News

Death of Bro. Georges Gersdorff:

The Superior General, the Provincial Superior, and the Brothers of the Province of FRANCE, recommend to our prayers the soul of Brother Georges Gersdorff who passed away on December 29, 2011 at Ophasselt, (Belgium). He was 89 years old and has been in the religious life for 72 years.

Death of Bro. Jean Marie Guerineau:

The Superior General, the Provincial Superior, and the Brothers of the Province of FRANCE, recommend to our prayers the soul of Brother Jean Marie Guerineau who passed away on December 28, 2011 at Cholet, (France). He was 75 years old and has been in the religious life for 55 years.

The meeting of the three General Administrations of the Montfortian Family

This meeting was held on December 23, 2011 at the General House of Brothers of the Saint Gabriel. The meeting began at 08:30 am and ended at 12:15 pm with a break. At 12:25 pm, a special Eucharistic celebration was offered for three deceased people: the mother of Sr. Louise Madore, Superior General of the Daughters of Wisdom and Fr Georges Madore, the mother of Sr. Elvira Muñoz and Brother Lawrence VRIGNAUD who died on 21st December in France. The gathering was concluded with a family lunch.

This informal meeting was to discuss joint projects and guidance for each of the Institutes for the coming years. The main items on the agenda were:

2012: 300th anniversary of the drafting of the Treaty of True Devotion.

2015: 300th anniversary of the occupation of the first brothers.

2016: 300th anniversary of the death of Father de Montfort.

Possibilities of the introduction of the Cause of Fr Gabriel Deshayes.

International communities at St. Lawrence.

The general chapters of the Brothers of St. Gabriel (April 2012) and Daughters of Wisdom (July 2012).

OBITUARY NOTICE

The Superior General, the Provincial Superior, and the Brothers of the Province of FRANCE, recommend to our prayers the soul of Brother Laurent VRIGNAUD who passed away on December 21, 2011 at Nantes, (France). He was 80 years old and has been in the religious life for 61 years.

MONTFORT BROTHERS OF ST. GABRIEL LAND IN KENYA

12th December, 2011, is a red letter day in the history of the Congregation of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, as it saw the birth of a new baby in Kenya, spreading the Congregation’s presence to the 33rd country. The Blessing of this new Community at Kibiko, in the diocese of Ngong, situated near the capital city of Nairobi, was done by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue of Nairobi, who is also presently the Administrator of the diocese of Ngong. The Community was inaugurated by Bro. John Kallarackal, Assistant General, in the presence of Bro. K. M. Joseph, Provincial Superior of Hyderabad, and Bro. N. A. James, District Superior of East Africa. About 300 priests, religious and laity were present for the occasion, including 6 Brothers from Tanzania.

As mentioned by the Superior General in his letter of 13th September, 2011, addressed to all the Brothers of the Congregation, this is a Scholasticate Community open to all the Provinces/Sectors of Africa who wish to send their Brothers to pursue University Education at Nairobi. The property was purchased by the Central Administration with the help of the Monfort Missionaries who already have a Scholasticate in Nairobi. The animation and the management of this Community have been entrusted to the Province of Hyderabad, in link with the District of East Africa. For the Province of Hyderabad and the District of East Africa, the establishment of the Congregation’s presence in Kenya is a long standing dream coming true, after 28 years. As some will recall, when the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel from India left for Africa to take up their first mission in the continent, it was in Kenya that the pioneers set their feet in first. The present Community consists of Bros. Erasmus Marando (INH), Local Superior, Robert-Stanislas Bantsimba (KIG) and Nestor Kounkou (BRA). We hope and pray that this new initiative of our Congregation will bear good and abundant fruits for the Montfortian Mission in the African continent. View photoes

Preparatory committee:

The members of the 31st General Chapter Preparatory Committee namely Bros. Jean Friant, Varghese Theckanath, Paul Raj and Jean Marie Thior have once again gathered together in Rome to finalize the chapter document. They had their meetings from 14th December to 21st December among themselves and often with the Central Administration in compiling the decisions of the provinces for effective discussions and deliberations during the General Chapter which is to be held from 25th March to 20th April 2012.

Spain:

On 5th and 6th November 2011, the Province of Spain has commemorated the 75th year of imprisonment and death of our Brothers who are alleged martyrs in Spain. Read more....

Montfort social Institute.

Montfort Social Institute, Hyderabad, India is celebrating 1-14 December, 2011 as the Human Rights Fortnight with different programs with different institutions/communities every day of the Fortnight. Around 100,000 children and adults will be involved. They had involved 35 schools in Hyderabad in an inter-school program of literary and artistic
competitions on human rights themes during the last two weeks of November. The final round of competitions and the valedictory was held on 3rd Dec. 2011.

The Provincial Chapters

All the provinces had Provincial Chapters as precursor to the General Chapter. All the Chapters were focused on the preparation for the General Chapter.

| |