New Superior of the Sons of Mary Immaculate
On 29 June 2023, after the singing of the "Veni Creator Spiritus", and the Chapter Appeal, the Superior General, Fr. Roberto Amici in charge, declared the 20th General Chapter open. Two Scrutineers and the Secretary of the Chapter were then elected. In the afternoon, Holy Mass was concelebrated at the Shrine of Divine Love, presided over by Mgr. José Carballo, Secretary of the Congregation for Religious.
The day before, Wednesday 28 June, in the morning, the Chapter Fathers participated in the audience with the Holy Father at St. Peter's. A personal letter sent by the Pope to the Chapter Fathers was then read.
On Wednesday 12 July 2023, voting took place in the Chapter Hall for the renewal of the positions of the Congregation with the following outcome: SUPERIOR GENERAL: Fr. Mario RONCELLA (Italian nationality) 1ST CONSULTANT (VICARIO G.): Fr. Enrico SPANO (Italian nationality) 2^ CONSULTANT: Fr. Fritz TOHOY (Philippine nationality) 3^ CONSULTANT: Fr. Ruben SIRERA (Argentine nationality) 4^ CONSULTANT: Fr. Francesco PUDDU (Italian nationality) ECONOMY GENERAL: Fr. Eric GONZALES (Philippine nationality).
Father Mario Roncella was born in Rome on 8.09.1946. He was baptised in the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe-Rome and received First Communion and Confirmation in the Parish of St Angela Merici in Santa Severa in 1956 where his parents had moved.
He entered as an aspirant of the Sons of St Mary Immaculate in Porto-Fiumicino and attended middle school and gymnasium. He completed his classical studies with high school in Rome.
After his novitiate, he made his First Religious Profession in 1964 and Perpetual Profession in 1967.
After religious formation and philosophical-theological studies he was ordained a priest on 06.05.1973.
After a short stay in Italy he was sent to Argentina as a missionary where he remained until 1990. In 1991 he opened the mission in Poland. Elected General Consultor, he returned to Italy two years later and was Master of the Studentate of Clerics. He was appointed parish priest of Verona S. Maria Ausiliatrice in 1999 and remained there until 2008. He returned to Porto as Master of the Clerics until he was sent back to Poland after the 2011 General Chapter. Returning to Italy after a few years, he is back in Fiumicino as an assistant in the parish of Stella Maris.
In October 2018, he was appointed General Bursar of the Congregation in place of Fr Gilberto Principessa.
He takes the place of Fr. Roberto Amici, who held the position of Superior General of the Congregation for two six-year terms.
New FSMI General Council