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Father Ho Lung is a man of great integrity. He will be missed.
THE MISSIONARIES of the Poor has elected a new superior general, Brother Augusto Silot Jr., to succeed Father Richard Ho Lung, who founded the institution dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor, and has served at the helm since 1981.
Augusto was elected on March 25 and arrived in the island on April 4 from the Munroe Mission in North Carolina, USA, where he served as mission superior.
But he did not immediately grab the opportunity for the top job when his name came up for it. "In the beginning, when I was informed, I was so surprised and nervous that I said I would pray about it . It took me a week to say yes and take the responsibility," Augusto admitted.
He said he had been accepted by his brothers in his new post even though, at age 35, he was much younger than the age prescribed by the Catholic constitution for a superior general.
"Our constitution of the missionaries and regulations of the poor say one of the requirements is that you must be 40 years old."
He said his first priority was to forge a closer relationship with God. "My priority is to be close to the Lord and to inform the other brothers to be close to the Lord. Second, will be the formation of the brothers' in community and third is our ministry to the poorest of the poor."
Augusto will serve a two- to three-year term before relinquishing his title and responsibility to someone else. "Then we will have the general chapter again when we will elect the new superior general," he said.
Describing Father Ho Lung's departure, Augusto said "He wants to pass on the responsibility and leadership to the younger generation.
Augusto was elected on March 25 and arrived in the island on April 4 from the Munroe Mission in North Carolina, USA, where he served as mission superior.
But he did not immediately grab the opportunity for the top job when his name came up for it. "In the beginning, when I was informed, I was so surprised and nervous that I said I would pray about it . It took me a week to say yes and take the responsibility," Augusto admitted.
He said he had been accepted by his brothers in his new post even though, at age 35, he was much younger than the age prescribed by the Catholic constitution for a superior general.
"Our constitution of the missionaries and regulations of the poor say one of the requirements is that you must be 40 years old."
He said his first priority was to forge a closer relationship with God. "My priority is to be close to the Lord and to inform the other brothers to be close to the Lord. Second, will be the formation of the brothers' in community and third is our ministry to the poorest of the poor."
Augusto will serve a two- to three-year term before relinquishing his title and responsibility to someone else. "Then we will have the general chapter again when we will elect the new superior general," he said.
Describing Father Ho Lung's departure, Augusto said "He wants to pass on the responsibility and leadership to the younger generation.
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