On 22nd August, during the 9th General Assembly of the Secular Institute “Madonna della Strada” the general council was elected. It now consists of the following members:
Director General: Maria Christine Hochleitner was re-elected
General Assistants: Dr. Adelaide Vaz from India (Deputy Director General), Lourdes Pestaño from Philippines, Dr. Viera Čerňanová from Slovakia and Gertrude Spörker from Austria.
Regional director: Judy Salcedo from Jamaica – USA – Caribbean
The episcopal vicar for consecrated life F. Gerwin Komma SJ presided over the election and auxilliary bishop Mag. Dr. Franz Scharl celebrated the subsequent festive mass with oaths of office.
35 delegates and officers from 10 countries and 3 continents took part in this General Assembly, in two weeks of debbate they made landmark decisions for the future of the Institute.
Spiritual guide during this process was F. Dr. Antony Kolencherry. Already 50 years ago he accompanied the Institute in India and helped with the translation of the Constitutions into Malayalam. His spiritual impulses will now be carried into the world by the delegates. The motto of this Institute, which follows Ignatian spirituality, is “Everything to the greater glory of God”.
Some impressions from the General Assembly, which had the motto “Searching and Asking”:
