Fr. Tim Zak installed as provincial
After
formally installing Fr. Tim Zak as superior of the New Rochelle Province, Fr.
Tim Ploch urged him to carry out toward the province the same responsibilities
with which Salesian directors are charged: to be fathers, teachers, and
spiritual guides of their communities.
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Fr. Tim Zak makes his profession of faith as he
is installed as the 20th provincial
of the New Rochelle SDB Province on July 29.
|
Fr.
Zak’s term began on June 7, immediately upon his appointment by Fr. Angel
Fernandez Artime, Rector Major, and the appointment’s confirmation by the SDB
general council.
The
brief installation rite took place within a celebration of the Eucharist in the
chapel of Salesian High School at New Rochelle on Saturday, June 29. The rite
consisted of a reading of the Rector Major’s letter of appointment; Fr. Zak’s
profession of Catholic faith; his and Fr. Ploch’s signing of the document of
installation; and an exchange of fraternal greetings and peace between Fr. Zak
and each of the Salesian priests and brothers present.
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| Fr. Tim Zak (left) and Fr. Tim Ploch before Mass. |
Fr.
Ploch, general councilor for the SDB Interamerica Region, represented the
Rector Major in the ceremony. Also present, because of a non-related meeting,
were general councilors Fr. Fabio Attard and Fr. Guillermo Basañes, besides
another 28 concelebrating priests and about a dozen other SDB priests and
brothers. Numerous other members of the Salesian Family just about filled the
chapel: Salesian sisters, Cooperators, ADMA members, a Don Bosco Volunteer,
Salesian Lay Missioner candidates (doing their 3 weeks of orientation),
parishioners from Holy Rosary-Corpus Christi Parish in Port Chester, N.Y.
(where both Fr. Ploch and Fr. Zak once served as pastor), staff from the
Salesian works in New Rochelle, Fr. Zak’s sister and her husband, alumni, and
various other friends. Deacon Ivan Gemio from Holy Rosary assisted at the
liturgy. Students from Salesian High served the Mass.
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A
part of the congregation, representing at least six branches of the Salesian
Family
besides parishioners and friends.
|
July 29 is the liturgical memorial of St.
Martha. In his homily, Fr. Ploch first noted various “images” of people
following Christ in the Scriptures, which led him to Martha and Mary, who
welcomed Christ into their home and listened to him. He linked them with Don
Bosco and the service of a religious superior. Don Bosco, he said, appears to us
as a super-active apostle, but we know that he had a deep interior life. His
apostolic motive was to choose the better part, like Mary—to be close to Jesus;
and then, Martha-like, to go forth with energy to serve others, to do Christ’s
work. Every Salesian, he added, is called to be close to Jesus and thus find
energy to do his work.
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| Fr. Tim Ploch preached the homily. |
The
homilist continued by outlining the responsibilities of a superior (director or
provincial): to be a father, a teacher, and a spiritual guide. As a father, he
gives life to or animates the community that he leads, and he governs it. Fr. Fernandez
has charged Fr. Zak to be a father and governor, to lead the province in
accepting the decisions that need to be made.
As
a teacher, the superior shows his confreres how to choose the better part, to
seek union with God while doing a great amount of work. As a spiritual guide,
he accompanies his confreres in their efforts to combine holiness with work.
The
Rector Major, Fr. Ploch promised, will be close to Fr. Zak, accompanying him in
his duties; and so will Fr. Ploch himself.
Finally,
Fr. Ploch reminded Fr. Zak that Mary Help of Christians will teach, form,
accompany, and help him. As Don Bosco said, she is the one who did everything
in his life, and she will continue to act in our lives.
At
the end of Mass, Fr. Zak expressed his thanks to many people and highlighted
the presence of so many branches of the Salesian Family. He pointed to and
thanked Fr. Ploch for being for him a father, teacher, spiritual guide—and
friend.
After
Mass a buffet lunch was served in the school cafeteria.
More
photos at https://pix.sfly.com/YxByor.
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