Mangaluru: Fr Brian Pereira, SJ, officially assumed the role of rector of St Aloysius Institutions on Sunday, following a solemn prayer service held at the Jesuit Oratory of the St Aloysius Community. The ceremony was attended by fellow Jesuits, marking the beginning of his tenure as the institution's 31st rector.
Leadership Transition Ceremony
During the event, Fr Melwyn Dcunha, SJ, vice-rector, welcomed the new rector and symbolically handed over the leadership baton of the 146-year-old institution. He presented Fr Brian with a statue of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and the keys to the tabernacle of the Jesuit oratory, signifying the transfer of responsibility.
Fr Brian's Vision for the Institution
Accepting his new role, Fr Brian stated, "We need to allow the legacy of the institution and the empathetic leadership of the late Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto to grow." His appointment comes after the untimely demise of former Rector Rev Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto, SJ, on April 10. Following this loss, Fr Arturo Abascal Sosa, SJ, superior general of the Society of Jesus, appointed Fr Brian Pereira as the new rector on April 16.
Background and Expertise
Fr Brian brings decades of experience in education, administration, leadership training, and social outreach. He holds an MSc in chemistry from St Joseph's College, Trichy, and a master's degree in counselling from Loyola University, Maryland, USA. As a certified NLP trainer and life skills coach, he has trained thousands of young people across India, equipping them with leadership qualities, life skills, and value-based education.
Previous Roles and Achievements
His career includes serving as vice-president of the Bangalore Jesuit Educational Society, rector of Jesuit communities, director of Navasadhana Jesuit Pre-Novitiate, and in-charge of Jesuit Youth Works in South Asia. He was also the founding director of the Karnataka Jesuit Youth Apostolate. His administrative experience includes serving as rector of St Joseph's College (autonomous), Bengaluru, and later as rector of St Joseph's Institutions, Bengaluru. Most recently, he served as director of the Human Resource Development Centre of the Karnataka Jesuit Province.
Innovative Contributions
Fr Brian is the visionary behind the IGNITORS Integral Formation Programme and played a significant role in MAGIS initiatives. Additionally, he has been actively involved in social outreach programmes, including 'Bembala', St Joseph's outreach programme, demonstrating his commitment to community service.
