Italy: Marist Brothers elect new Superior

Brother Emili Turú

The Marist Brothers, meeting in Rome from September 8 to October 10, have elected as Superior General Brother Emili Turú, and as his Vicar, Brother Joseph McKee for a period of eight years.

Brother Rofes was born on 24 January, 1955 in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). He made his first vows in 1975, and his perpetual ones in 1982. He obtained his certificate in primary teaching, a masters in Catalan and the Licentiate in Theology from the Teresianum in Rome.

His vicar, Brother McKee, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1950. He took his final vows in the Institute in 1978. He pursed further studies in Spain, Scotland and USA. Brother McKee has spent his apostolic life mainly in Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, and Kenya.

The 21st General Chapter in Rome has brought together 83 representatives of more than 3,700 Brothers, and some 43,000 lay collaborators in 79 countries educating more than 660,000 children and young people.

For two years, the Marist Institute has been engaged in an intense process of preparation involving lay people as much as Brothers. With the dynamic proposal of creating "new hearts for a new world", it sounded the feeling of the different regions of the Marist world by means of "letters" composed in each region.

The Chapter is discerning and responding to the fundamental call which God is making to the Institute for the next eight years. This call includes the value of the Brother's consecration in a world of confrontation and division, the service to children and young people, the journeying together of Brothers and lay people in the manner of Mary.

Following from this fundamental call is the study of various themes relating to the life and mission of the Marist Institute, in order to bring them into harmony with the demands this call sets forth for the world of today.

The General Chapter has paid special attention to the Marist laity. Nine lay people, coming from different parts of the world, and invited by Brother Superior General and his Council, participated in the reflections of the Chapter for the first fortnight.

For more information see: www.champagnat.org/en/200000000.asp

Source: Fides