He attended two Discernment Days, in Farnborough and Bolton, during which the Salesians from the South and North of our Province reflected on the choice of a successor to Fr Francis Preston, whose six-year term of office ends next summer.

Each day began with prayer and ended with a celebration of the Eucharist. There was time to think about the positive and negative aspects of the present situation, needs and hopes for the future, and the qualities needed in the new provincial. After lunch, the priests and brothers filled in their consultation forms, including the names of three candidates. Fr Albert Van Hecke took the forms back with him to Rome, to be considered by the Rector Major and his Council.

Fr Francis Preston took the photographs below during the lunch breaks.

At the end of the meal at Farnborough there was a birthday cake for Bro John Finnegan.

Fr Albert Van Hecke (right), Fr Joe Brown (centre left) and other Salesians in the dining room of Thornleigh House, Bolton.