Fr. Swamikannu Stanislaus from India Chennai province, INM

By Our Own Correspondent

Jerusalem, Israel, 14 August 2017 -- On the vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, the new Rector of the Ratisbonne International Salesian Community in Jerusalem, Fr. Swamikannu Stanislaus was installed. At 5.00pm, during the celebration of the Liturgy of the word, the provincial of the Middle East (MOR) Fr. Munir El Rai read the letter from the Rector Major, Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, who assigned Fr. Stan as the rector of the Ratisbonne Community for the first three-year mandate, 2017-2020. Fr. Stan hails from India and had already served as the provincial in Chennai Province, INM. Just before coming to Ratisbonne, he was in charge as the rector of the Kavarapettai theologate community of Chennai.

"Jerusalem is the most gracious place to live and experience deeply the resurrection of Christ. We welcome the new rector with a warm heart and I wish you to bear witness to the Risen Christ with life and examples to young confreres who are entrusted to you for their formation. This community of Ratisbonne is really special. I take this opportunity to thank you for in the name of all the confreres who are making great efforts for the formation realty here.” These are the words of Fr Munir during his brief speech.

In addition, Fr Provincial expressed his great thanks and appreciation to the present rector, Fr. Andrew Wong, who ends his term being in charge as the rector of Ratisbonne for 3 years and is going to return to his original province, the Philippines north (FIN). He has been a great example of generosity and kindness and spirituality. He thanked also Fr. Biju Michael, also finishing his position as the Principal of the STS (Studium Teologicum Salesianum) for the past 6 years and is returning to his province, Guwahati (ING),India. Fr. Munir expressed his gratitude for his tremendous efforts for the development of the Pontifical Salesian University, Jerusalem campus.

The few confreres who remained in the community through the middle of the summer vacations were present at the installation ceremony that began with the invocation of the Holy Spirit, followed by the profession of faith by the new rector. The new rector signed the document of the installation. The celebration concluded with Salve Regina. After that, they gathered at the director's office, where the simple fraternal sharing wasn’t missed.

Currently, all the students and many of the staff of theological studentate of Ratisbonne are involved in pastoral summer activities in various places in the world, and they will be back here in early September for the new 2017-2018 academic year. The 2nd,3rd and 4th -year students, who come from 21 provinces are 28 confreres, and the new students are expected to be 10 confreres.

From EAO Region there is only one confrere in the third year, Cl. Clement Yan from Myanmar, and one new student is expected to join the Ratisbonne community.

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