Fr Gary Walker has been elected as Regional Director of St Columbans Mission Society for Australia and New Zealand. He will take up his appointment on the 23rd November, 2011, the Feast of St Columban. The term of appointment is for three years.
Fr Gary comes from Brisbane and was ordained in 1972. He spent many years in Fiji and Jamaica, followed by a six-year appointment to Ireland as a member of the Columban General Council.
For the past nine years he has been Editor of The Far East magazine and for part of the time he was the House Superior at Essendon.
One of the biggest challenges ahead, he says, "is to engage young people in the missionary arm of the Church". Fr Gary also said he was looking forward to working in collaboration with other Congregations and Lay People.
Fr Gary thanked the outgoing Director, Fr Noel Connolly, for his leadership, management skills, and vision to see clearly, that with fewer Columbans we need to work hand in hand with Lay People who understand and support Columban Mission.
Previous Regional Director - Fr Noel Connolly
Fr Noel Connolly SSC was Regional Director of St Columbans Mission Society for Australia and New Zealand from February 2006 to November 2011.