Fr Sandro Overend is the new Minister Provincial of the Maltese province of St Paul the Apostle.
The Franciscan provincial chapter, which was meeting at Porziuncola Retreat House, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, under the presidency of General Visitator Fr Austin McCormack also elected Fr Richard Stanley Grech as the new vice-provincial.
The new counsellors are Fathers Edward Pace, Marcellino Micallef, Martin Coleiro and Edward Pace.
Born in 1959 and ordained in 1984, Fr Overend has specialised at the Lateran University, (Augustinianum) in theology and patristics studies. For a long number of years he was rector at the Antonianum International College in Rome.
Until last year, he also served as secretary general of the Franciscan Order in Rome. He is a member of the teaching staff at San Anton School, Mġarr.