Dear Confreres, members of the Salesiain Family, friends of Don Bosco and young people,

Greetings as we recall the wonders of God' s love for us, mani fest in the Most Sacred Heart of his Son, Jesus.

We received the joyful news that Fr. Dominic Cong Danh Tran, SDB, is the new provincial superior of the Salesian Province of St. Philip the Apostle, (SUE)! After a thorough process of consultation conducted by Fr. Hugo Orozco, General Councilor for the Interamerica Region, and with prayerful discemment, the Rector Major, Fr. Angel Femandez Artime, with the consent of the General Council, has appointed Fr. Dominic to this role of leadership.

Fr. Dominic was bom on July 14, 1969, in Da Lat, Vietnam. He grew up close to the Salesians and regularly attended the Salesian parish and festive Oratory. He entered the initial formation program with the Salesian of Don Bosco in Da Lat. After he emigrated with his family to the United States in 1992, he continued as a candidate in South Orange, New Jersey in 1993. He was a novice in Rosemead, Califomia and made his religious profession on August 15, 1995. He was ordained a priest on May 24, 2003, by Bishop Raymond Goedert, auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in Our Lady of the Valley Church, Orange, New Jersey. Fr. Dominic has a BA in English from Seton Hall University, a MA in Theology and MDiv from the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, and a MA in Spiritual Theology from Creighton University. As a Salesian priest, Fr. Dominic has served in various roles: Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Salesian High School, New Rochelle, Province Vocation Director, Director of the Salesian community in Orange, Vice Provincial and Province Delegate for Formation.

With the help of his council, as provincial, Fr. Dominic will animate and govem the province, with a special concem for the religious life, the fratemal community, the apostolic action, the initial and on-going formation, and the administration of goods (Constitution 161 ). Not only with the help of the provincial council, but he will need the generous self-giving of us all, living our Salesian vocation with joy and enthusiasm. The province strategic plan, developed after the last provincial chapter, and other directives from the Rector Major, will also guide Fr. Dominic in his demanding role. Fr. Dominic becomes provincial as we recall the 125th anniversary of Salesians arriving in the United States, as we renew of the missionary perspective of the Salesian charism in each one of us, and as we prepare to celebrate the 150th anni versary of the Salesian missionary expedition to Argentina.

Please join me in thanking Fr. Dominic for hearing the Lord say to him again, "Follow me," (Jn 21.19) now as provincial, and for accepting this obedience. On a more persona! level, I thank him for his years of service as Vice Provincial and Province Delegate of Formation. Let us assure him of our continued prayer, cooperation, and fratemal support. Fr. Dominic's service begins July 1, 2023. lt is a six-year term. You will soon receive an invitation to the more formai acceptance of the office at which Fr. Hugo Orozco will be present.

This Friday is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. We beseech the Lord, in his mercy, to bestow on Fr. Dominic and on us ail the boundless treasures of his love.