The Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Adolfo Nicolás, has appointed Fr Brian McCoy to succeed Fr Steve Curtin as Provincial Superior of the Australian Province of the Society of Jesus.

In making this appointment Fr Nicolás extended his thanks and encouragement to Fr McCoy as he prepares to assume this very important service to the universal Society, to his Jesuit brethren and to the many lay colleagues in the province and its ministries. Fr Nicolás added a special note of thanks and appreciation to Fr Curtin for his six years of dedicated service as Provincial. Fr Nicolás said that he would pray that the concluding months of Fr Curtin’s term would be filled with much grace and consolation from the Lord.

Fr McCoy is currently Director of the Tertianship program for the Australian Jesuit Province while remaining Assistant to the Jesuit Provincial for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries.  He has been a Board Member of Jesuit Social Services since 2007 and was on the inaugural Redfern Jarjum College Council.  He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and Sports Medicine Australia (SMA).  He is currently a Consultor to the Australian Jesuit Provincial.

Fr McCoy is a leader with long experience as a Jesuit Superior and Head of Ministry. Those who have had the benefit of working with him know him best as a humble and loving colleague and friend, a committed pastor, a wise counsellor and a man of faith and prayer with a great love for the Church and for the poor.  In announcing the appointment and conveying to Fr McCoy the thanks of Fr Nicolás, Fr Curtin said that he wished to add his thanks and the thanks of the whole Australian Jesuit Province.  Fr Curtin also assured Fr McCoy of the care and support of the whole Province in the years ahead.

Fr McCoy will assume office as Provincial at the end of July after the conclusion of the 2014 Tertianship program. [Province Express]