Australian Provincial Father Joachim Rego cp was
elected last week as the new Superior General of the Passionists during
the congregation's 46th General Chapter in Rome. His election becomes doubly significant this year, as Passionists celebrate their 125th year in Australia, reports Catholic Religious Australia in a media release.
Fr Joachim's election also represents a major shift in leadership with three members of the new Council coming from the Asia Pacific.
Adelaide-born Fr Denis Travers cp, Fr Joachim’s predecessor as Provincial in Australia, was re-elected as a General Consultor for a second six-year term.
Fr Joachim was born in Rangoon, Burma and as a teenager, migrated with his family to Australia. After a couple of years at De La Salle College Marrickville, he joined the Passionists and completed his HSC at St Leo’s College Wahroonga in 1973. He professed first vows in 1976 and was ordained on 28th November 1981 at Marrickville.
Fr Joachim worked for 18 years in Papua New Guinea, as Regional Vicar, Novice Master, Formator and was President of the Conference of Major Superiors of PNG and the Solomon Islands. He also worked as Novice Master in the Indian Vicariate of the Passionist Congregation.
After working on the Parish of St Brigid’s Marrickville, he was elected as Provincial Superior in 2007, and re-elected at the Provincial Chapter in 2011.