(ANS - Brasilia) - Fr Nilson Faria, Provincial, St John Bosco Province Brazil-Belo Horizonte (BBH), has been elected President of the Salesian Provincials Conference for Brazil (CISBRASIL). The election took place in Brasilia on August 24, during an extraordinary meeting of CISBRASIL. Fr Faria will have the job for two years and replaces Fr Marco Biaggi, who until now has been the legal representative for the six Brazilian provinces.

CISBRASIL is the representative body for the six Salesian provinces in Brazil. Its current composition is: Fr Nilson dos Santos Faria - President (St John Bosco Province Belo Horizonte - BBH), Fr Lauro Shinohara (St Alphonsus Maria Liugori Province Campo Grande - BCG), Fr Benjamim Morando (St Dominic Savio Province Manaus Brazil - BMA), Fr Oreste Fistarol (St. Pius X Province Porto Alegre - BPA), Fr Diego Vanzetta (St Aloysius Gonzaga Province Recife - BRE), Fr Marco Biaggi (Mary Help of Christians Province Sao Paulo - BSP) and Fr Vitali Natali (Regional Councillor for America-South Cone).

CISBRASIL has the task of coordinating, guiding, protecting and assisting its associate Provinces through networking, carrying through various processes and optimising available resources. Headquarters are in Brasilia and its executive management is the responsibility of  Salesian Brother Cledson Martas Rodrigues, Fr José Ronaipe das Neves Machado and Fr Nivaldo Luiz Pessinatti.

The new president made his first profession in Jaboatao dos Guararapes in 1970. He completed his studies in philosophy and pedagogy at the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras Don Bosco de São João del-Rei and theology at the Pontifical Catholic University (PUC) Minas Gerais. Ordained priest in 1977 in Niteroi-Pendotiba, he has held various positions in the Province as Rector of the Pre-novitiate, Postnovitiate and lectured in theology. He has been Provincial of Belo Horizonte since 2008.

Published 26/08/2011