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New Leadership Team for the Vice-Province
Fr. Fred Scragg having completed a second term of three years as Vice-Provincial, the members of the Vice-Province had to elect a new leadership team. At a recent Assembly of the Vice-Province, held at "Sandymount" from 16 to 18 July, Fr. Ronnie Mitchell, S.M.M. was elected as the new Vice-Provincial superior. He will be assisted during his six-year term of office by Fr. Des Connolly (who was named as "Vicar Provincial"), Fr. James Murray and Fr. Danny McAvoy. Please pray for the new administration that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit in their leadership of the Vice-Province during the coming six years.
MenuChange of Status for Gt. Britain & Ireland
Following on the General Chapter held in Rome in May 2005, the second session of the Provincial Chapter of the Province of Gt. Britain & Ireland, recognising the reality of our falling numbers, and the consequent difficulty of finding men to fill all the normal administrative posts in a Province, asked the General Administration to change the status of our entity from "Province" to "Vice-Province". In accordance with our Constitutions, this request was put to the Extraordinary General Council held in Rome in October 2006 for its advice; and subsequently, on 17th October 2006, the Superior General, with the consent of his Council, officially changed the status of our entity to that of "Vice-Province".
But what does this change mean in practice? It has to be admitted that there is little practical difference between a Province and a Vice-Province - contrary to the popular understanding, a "Vice-Province" is not a kind of subdivision of a Province - Gt. Britain & Ireland does not now "come under" another Province - it remains one of the major divisions of the Congregation. There are certain arrangements which can be made more easily in the new situation: for example, it is more readily accepted that the Council of a Vice-Province might consist of fewer members than that of a Province. But, apart from these few practical differences, there is thought to be a great advantage for an entity that is decreasing in numbers to become a Vice-Province, in that this change brings home in a starkly psychological way the changing circumstances in which we live. And this was the motivation for the members of the former Province in asking to become a Vice-Province.
Closure of the House in Barrhead, Scotland
Montfort House in Barrhead, Scotland, has now been closed, and is in the process of being sold. The two remaining residents have moved to other quarters: Brother Louis-Marie has taken up residence in Nazareth House, Cardonald, Glasgow; Father James Murray is also staying there at present, while another house is sought within the Paisley Diocese.
New ventures in Ashurst
St. Joseph's, our house in Ashurst, Southampton, now has a full complement of personnel: Father Ronnie Mitchell (the Superior) is accompanied by Father Paul Allerton, Father Bob Ellwood and Brother Anthony, and Father Owen Cannon continues to be part of the community while occupying 'Wisdom House' in the same grounds. In the past few months, the community has been meeting with many of the friends of the community (those who attend Sunday Mass there, and others) to discern how best to serve the local area in terms of spriritual resources. Slowly, new initiatives are being taken, and the community looks forward to a fruitful collaboration with the lay-people in a number of areas of apostolate.
News of the Congregation around the World
General Chapter 2005 - New General Administration
In May 2005, a General Chapter of the Company of Mary was held in Rome, during which a new General Administration was elected to govern the Congregation for the next six years. The new Superior General is an Italian Montfort Missionary, Fr. Santino Brembilla, who worked for the past 25 years as a missionary in Peru. His four Counsellors are: Fr. Donald LaSalle (from the American Province), Fr. Matthew Jenniskens (of the Dutch Province), Fr. Joseph Philor (of the Haitian Province) and Fr. Olivier Maire (of the French Province).