Fr. Mario Abzalon re-elected Superior General of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

Fr. Abzalón Alvarado, msc, has been elected as Superior General of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. The election took place at the General Chapter which the Congregation held in the city of Nemi, near Rome. Fr. Abzalón is from Guatemala.

His confreres have re-elected him for a new mandate, thus giving their confidence to the work that, together with his Team and General Administration, he has carried out in the last six years.

Fr. Abzalón thanked his confreres throughout the congregation, his leadership team and the laity of the Chevalier Family for their support during the previous mandate. He also had a special and moving word for his own family.

"We will continue with shared leadership". This was the first idea he wanted to convey to the assembly of the General Chapter. He is aware of the challenging work for the coming years and, while knowing that he is vulnerable, aware of his limitations, he trusts in the grace of the Holy Spirit, "transforming me in order to transform".

His personal commitment to the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart will be listening to the language of the heart and his attitude will be one of learning together with all his confreres.

"Help me to continue to go to the provinces and unions without answers, but with questions so that together we can build the answers", in this way he expressed his willingness to work together and his commitment to service.

On the 17th day of the Chapter, the General Team was formed. After several days of proposals, consultations and conversations with various chapter members, Abzalón presented to the assembly those he considered most suitable to form his most direct team.

The four people who were elected as part of the General Team are:

• Chris Chaplin, Australian, from the Province of Australia
• Bernard Mongeau, Canadian, from the Province of the Dominican Republic
• Simon Lumpini, Congolese, from the Francophone Union of Africa
• Franciskus Bram Tulusan, Indonesian, from the Province of Indonesia