BROTHER ONORINO ROTA, THE NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS OF THE INSTITUTE

The General Council has appointed Brother Onorino Rota, 57 years of age, as the new Director of Communications of the Institute from the start of September. He was born in Capizzone, in the region of Bergamo in Italy. He has been provincial and capitulant. He belongs to the Province of Mediterránea and is the superior of the community of the General Administration in Rome. He takes over from Brother Lluís Serra, who was responsible for this department since 1988, when he arrived in Rome as part of the preparatory team for the canonisation of Saint Marcellin Champagnat. Both he and Brother Onorino shared in the work of this team.
During the two three-year terms of Brother Lluís? contract, the name of the department was changed from Publications to Communications. Magazines were published using modern means of typography; events such as the canonisation of Marcellin and the 20th General Chapter were covered comprehensively; the quarterly FMS Marist Echo was adapted so as to include lay people in its audience; digital photography was introduced; audio-visual material such as videos and CD ROMs were produced; the Marist Bulletin was created and sent by e-mail to all those who requested this; the new website of the Institute was developed and launched. In short, it has been an ambitious project that is clearly defined and offers great possibilities for future development. The services of the General Secretariat through the work of the translators (internal and external) and the collaboration of many correspondents have made possible this high level of communication. Brother Lluís Serra belongs to the Province of L?Hermitage and has returned to Catalonia, in Spain.
From the start of September, the Department of Communications will have the full-time services of Mr Luiz de Rosa who will work as Webmaster.