Year IX - Number 375
11 June 2015
Marist News 375
Marist Brothers - General House - Rome
New secretary of superior general ‘surprised’ at his appointment ‘I am happy to return to Rome,’ says brother Pau Fornells The new secretary of the Marist brother’s superior general expressed joy and surprise when he heard about his new position that he will start after the summer.
He served as director of the Secretariat for the Laity from 2006-2010 during his time in Rome.
of the novelty of the responsibility involved, but I trust in the expertise of my two good heads, brothers Emili and Joe McKee,” remarked brother Pau. The Marist, originally from Spain, will arrive to Rome at the end of August and will receive training from the current secretary, brother José María Ferre, whom he will replace after having served for two periods of three years.
“The truth is I didn’t expect it,” said brother Pau Fornells, who will take on his role from Sept. onwards. “When (superior general) brother Emili proposed it to me, I didn’t find any reason to say no,” he told the general house press office in Rome on May 29. Brother Pau, who belongs to the Norandina Province and is currently in Maracaibo, Venezuela, also noted he is “very happy to return to Rome, where I left great Friends, brothers and laity,” adding that “Italy fascinates me.”
The new secretary will work for a period of three years and will also be the executive secretary of the preparatory commission for the 22nd General Chapter in 2017. “My two tasks scared me a bit because
Superior general brother Emili Turú made the announcement in a message to the brothers provincial, district superiors and their councillors dated May 24. “My warmest thanks to brother José M. Ferre, who has accompanied me very discreetly and efficiently over the past
General Administration • On Monday, 8 June, the general council began its plenary session, which will end on 17 July. In this first week, despite the absence of two of its members, the council initiated the reflection of various items of its agenda: the personal service of the general administration, communications and translations, the study on the proposed lay association, the general plan for new models, the evaluation of the programme for the formation of laity and the Fratelli project. • From 8 – 12 June: the chapter of the USA province is taking place. Joe McKee and Eugène Kabanguka are participating on behalf of the general council. • From 9 – 14 June: Br Hipólito Pérez of the secretariat of Brothers Today, is in L’Hermitage, France, meeting with two groups of permanente formation of Manziana and El Escorial. • From 11 – 15 June: Br Javier Espinosa, director of the Secretariat of the Laity, is in Seville taking part in a meeting of the commission of the laity of the province Mediterránea.