During the Eucharist, the 300 invited guests witnessed the installation of Fr. Bart as the new provincial. It was followed by a small programme during which the outgoing provincial Fr. Wilfried Wambeke was honoured and Fr. Bart Decanq was presented and welcomed. The celebration was graced with beautiful music by Floris and the Flames. Floris is a former pupil of Don Bosco Hechtel and has already gained international fame as a violinist.

Fr. Bart begins now a six-year period of leading the Salesian Province of Flanders-Netherlands as the provincial. He looks back on his past 44 years as a Salesian. "It soon became clear that my happiness lay with the Salesians," says Fr. Bart. Recalling his yester years, he remarks: "In my various assignments, thanks to a lot to my fellow brothers and Don Bosco workers, I was able to learn and experience what a Salesian life is at the service of young people. The years of studying theology, getting responsibility in the Cadre School and my period at the Leuven District Playgrounds were invaluable. I had the opportunity to get my master's degree in Rome and was taught by the great experts of Salesianity: Pietro Stella, Pietro Braido, Jacques Schepens and others who taught us critically and forward-looking who Don Bosco was, what he had in mind and how his style of education remains very relevant. They were great years with the young people of the oratorio in Rome.”

Fr. Bart has served the province in various capacities with a diverse experiences. “After many years in a managerial position (including as delegate director of the Don Bosco Education Centre and as school director in Don Bosco Kortrijk and Don Bosco Hechtel), the next challenge now awaits. “As a child, I often played school with my siblings. My sisters were the pupils, my brother Hans the teacher and I was the headmaster. That was the condition, otherwise I didn't participate,” Bart says with a quip. “Principal I have already been in the meantime, but provincial.... I never practiced that before.”

When Fr. Bart received the message from the Regional Councillor Fr. Roman Jachimowicz on 12 December 2022, he already knew what that meant. “When the Superior General informed me immediately afterwards that - after consultation with fellow brothers and consultation within the main council - I would become the next provincial, I thought of the past years of being a happy Salesian with the support of fellow brothers and so many. The messages that touched me most were from fellow brothers who wrote: 'Thank you for taking up this task'. With the support of my fellow brothers, the family, the Salesian Family and the movement around Don Bosco, I want to take up this task and keep the inspiration of Don Bosco alive with the many committed people in Flanders and the Netherlands. Thank you for the trust, your support and prayers!”

Fr. Bart is very much concerned and optimistic about the responsibility entrusted to him. He affirms on a positive note: “We have a Salesian characteristic that we must never deny: the 'assistance'; being close to people in a cordial way. An engaged closeness, being reachable and receptive. It is not about how we get the most out of our staff and our students, but how we bring out the best in them. We need to create that family atmosphere, so that they can be at their best? Being present and accessible!”

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