Creative ways to say 'thank you'

Yesterday (Fri 15 Dec) evening the SPR Provincial council and FMA on SDB committees were invited to Ascot Vale with many SDB to farewell Fr. Greg Chambers after six years of leadership of the Australian-Pacific province. All were led in prayer as Fr. Greg handed on the leadership to Fr. Will. A buffet dinner followed where various Salesians were invited to speak about Fr. Greg's leadership in a variety of creative ways. It was a very fitting way to thank Greg for his tireless and dedicated leadership of the SDB in particular and the Salesian Family in general in this part of the world. Today (Sat 16 Dec) Fr. Greg was invited to Scoresby to a very informal but also heartfelt 'farewell' from us. He was invited to preside at a Eucharist at mid-day which he offered for us all in the province. This was followed by dinner. Those who could, came also from Clayton and Broadmeadows. At dinner, and on behalf of all in our province, Greg was presented with a plaque which read: "Presented to Fr. Greg Chambers - in appreciation for your on-going support of the Salesian Sisters of the SPR province - 16th December 2017." In his response to this gesture he affirmed the collaborative effort that exists between the SDB and FMA in this region of the world and noted that this existed even before he became provincial. He emphasised the point that regardless of the numbers in our province so much is being done to such a wide variety of people and encouraged us all to continue in this spirit into the future. We truly thank Greg for all he has been for the SDB, for us and for all the Salesian Family for the past six years and we wish him well into the future.