South Asia receives new Provincial

The General Council appointed Brother Benterege Mervyn Percy Rohana Perera as the new provincial of South Asia, after studying the results of the province’s consulation.

Br Mervyn, who will begin his first three-year mandate during the Provincial Chapter in August, will replace Brother Shanthi Linayage.

Superior General Brother Emili Turú made the announcement in a letter dated Jan. 26 addressed to the brothers of the South Asia province.

“I would like to thank Br Mervyn Perera for his openness and willingness to serve the Institute in this mission as Provincial,” he stated. “The results of the consultation show clearly that he enjoys vast support from the Brothers of the Province.”  

“My sincere thanks also to Br Shanthi Linayage for his generosity and commitment to the animation and government of the Province over the past six years,” added Br Emili.

Br Mervyn was born in Sri Lanka, the eldest of three children. He studied with the Marist Brothers in high school and made his first vows in 1978.

He has worked as a teacher and administrator in Marist schools and was a formator of Marist aspirants. 

Br Mervyn served as a missionary in Pakistan from 1993 – 1999, teaching at Sargodha Catholic High School and working as deputy principal of St Mary’s High School in Peshawar.

He told the general house press office on Feb. 1 that he considers his time in Pakistan “as a special grace given by God to me to witness the Gospel values among Catholics and non-Catholics.”

He was the deputy Provincial from 2001 – 2007 and 2010 – 2013 and now works as the econome for the South Asia Province.