Salesian Chapter

This week I have been privileged to be invited to attend the Chapter of the Salesians of the Australia-Pacific Province in Melbourne. Together with Paul Mastronadi, Director of the Dunlea Centre, we represented the APSPA Principals at the Chapter.

Dominic College and the Dunlea Centre are two of the independent educational endeavours the Salesians of Don Bosco own and oversee in the province.

The Chapter of the Salesians of the Australia-Pacific Province

Chapters of the Salesian Congregation are held every three years where representatives from each of the Salesian communities in Australia and the Pacific meet to discern the next stage on their direction locally and globally.

Our College Rector, Fr Peter Rankin SDB and Br Barry Parker SDB are the Glenorchy community representatives and I was able to spend time with them amongst their confreres.

The theme of the Chapter is ‘What kind of Salesian for the Youth of Today’ and the Salesians across five days have been discerning their priorities for the Salesian mission among the youth today and how best to work with lay people in their mission and formation. The Salesians of the Australia-Pacific Province then subsequently report their views and responses to the world-wide General Chapter of Salesians in Turin, Italy that the Rector Major, Fr Angel Artimes will convene in February – April 2020.

I was invited to speak and present to the Chapter on the perspectives of lay people on these matters. Hopefully I was able to affirm the ongoing outstanding work of the Salesians and the blessing of continued active Salesian presence in our school communities and youth ministries across the province.

The Salesians at Dominic College

I have been reminded again this week of the legacy entrusted to myself and the College staff in 2009 when I replaced Fr Phil Gleeson SDB as the first lay Principal of Dominic College. I have a much loved photo taken with former Salesian Principals of Dominic College as I took up leadership here.

This photograph reminds me of the outstanding leadership and stewardship of the College by the Salesians since 1946. The very best of the Salesians have always come to our school community to continue Don Bosco’s unique work in the education of children and young people.

Ms Beth Gilligan - Dominic College Principal