The Rev. Bro. Yannick Houssay, Superior General, has decided with the General Council to open a Scholasticate in Manila, Philippines. He explains: "We were very happy last September to welcome into the Congregation two young Indonesian Brothers. "

Brother Gildas Prigent, in-charge of this mission for the General Council, made contact with the Marist Brothers. They, who have a Scholasticate in Manila for their Brothers in Asia, agreed to accommodate the two young Brothers. Training will continue, therefore, for them, in English, thus allowing them to be united to the whole Congregation. The two young Indonesian Brothers will be in the community of Southampton for a few months to familiarize themselves with the English language. They will officially begin their Scholasticate in June 2012.

The news of the founding of a house of Formation in Manila is accompanied by that of its head. The General Council has appointed Brother Michel Gougeon, Director of the new Scholasticate in Manila.

Brother Michael has accepted this new mission as he enters only in the second year of his term as Assistant Provincial of the Province of St. Jean Baptiste (France-Italy-England-West Africa). "His availability, coupled with that of our Brothers in Indonesia already committed, we can look with hope for the future of the Congregation on the Asian continent. Prayer and encouragement of all will accompany this mission,” explains Bro. Yannick.

Now it is up to the General Council to undertake the consultations that will appoint a new Assistant Provincial of the Province of St. John the Baptist, for the remainder of the current mandate of the Brother Provincial, that is to say, until June 30, 2013. He should be named by the end of the year 2011 to allow Brother Michel to prepare for his new responsibility.