Rev. Fr. John Berger, the fourteenth Provincial of Kolkata, succeeded Rev. Fr. Francis Alencherry who took over as the Councillor for the Missions at the General Chapter 25. Fr. Berger took up his responsibilities officially on June 22, 2002, the day of the feast of St. Joseph Cafasso.

Born on 11 July 1948 at Hubli (Karnataka), Fr. John belongs to St. Mary’s Parish, Rippon Street, Kolkata. He made his first Profession on 24 May 1970 at Shillong and was ordained a priest on 15 December 1979 by Cardinal L.T. Picachy S.J. at St Mary’s Church, Ripon Street, Kolkata. In 1997 he was appointed the Vice-Provincial of Kolkata Province.

Fr. John Beger holds a Licentiate in Spirituality from the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. Immediately after his ordination he was appointed the Socius, (Assistant Novice Master) at Polsondamore (1980 –1981). He continued to be the Socius for two more years after the Novitiate was shifted from Polsondamore to Siliguri (1981-1983). He completed Licentiate in Spirituality at the Salesian Pontifical University in 1985 after which he returned to Siliguri as the Socius for two more years (1985-1987). He has served as the Novice Master at Nazareth Bhavan, Siliguri from 1987 to 1996 initiating nine groups of Novices to Salesian Religious life.. He was In Charge of Dharan (Nepal Mission) for one year before being appointed the Vice-Provincial.