Every eight years the Society of Mary convokes a General Chapter of delegates from every province in the world to chart the course of ministry for the future, and elect a new leadership for the next four years although the Superior General is elected for an eight year term.
The meeting this year was held September 1-23 in Rome at the ‘Salesianum’, the world HQ for the Salesian Order. It is well appointed and an ideal venue for a large gathering over some weeks.
The new Superior General is Fr John Hannan sm, previously Provincial Superior of the new province of Europe. Born in Limerick Ireland in 1943, he has been involved in formation, retreat work, education and administration. He is the 13th Superior General of the Society of Mary.
Others elected were:
Fr Larry Duffy sm (Peru-Venezuela) Vicar General,
Assistants General; Fr.Kevin Duffy sm (Europe) Fr Alexandro Muñoz sm,(Mexico) Fr Lote Raiwalu sm (Oceania)
The new General Fr John Hannan (Centre), with his Assistants from left, Frs Kevin Duffy, Loti Raiwalu. Larry Duffy, and Alexandro Muñoz
Fr John Murphy sm from NZ, has been appointed to the finance committee of the order.
There were six New Zealanders and four Australians among the delegates, some elected and the others ex officio..
Former Superiors General still living in Australia are Fr John Jago sm (Brisbane) and Fr Bern Ryan sm (Kempsey).
The following message from the members of the Chapter is addressed to all members of the Society:
“At the finish of this 28th General Chapter
of the Society of Mary,
rejoicing in being Marists,
we give thanks for the grace of the Chapter
which is an event of the whole Society.
We recognize the beauty of Mary’s little Society
and its many positive aspects,
and we acknowledge with some pain
its present weaknesses and difficulties.
We have tried to discern the way forward
through our prayer and mutual exchange.
We recognize the urgency for change
especially in the ways set out in the chapter documents
which touch on many aspects of our life.
We make a call to all to embrace wholeheartedly our Marist
identity so that as one body we can faithfully
fulfil our apostolic mission of building a new
church in the spirit of Mary.
This is a call to the heart and mind of each Marist
to take up and live more authentically our Constitutions
and to begin with freshness to live the fullness
of our vocation with confidence in God and Mary.
Let us dare to ‘Sing a New Song’.”
