Melbourne, Australia - On Wednesday 13 April 2016 a special celebration was held to commemorate the special Jubilees of three members of the Salesian Community at Chadstone in Melbourne.
The celebration took place on the actual 50th anniversary of the Ordination of Fr Frank Bertagnolli (Rector) and Fr Oreste Cantamessa (Vice Rector). The third jubilarian in the community, Br Joe Ellul, celebrated the 65th anniversary of his religious profession on 31 January 2016.
All three of the Jubilarians celebrated on this occasion came to Australia as young missionaries, two from Italy and one from Malta, and have made an enormous contribution to the province in various roles and situations including Provincial, Rector, Provincial Economer, Novice Master, Formator, Principal, Teacher and Economer. Their contribution to the mission of Don Bosco in the Province was duly acknowledged during the celebrations.
During the Mass all classmates of the 1966 Ordination group from Castellamare di Stabia were remembered, particularly the third member from the Australia-Pacific Province at the time, Fr Bernard Paplinski (Paplin), who had volunteered for the South American mission and tragically died in a boat accident in Paraguay in 1978.
Also acknowledged were the three members of the 1950 Australian novitiate group who made their profession at Sunbury on 31 January 1951 and are all still active members of the Australia-Pacific Province. In addition to Br Joe Ellul are Br Cahill Gleisner (Sunbury Community) and Fr Frank Freeman (Ascot Vale Community and editor or the Salesian Bulletin).
Ad Multos Annos!
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