The Family of Disciples elected a new General Council

XVII GENERAL CHAPTER OF THE FAMILY OF DISCIPLES

The 17th General Chapter of the Family of Disciples, a religious institute founded by the Servant of God Fr. Giovanni Minozzi in Amatrice (RI), on 30 October 1925, concluded a few days ago at the "Madonna delle Rocche" Spirituality House in Rocca di Mezzo (AQ).

The Chapter began on Monday 1 July and closed on Saturday 13 July with a pilgrimage of the Chapter Fathers to the tomb of the founder in Amatrice (RI).

Theme of the Chapter: "Family of Disciples - Season of Exodus".

Guided by experts such as Father Luigi Gaetani, President of CISM, and Sister Nicla Spezzati, former Undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life, as well as by the enlightened words of Father Antonio Cocolicchio O.P., Provincial Superior of the Dominican Fathers of the Roman Province, the Capitulars addressed the themes of identity, consecration and mission, confronting the challenges of our times to avoid nostalgic retreats to a past that will not return and naive escapes towards a markedly dechristianised future. It is a demanding task to safeguard fidelity to the charismatic inspiration that will need to be even more evident in coherent words and gestures.

To lead the Congregation as Superior General for the next six years, the brothers have chosen Fr Antonio Carozza, 65 years old from Molise, who also boasts a decade of missionary experience in Brazil, in Itaquaquecetuba, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo.

Joining him in the responsibility of governance will be Vicar General Fr Aldo Di Girolamo (Italian) and councillors Fr Juan Alberto Hidalgo Dominguez (Peruvian), Fr Ronaldo Queiroz (Brazilian) and Fr Sathiyaraj Amalraj (Indian). A completely renewed executive that bears the hallmarks of the universality of the Minozzi charism.

There were 19 chapter members, coming from all the countries where the Disciples work: Brazil, India, Italy and Peru.

The Family of Disciples, born for the evangelisation and human promotion of the poor in the most abandoned regions, now numbers 60 religious distributed in 19 Communities.

"We wish above all to care for the brothers of central and southern Italy living here in the dear homeland or migrating over the mountains and across the seas.
No other path is precluded to the missionary ardour of the Disciples, no other form of good will ever, in any place and at any time, be extraneous to their religious Family, ever vigilant and ready to catch, amidst human events, the sign of God: but their specific note, their badge of origin, their first sign of nobility in the holy militia of Christ will be this, for centuries". (Father Giovanni Minozzi)