January, 2008
| NEW PROVINCIAL OF THE DOMINICAN FRIARS | |
 Click on the photograph to enlarge it. The new Provincial Council will comprise: Fr Tom Cassidy (ex-Provincial) Fr Mark O'Brien (Regent of Studies) Fr Kevin Toomey Fr Martin Wallace (Socius of the Provincial) Fr Joseph Pham Fr Anthony Murnane Fr Dominic Murphy Fr Anthony Walsh (Master of Students & Provincial Bursar) Fr Anthony Walsh was also elected to attend the next General Chapter, to be held in Bangalore, India, in 2010, together with the Provincial and a brother to be elected from the Vicariate, to elect the next Master of the Order. Fr Mark O'Brien is to be the Regent of Studies, and Fr Gregory McCormick the Moderator of the Centre of Studies in Melbourne. Many other positions remained unchanged: click here for a full list of Chapter appointments. |
The Fourteenth Elective Chapter of the Dominican Province of the Assumption has gathered in St Dominic's Priory, Camberwell in Melbourne to decide the future direction of the Province and to elect its officials. On the second of January, the friars elected Father Kevin Saunders, O.P. as Prior Provincial to a four year term. He has been confirmed in office by the Master of the Order, Father Carlos Azpiroz Costa, O.P. Fr Kevin succeeds Father Thomas Cassidy, O.P. who was first elected Prior Provincial in 2000. "My election as Prior Provincial is deeply humbling. My brothers have expressed confidence in me and I hope to serve them well, that they in turn will serve God's people well." Fr Kevin said. Father Kevin Saunders was born in 1948 in Melbourne and grew up in Nathalia Victoria. After completing secondary education at Assumption College, Kilmore, Victoria, he entered the Dominican Order and made first profession of vows in 1967. After completing his studies, including a Bachelor of Arts with honours, he was ordained a priest in 1975. Fr Kevin was Vocations Promoter for the Dominican Order from 1977 to 1988 and later Prior of Blackfriars, Prospect, SA. He has been Master of two university colleges, St Albert's College at the University of New England and Mannix College at Monash University. At the time of his election, Fr Kevin was Socius (or Assistant) to the Prior Provincial and Prior of St Laurence's Dominican community in North Adelaide. He was also Chaplain to Blackfriars Priory School in Prospect and priest-chaplain at Aquinas College at the University of Adelaide. "Our holy father Dominic has left us a rich heritage of contemplation for preaching and the salvation of souls," Fr Kevin said, "and it will be my task to help our brothers realise that heritage for the next four years, a job which I'm looking forward to." The Dominican Province of the Assumption encompasses Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Dominican brothers and priests work in academic pursuits in seminaries and universities, hospital and university chaplaincies, parishes, and missionary apostolates. http://www.op.org.au/ http://australiandominicans.blogspot.com/ -- For more information, please contact: Father Kevin Saunders, O.P. Prior Provincial of the Province of the Assumption St Dominic's Priory, 816 Riversdale Road, Camberwell Vic 3124 AUSTRALIA Telephone: (+61 3) 9912 6880 (extension: 200), Facsimile: (+61 3) 9888 6802 |
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