August 15, 2012. (Romereports.com) The
Society of Mary has reelected the Spanish priest Manuel Cortés as their superior general. The group, known as the Marianists, made the appointment in Rome during their general chapter meeting that brings delegates together from twenty countries.
The re-election means that
Cortés will serve as superior for another six years, continuing the work of the Blessed William Joseph Chaminade who founded the Order in 1817. The French priest created the group in order to promote education in faith, a task that is today considered central to the New Evangelization.
MANUEL J. CORTÉS
Superior General, Society of Mary“You have to make a very strong educational effort from the human point of view, that the person is to be educated in those attitudes that can be opened to transcendence and faith.”Currently,
the Marianists are present in 38 countries. They work in schools, universities, as well as in the publishing industry.
Its founder wanted to send a feel of fraternity to society in order to overcome the differences that separate people and throughout history have led to discrimination and even hatred. Something he suffered firsthand during the French Revolution.
MANUEL J. CORTÉS
Superior General, Society of Mary“He lived the French Revolution in the flesh, he was forced to go into hiding and emigrated in exile to Spain. When he finally returned, he came back with a mission to create communities of faith with an aim at recovering lost faith, to fill that loss of the social presence of the Church after the French Revolution.”During their general chapter meeting,
they reflected on the importance to the Church the laity plays by being involved in the activities of the congregation. They also studied how to strengthen ties with the rest of the Marianist Family.
The superior has been a pastor and a school chaplain. But in his career there has been one role that has helped to define the rest.
MANUEL J. CORTÉS
Superior General, Society of Mary“The experience that has most effected me has been my work for 13 years as a master of novices. Being a trainer of others has helped to form me also.”2012 also marks 50 years for Manuel Cortés since he first began his life as a religious. H
e will now spend six more leading the 1,200 members of the Society of Mary, the only congregation that since its founding, has a composition of religious that are priests and non-priests that carry the same rights and duties.
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