Directors Appointed for 2017-2020

Directors Appointed for 2017-2020

Fr. Timothy Zak, vice provincial, has announced the names of Salesians appointed to serve as directors of communities in the New Rochelle Province for the period July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2020.

The letter was dated February 16 (but your humble blogger hasn't been able to attend to his blogging with sufficient diligence).

Three confreres were appointed for first terms as superior in communities where they're already serving:

-- Fr. Alain Leonard in Sherbrooke, Que.  He has been responsible for campus ministry at Seminaire Salesien for most of his priestly life, and he served as director of the community some time back.  He will succeed Fr. George Harkins, who completes 6 years as director.

-- Fr. John Mariapragasam in Edmonton, Alta.  A member of the SDB province of Madras, India, he is on loan to our province by special request of the Rector Major (along with 3 other Indian confreres).  Fr. John is pastor of Annunciation Parish.  There are also 2 Canadian confreres in the community.  For the last few years the confreres in Edmonton have been attached to the Surrey, B.C., community and so haven't had local superior.

-- Fr. Mario Villaraza in Etobicoke, Ont.  Fr. Mario has been at St. Benedict's Parish for 2 years after serving in Surrey, B.C., for a good number of years, including 6 years as director and pastor.  Since July he has been pastor of St. Benedict's; now he'll succeed Fr. John Puntino as director, as well.

In addition, Fr. George Atok was appointed to a 2d term as director of the community of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Surrey.

Fr. James McKenna and Fr. Louis Molinelli were named to 3d terms as director of their communities:  the Marian Shrine-Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw-Stony Point, N.Y., and Archbishop Shaw HS in Marrero, La., respectively.  Two parishes (St. Rosalie and St. John Bosco) in Harvey, La., also are served by the Shaw community.

Salesian directors are nominated by the provincial superior with the consent of his council.  The appointments are confirmed by the Rector Major.