke, Ont., a suburb of Toronto, where the SDBs staff St. Benedict's Parish and carry out various school chaplaincies.












And the present director in Etobicoke, Fr. George Harkins, (below) will move to Sherbrooke, Que., to become director of the community at Seminaire Salesien. He replaces Fr. Alain Leonard.

Fr. Tom Ruekert, director of the SDB community in Port Chester, N.Y, was re-appointed for a new term. The SDBs in Port Chester staff Holy Rosary and Corpus Christi parishes.

Fr. Mike Conway, director of the community at St. Pete Catholic HS in St. Petersburg, Fla., was re-appointed.

Finally, Fr. Mario Villarazza, director of the community at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Surrey, B.C., was re-appointed. Surrey is a suburb of Vancouver.