Media Release 9 June 2010
For Immediate Release
Michael Thio elected International President General National Council President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia Syd Tutton attended th
last week in Salamanca, Spain the election of the 15 International President General, stating “For the first time since the Society was founded in 1833, we have elected a President General outside of Europe. Michael Thio, a Singaporean, is a great friend of the Society in Australia. The Society’s youth enjoyed his visit during World Youth Day and our National Council looks forward to his return this year.”
Mr Thio was formerly the Managing Director of BT (British Telecom) South East Asia and now serves in the capacity of Senior Consultant. Mr Thio has been a member of the Society for over 40 years and held several positions in the Society including international vice-president and chair of the Territorial Technical Commission. Mr Thio will take office on the Feast of St Vincent de Paul, September 27.
Mr Thio said on receiving 87% of the vote, “Dear fellow Vincentians, thank you for your confidence in electing me as the new President General. I will need your prayers and also your support to work together with me and the board of the Council General in continuing the work of our founders.”
Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, presented the outgoing President General José Ramón Díaz-Torremocha the medal of St Gregory the Great Order awarded to him by the Holy Father in recognition of his services to the Church.
Fr. Greg Gay CM, Superior of the Vincentian Fathers, prayed for the incoming President General saying that we all need to carry a deep attitude that the ‘poor will be better served’.
The Association of the Society of St Vincent de Paul is present in 146 countries, it has 51,000 conferences worldwide, composed of 750,000 members helping more than 1,500,000 people in their good works.
Contact Jonathan Campton: 0407 188 441