On June 5 the chapter members began the day with Eucharist, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of Fr. John van den Hengel.

Then it was time for the group photo before walking to the corner to catch a bus to the Vatican to have an audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

The Holy Father set aside the talk he had prepared earlier, saying that the speeches are boring. At first, he recalled the story of his long time friend, Fr. Virginio Bressanelli, one of the General Superiors and now bishop in Argentina. Also, the Pope Francis expressed his hope that the beatification process of Fr. Leo Dehon will end soon. He was very happy with the theme of the XXIII General Chapter “Merciful, in community, with the poor” and  asked all the members of the congregation to be carriers and servants of mercy, also in the confessionals. In the end, the Holy Father reminded all about the importance of the Eucharist, adoration and prayer asking to pray for him also.

Prepared address of Pope Francis to the Dehonians

At lunch the chapter continued to celebrate Fr. John’s anniversary before heading back to the meeting hall to review and approve the synthesis document.

After the approval of the final document of the Chapter, the outgoing General Superior, Fr. Jose Ornelas Carvalho, thanked all for the opportunity to serve the congregation for the past 12 years. The assembly awarded Fr. Ornelas with a long applause. Prior to this, one of the former general superiors, Fr. Antonio Panteghini, now a missionary in Cameroon, expressed his joy of seeing the Congregation growing, especially in Africa and Asia.

At the very end, the general superior elect, Fr. Heiner Wilmer, expressed his thanks to all, who contributed to the success of the XXIII General Chapter.

On May 29 the General Chapter held a Mass of Remembrance to honor those SCJs who have died since the last General Chapter in 2009. The Mass began in the meeting hall to allow for translation assistance and ended in the main chapel of the “Collegio Internationale.”

“It has become part of our General Chapters to remember those who have gone before us, who, through death, were joined with Christ,” said Fr. John van den Hengel, the main celebrant and homilist. “We remember the dead of the last six years, we join with them and ask the Lord of mercy and of love to embrace them and be their joy…

“These members have all been part of our life line, our story. Their lives built up part of our identity. They were and are part of our story. We tell our current story by retelling theirs, what they did, their dying in the midst of life, their sacrifices, their foibles and faults.”

Speaking of the slide show that would follow, Fr. John said that “You will probably, as I will, have these moments of recognition: ‘ah, yes, it is so good to be reminded of you again,’ ‘thank you for what you did,’ ‘sorry that I did not always recognize you for the gift you gave to the community,’ ‘thank you for the joy you brought,’  ‘you were a great grace to the church and to the community.’

“Allow our minds and our hearts to tell the story again, to feel it in our hearts, to shed a tear at the sadness of their loss … but always with the awareness and the faith of the power of their life in Christ.”

Newly elected administration

On May 27, Fr. Heiner Wilmer, newly elected superior general, was the main celebrant at a Mass of Thanksgiving. Joining him at the altar was the newly elected council.The Mass was broadcast live on TeleDehon.

Fr. Donald and Fr. Heiner

Fr. Francis and Fr. Heiner

P. Leopold Mfouakouet

P. Paulus Sugino

P. Artur Sanecki

P. Carlos Enrique Caamano Martin

P. Steve Huffstetter

After the election of the General Superior on May 25, 2015, members of the General Chapter have elected five (5) members of the Council. On the same day in the afternoon, Fr. Leopold Mfouakouet, the Provincial Superior of Cameroon, was voted as the first member of the council representing the continent of Africa.

On Tueasday, May 26, the second to be elected or rather re-elected, for the next six years as general councilor, was Fr. Paulus Sugino, representing the geographical zone of Asia.

The third councilor became Fr. Artur Sanecki, the Provincial Superior of Poland, representing Europe.

The fourth councilor, representing the South America, is the Regional Superior of Venezuela, Fr. Carlos Enrique Caamaño Martin. Fr. Carlos, 48, is the youngest member of the council.

Finally, Fr. Steve Huffstetter, the U.S. Provincial Superior became the fitfth general councilor, representing the North America.

Congratulations to all!

The election of the members of the General Administration was conducted in a very smooth and fraternal way. They seem to be a good and strong team.

The official start of the New Administration is the end of the General Chapter on June 6, 2015.