Brother Armin Luistro, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, has appointed Brother Peter Bray as Brother Visitor for the District of Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea (ANZPPNG) for a full four-year term. This appointment will take effect on 15 January 2025 and will continue until 14 January 2029.
Br Peter is from New Zealand. He grew up in Waitara, a town north of New Plymouth. There he was a first-day student at Francis Douglas Memorial College in 1959, where he met the Brothers of the Christian Schools and, fascinated by their commitment to service and education, felt called to become a Brother.
His formative career as a religious has led him to deepen his knowledge in various areas of educational sciences. He holds a BA and Diploma in Education from Macquarie University of Sydney (Australia); a Masters in Educational Administration from Massey University (New Zealand); and a PhD in Education from the University of San Diego (USA).
Throughout his vocational journey, Br Peter has been characterised by his human qualities, his sense of fraternity and his commitment to making education a means of transforming lives and contributing to the transformation of reality. In this way he has undertaken his educational service from his early years as a teacher and principal in a number of Lasallian schools in Australia and New Zealand, including De La Salle College, Ashfield, and Francis Douglas Memorial College. Subsequently, he joined the Lasallian Centre in Narooma, where he contributed to the educational mission of the region. He later became Principal of Benilde High School in Bankstown, Australia, before returning to New Zealand to serve as Director of the Wellington Catholic Education Centre.
In 2008 Brother Peter was appointed Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, the only Catholic University in the Holy Land, founded by the Vatican and the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools more than 50 years ago, in response to the request of the Palestinian people. There, for 15 years, Brother Peter’s leadership left a deep mark on the educational community and, above all, among the students – Muslims and Christians -, promoting peace and supporting education as a beacon of hope in the midst of conflict and violence.
In fact, his contribution to education and peace has been widely recognised. In 2023, Pope Francis awarded him the Cross of Honour (Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice), one of the highest honours that can be bestowed upon a religious or layperson by the Pope. He has also received honorary doctorates from universities such as Lewis University, Saint Mary’s University and the Australian Catholic University.
In expressing our congratulations to Br Peter Bray on the new mission entrusted to him, and commending him to the intercession of our Founder, St John Baptist de La Salle, we also thank Br Timothy Peter for his generous service to the ANZPPNG District as his term as Visitor draws to a close.
