Fr Fabio Attard, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, visited the Great Britain (GBR) Province from 11th April to 22nd May 2009.

Every six years, each Salesian province receives an official visit from a member of the General Council representing the Rector Major. Usually this is the Council member responsible for the region involved, but as our Regional, Fr Stefan Turansky, was still improving his English, Fr Fabio took his place for this Visitation.

 

Fr Fabio began by joining the young people celebrating Youth Easter at Savio House for their Easter Vigil service and went the following day to Merseyside for a lively Easter Sunday liturgy in the parish of Saint James, Bootle.

Using the Provincial House at Bolton as his Base, Fr Fabio met the communities in Thornleigh and St Joseph's.

Fr Fabio Attard (centre forward) with the Salesians from St Joseph's

On Saturday 18th April he made a flying visit to Dublin to speak at a gathering of the Salesian Family and then went on to Glasgow, where we have two parishes in the Easterhouse area.

Fr Fabio Attard (second from left) with the Glasgow Community

After a day in Bootle, a meeting of the Provincial Council in Bolton on 23rd April and a visit to Brussels on 25th and 26th April, Fr Fabio went to Huyton where he met the community and the Salesian Cooperators in Huyton and Croxteth.

Fr Fabio Attard with Huyton Cooperators

Fr Fabio Attard addresses Salesian Cooperators in Croxteth

Wednesday 6th of May was a double celebration in St John Bosco House, Farnborough. The Feast of Saint Dominic Savio this year was also the tenth anniversary of the opening of the building. Fr Fabio was the main concelebrant at 11 am Mass and Fr John Gilheney gave a wonderful sermon. Former members of the community and guests closely connected with the house were present.

Fr Fabio Attard with the Farnborough community

During his time in the Province, Fr Attard went on to visit all the Salesian Communities encouraging and inspiring everyone he met with his enthusiasm, joy and genuine love of Don Bosco and the Salesian Congregation.

Fr Fabio Attard after the concluding Provincial Council meeting in Bolton