Brother Onorino Rota concludes his mandate

The Brothers working for the Superior General and his Council in the various services of animation and government of the Institute make up a canonical community animated by its own Superior. This community is presently composed of 23 Brothers from different provinces of the Institute. The common language is Italian, but in their work for the congregation, they use the four official languages: French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. These Brothers are appointed by the Superior General and his Council for a period of three years, which may be renewed.

Brother Onorino Rota has carried out the responsibility of community Superior for the last six years (2003-2009). His office has now been assumed by Brother Pietro Bettin for a first period of three years. The changeover was affected by the holding of the General Chapter. Brother Onorino concluded his mandate in September 2009, but because of the Chapter had it extended to the end of the year.

Brother Pietro, coming from Giuliano (Italy), was already in Rome when the Chapter ended, so that the transmission of responsibility was able to take place in an atmosphere of cordiality and brotherhood. He has been Superior since the 1st of January 2010.

Brother Onorino leaves a beautiful page in the history of this complex community. His excellent character, experience in community direction, consolidated especially during his mandate as Provincial of the former Province of Italy, his lively intelligence, his capacity for solving difficulties relating to the public administration of Italy or the management of the General House have won the general satisfaction of the Brothers. A practical and efficient man, with the sensitivity of the artist, a great love of the Institute, of the Brothers, and the task entrusted to him, he leaves the memory of an affectionate and sympathetic manner difficult to forget.

Apart from his responsibilities as animator of the community, Onorino has also worked very closely with the Office of Communications. Many of the ideas which have been given concrete form on the web, as much in form as in content, have been inspired by his talent for creativity and innovation. His artistic hand can be detected in the various versions published. He has attended with great efficiency to the dispatch of the weekly Marist News to more than 6,000 subscribers in addition to the Marist communities. He has found solutions to the many problems of sending books and reviews to the houses of the Institute. We would like to leave proof of our admiration and gratitude for all his contributions to keep the Institute well informed. We hope that the Lord will bless him in his new work as co-ordinator of the Marist works of Italy and Provincial Councillor of the Province of Mediterránea.

And to Brother Pietro, who has been given the task of captaining the community of the General Administration, we wish him a favourable wind and calm seas.