austraLasia #3462
Provincial Designate for Japan
Tokyo July 8, 2014 -- Dear Confreres,
A cordial greeting in the Risen Lord! Two months after the consultation visit for the new Provincial, I’m glad to announce to you that the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, with the consent of his Council, has appointed Fr. Achilles Loro Piana as the new Provincial for the next six year period (2014-2020).
In the name of the Rector Major I express our gratitude to Fr Aldo Cipriani and his immediate collaborators on the provincial council for their commitment, hard work and life witness!
Thanks to all confreres of the Japanese provincial community for their active and prayerful participation in the process of consultation. There was an historic record 92% response to the consultation. It means not only complying with the duty we find in the Regulations no.143 but also expresses love for the Congregation and interest in the common good of the provincial community.
Thank you for the rich group sharing during the consultation and personal contributions about the assessment of the present state of the Province, priorities for the next 6 years and a clear profile of the new provincial.
Indeed, from the consultation a clear picture emerged of a growing provincial community in terms of Salesian life and mission in the context of the Japanese Catholic Church. You have highlighted the spiritual strengths, growth of planning mentality and teamwork, growth of Salesian Family and especially a faithful commitment to the Salesian mission on behalf of young people. There was also a clear convergence on the common challenges to be faced and on pointers to the future of your provincial community.
Therefore a special thanks to Fr Achilles Loro Piana, who said his YES to the Rector Major with faith, obedience and trust in God's grace. He will take over his new service of authority on October 25, 2014. Until that time Fr Aldo Cipriani will continue his current service and will conclude the annual provincial visitation to the local communities (R. 146).
In the name of the Rector Major I assure you of continuous accompaniment of the Province in this six year period!
Yours in Don Bosco,
Fr Václav Klement, sdb
Regional Councilor EAO
2014-2020
Some bio details of interest:
Currently the Rector and Parish Priest at Meguro, Tokyo, Fr Loro Piana is originally from Trivera, Biella diocese, Piedmont (born in 1944). He made his novitiate at Pinerolo, but immediately afterwards, at 19 years of age, went to Hong Kong for his philosophy and postnovitiate, then on to Japan where he has been ever since.
Fr Achilles has held many different responsibilities in the Japanese Province, leading him to occasionally call himself the 'spare tyre' of the Province! If so, he is not showing signs of wear and is sufficiently inflated! He has been Rector, Parish Priest, Master of Novices, Provincial Secretary, Vice Provincial, Provincial Delegate for various activities, Cooperators, for example and was for nine years in charge of the Don Bosco Overseas Young Volunteers Group. Internationally he has been a member of the World Consultative Body for the Salesian Missions, has been to Africa where he preached the confreres' Retreats in various parts and if you have attended an international meeting anywhere in the Region, you are bound to have run into him. Obviously he is fluent in Italian and Japanese, but also English and a dab hand at French as well.
Provincial Designate for Japan
A cordial greeting in the Risen Lord! Two months after the consultation visit for the new Provincial, I’m glad to announce to you that the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, with the consent of his Council, has appointed Fr. Achilles Loro Piana as the new Provincial for the next six year period (2014-2020).
In the name of the Rector Major I express our gratitude to Fr Aldo Cipriani and his immediate collaborators on the provincial council for their commitment, hard work and life witness!
Thanks to all confreres of the Japanese provincial community for their active and prayerful participation in the process of consultation. There was an historic record 92% response to the consultation. It means not only complying with the duty we find in the Regulations no.143 but also expresses love for the Congregation and interest in the common good of the provincial community.
Thank you for the rich group sharing during the consultation and personal contributions about the assessment of the present state of the Province, priorities for the next 6 years and a clear profile of the new provincial.
Indeed, from the consultation a clear picture emerged of a growing provincial community in terms of Salesian life and mission in the context of the Japanese Catholic Church. You have highlighted the spiritual strengths, growth of planning mentality and teamwork, growth of Salesian Family and especially a faithful commitment to the Salesian mission on behalf of young people. There was also a clear convergence on the common challenges to be faced and on pointers to the future of your provincial community.
Therefore a special thanks to Fr Achilles Loro Piana, who said his YES to the Rector Major with faith, obedience and trust in God's grace. He will take over his new service of authority on October 25, 2014. Until that time Fr Aldo Cipriani will continue his current service and will conclude the annual provincial visitation to the local communities (R. 146).
In the name of the Rector Major I assure you of continuous accompaniment of the Province in this six year period!
Yours in Don Bosco,
Fr Václav Klement, sdb
Regional Councilor EAO
2014-2020
Some bio details of interest:
Currently the Rector and Parish Priest at Meguro, Tokyo, Fr Loro Piana is originally from Trivera, Biella diocese, Piedmont (born in 1944). He made his novitiate at Pinerolo, but immediately afterwards, at 19 years of age, went to Hong Kong for his philosophy and postnovitiate, then on to Japan where he has been ever since.
Fr Achilles has held many different responsibilities in the Japanese Province, leading him to occasionally call himself the 'spare tyre' of the Province! If so, he is not showing signs of wear and is sufficiently inflated! He has been Rector, Parish Priest, Master of Novices, Provincial Secretary, Vice Provincial, Provincial Delegate for various activities, Cooperators, for example and was for nine years in charge of the Don Bosco Overseas Young Volunteers Group. Internationally he has been a member of the World Consultative Body for the Salesian Missions, has been to Africa where he preached the confreres' Retreats in various parts and if you have attended an international meeting anywhere in the Region, you are bound to have run into him. Obviously he is fluent in Italian and Japanese, but also English and a dab hand at French as well.
