An informal visit

Fr Albert Van Hecke SDB, General Councillor for the Northern European Region, found a few empty days in his diary from 10 to 15 May 2007. He decided to use them for a short informal visit to Great Britain.

Fr Van Hecke with two Salesians

On arrival at Manchester airport he was met by Fr Michael Winstanley, the GBR Provincial, who took him to Bolton to see the new Provincial Offices and the home for the senior Salesians, St Joseph's, which he had blessed during an earlier visit in 2000. During the evening meal he was presented with copies of three recent books written by Salesian authors, The Christian Teacher - Shepherd of Loving Kindness and Christian Leadership by Fr David O'Malley (to the right in the photograph) and Lost and Found - Spirituality for a Changing World by Fr Michael Cunningham.

On Friday 11 May Fr Van Hecke went to Scotland to visit the Salesians working in the parishes of St Clare and St Benedict in Easterhouse, Glasgow.

Photo from Glasgow

Fr Van Hecke at St Benedict's with (l to r) Fr Winstanley, Bro Donald, Fr Garrick and Fr O'Meara

After spending the night in Bolton he travelled south to visit the houses of Chertsey, Farnborough and Battersea.

Photo from Battersea

Fr Van Hecke with Fr Winstanley and some members of the Battersea Community

On Monday 14th May Fr Van Hecke visited Huyton and Bootle. He called at Bollington on his way back to Manchester Airport on the Tuesday.

On his return, Fr Van Hecke wrote:

Back in Rome, I would like to thank you (Fr Provincial) and the confreres, for the warm welcome I received in your Province and for your great availability during my stay with you. It was for me a moment of 'living together our Salesian vocation and friendship'.