By Fr. John Laba

Tigaraksaa, Indonesia, 6 August 2024 --The Salesian confreres of INA Vice Province have just experienced the first change of leadership and governance from Superior Fr. Andrew Wong, SDB, to the new Superior Fr. Vincentius Prastowo, SDB. This took place on 30 July 2024.

Fr. Andrew Wong is the first superior of INA vice-province since Salesian Indonesia became a vice-province in 2018. As the first superior, he tried to lay the foundation of leadership and the charism of Don Bosco for the Salesians of INA as well as the entire Salesian Family in Indonesia. Of course, it is not easy to animate and govern the Salesians who are scattered across three distant islands of Java, Sumba, and Flores, especially during the last C-19 pandemic. But at his age, he was still trying to visit all the Salesian communities.

Fr. Vincentius Prastowo, as the new Superior, has experience as a rector in the Postnovitiate community and as the provincial delegate for formation. He is expected to bring the Salesians in the direction of progress in accordance with the current situation, especially in serving the young people in accordance with the Salesian charism in Indonesia. Along with the installation of the new Superior, there was also the installation of two new rectors, Fr. Agung as Rector of the Postnovictate and Fr. Ambrosius as Rector and Director of Novices in the Tigaraksa community.

Fr. Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoch as the Salesian Regional Superior in EAO, represented the Rector Major Cardinal Angel Fernández Artime in the installation of Fr. Prastowo on 30 July 2024, in Sunter, Jakarta. On this occasion, Fr. Joseph thanked Fr. Andrew Wong for his service in the INA Vice-Province. Fr. Joseph also hoped that in the era of the leadership of Fr. Prastowo, the Salesians would always work together to inculturate the Salesian charism in Indonesia. Present at the installation of the new Superior were Fr. M. C. George, Fr. Eric Mairura, and all the members of the Salesian Family in Indonesia. Representing the Salesians, Fr. Noel Villafuerte expressed gratitude for the service and dedication of Fr. Wong and invited the confreres to support the new Superior Fr. Prastowo.

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