Sunday, May 24, 2015

Pastoral Assignments for 2015-2016: Round 2

Pastoral Assignments for 2015-2106: Round 2

This afternoon Fr. Tom Dunne announced 23 assignments for the coming school/pastoral year.  His cover letter linked the assignments to Pentecost, praying that "the Holy Spirit come upon the members of the Salesian Family on this day so that the Good News of the Gospel will be proclaimed in all who follow the charism of Don Bosco."  Since May 24 ordinarily is the feast of Mary Help of Christians (transferred this year to May 25), he also linked the assignments to her, on whom "we rely for help in discerning those fields of labor we take up each year out of a spirit of obedience ... [in the] mission that has been entrusted to us on behalf of the young who are poor, abandoned, and most at risk."

Two new directors were appointed, Fr. Mike Conway as director of the Don Bosco Cristo Rey community in Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Md., and Fr. Rich Rosin as director of the St. Petersburg SDB community.

Two directors were appointed to new terms, Fr. Rich Authier to a 3d in Montreal and Fr. Steve Ryan to a 2d in Tampa.

Two confreres will be moving out of our community at the provincial house:  Fr. Rich Alejunas down to Salesian HS as CYM, and also continuing ministry to the Hispanic members of Blessed Sacrament Parish, and Fr. Abe Feliciano into residence with the Salesian HS community but continuing as province delegate for youth ministry with his office still here in the basement adjacent to mine.

One confrere will be moving in, our vice provincial-elect, Fr. Tim Zak, leaving parish ministry in Port Chester, N.Y., and his role as director of the SDB community there.

The archdiocese of New York hasn't yet decided what the parish set-up in Port Chester will be; so Fr. Tom can't announce any pastoral assignments for the parish-to-be and associated ministries.  But Dr. Ann Heekin has been appointed executive director of the Don Bosco Community Center, replacing Bro. Tom Dion, who will move to Orange, N.J., as part of the formation team for young SDBs and candidates.

Also moving to become part of the formation team in Orange will be Fr. Dennis Hartigan, departing from his teaching role at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J.  Fr. Dennis will also assist Fr. Jim Berning with vocation ministry.

Moving out of the formation team is Fr. Jay Horan, going to the staff of the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of East Boston.  At the same time, Fr. Rich Putnam will move from the Club to the Marian Shrine-Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw to help with retreat work and other ministries of the SDBs.

Three confreres are moving out of Salesian HS:  Bro. Don Caldwell to St. Petersburg to carry out ministry in the SDB community; Fr. Matt DeGance to Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, as CYM; and Bro. Lenny Carlino to Abp. Shaw HS in Marrero, La., to start his practical training.

Also moving south will be newly ordained (come June 27) Fr. Mike Eguino as a teacher at Abp. Shaw; obviously he'll also provide priestly ministry there and in the area.

Two young SDBs will come to Salesian HS to start their practical training:  Bro. Steve Eguino (an alumnus of the school and brother of Fr. Mike) and Bro. Craig Spence (a former Salesian Lay Missioners).

Fr. Manny Gallo will move from CYM at Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, to teacher at Don Bosco Cristo Rey HS, and priestly minister there and in the area.

Fr. Mario Villaraza will move from Surrey, B.C., where he's been pastor at OL of Good Counsel for many years, to St. Benedict's Parish in Etobicoke, Ont., as an assistant pastor.

Finally, we're blessed to be sending 3 young SDBs to study theology at the Ratisbonne Monastery in Jerusalem.  Bro. Eddie Chincha and Bro. Juan Pablo Rubio have completed their practical training at Salesian HS, New Rochelle, and Bro. Adam Dupre his at Abp. Shaw HS.  God willing, in 4 years they'll be ordained priests.

There are certainly more assignments to come--not least, the naming of a pastor in Port Chester (in coordination with the archdiocese) and a director for our community at the provincial house, where Fr. Steve Dumais is completing 6 years in that office and as vice provincial.

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