RMG, 24 January 2017 -- After the appointment of the PGS Vice-province Superior Fr Peter Baquero as the Bishop of Kerema Diocese (AustraLasia 4259), the Rector Major with the consent of his council, has appointed on 23rd January 2017 Fr Alfred MARAVILLA as the second Superior of the Papua New Guinea – Solomon Islands Vice-province for the period of 6 years (2017-2023).
Fr Alfred was born Silay City, Negros Occidental (Philippines) on July 31, 1962 and made his first profession in Canlubang (Philippines) on April 1, 1982 and the perpetual profession on March 24, 1988 in Gabutu (PNG). He applied to be a missionary and after the postnovitiate he was sent to Papua New Guinea. He did his practical training in Port Moresby, Gabutu, PNG (1985-1988). He was ordained in 1992 in Silay City (Philippines) after completing his theological studies in Cremisan (Holy Land, MOR). He speaks Ilonggo, Filipino (Tagalog), English, Italian, Spanish, French and Tok Pisin (PNG).
After ordination he studied missiology (1992-1994) and dogmatic theology (2007) at Gregorian University, Rome and worked in Gabutu Don Bosco Technical School, Port Moresby, PNG (1995-1997), Savio House, PNG (1997), Gabutu, Port Moresby (1997-2002) as principal and rector. Then he was assigned as director at Goroka of the Liturgical Catechetical Institute (2002-2006) of the PNG-SI Bishops’ Conference.
After starting the doctoral studies in Rome (2008) Fr. Alfred was called by the Rector Major to serve in the Missions Sector in the General House, particularly the formation and follow-up of new missionaries, a role he continues until now. In 2013 he defended his doctoral thesis in fundamental theology on ‘Missio Inter Gentes towards a Theology of sharing the faith in East Asia in the light of the FABC’.
The young and multicultural Vice-province of PGS (Papua New Guinea – Solomon Islands) was canonically established by Fr Ángel F. Artime on December 23, 2015. Presently, the Vice-province has 47 confreres (8 Salesian Brothers, 31 Salesian Priests, 1 Deacon, 7 candidates to the priesthood) and two prenovices in the Philippines; average age of the Salesians is 43 years. One Vice-province composed of two countries has 7 Salesian presences in PNG and 2 in Solomon Islands. Majority of the works aim at the education and evangelization of the young people in need. The Salesian Family of PGS Vice-province is composed already of 8 different groups: SDB, FMA, Past Pupils of DB and Mary Help of Christians, Salesian Cooperators, ADMA, Caritas Sisters of Jesus and Michaelites (CSMA).
There are confreres of 15 different nationalities striving for communion in diversity (5 local confreres of PGS origin, 5 from Europe, 3 from America, 1 from Africa and 28 from Asia). At present there are 10 College Aspirants, 2 prenovices, 1 postnovice and 2 practical trainees from PGS countries. The Vice-province offers very favorable conditions for the practical training of young Salesian as well for temporary missionary commitment for confreres from other provinces.
Within the EAO Region we congratulate the Blessed Philip Rinaldi Vice-province confreres to their second Superior and promise our prayers and accompaniment.
The installation date of the PGS Vice-province Superior will be communicated soon.
Related story:
- AustraLasia 3847 (24 December 2015) – Establishment of the PGS Vice-province.
- AustraLasia 4041 (22 June 2016) RM has appointed Fr. Peter Baquero Jr
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