Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Spanish born Sister María Camino Agós Munárriz has been re-elected superior general of the Congregation of the Hospital Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus founded by Saint Benedetto Menni, who specialise in psychiatric care. The election took place during the congregation’s 19th general chapter being held in Rome. The Chapter is focussing on themes which concern not only the congregation’s charisma but also its social commitment to foster awareness in society in view of universal and complete care for mental patients and other persons who are maginalised.
The novelty of this general chapter has been the participation of lay persons representing about 8,000 lay co-workers involved working in various sectors in the structures of the Congregation. Cardinal José Saraiva Martins prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints who has always encouraged this collaboration, said during a Mass on 18 May at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: “each one of you according to her own vocation is called to help build the Kingdom of God. The Church’s mission is one, the path is one: the path of love and service”. He told the Hospital Community: “Your task is to make present in the Church and in the world the charismatic gift of offering these people ‘intensive care’, alleviating their suffering especially the stigmatisation of mental illnesses which exists in society. This is your charisma, this is your identity, this is your specific mission in the Church”.
During the chapter, which will conclude on 29 May, the entire general council was renewed with the election of four Spanish nuns, one Portuguese and one Colombian. Saint Benedetto Menni, a member of the St John of God Hospital Brothers, founded the Congregation on 31 1881 at Ciempozuelos, Madrid, Spain with the help of two young women who felt called by God to dedicated their lives to the cause of the poor and the sick especially people with psychiatric conditions, nearly always neglected. Their apostolic mission today is characterised by complete caring for the person. The Congregation is present in Europe, America, Asia and Africa in 24 different countries. The sisters work in psycho-pedagogical centres; rehabilitation centres for children with physical and mental disabilities; general hospitals and other medical structures; home psychiatric care; geriatrics and psycho-geriatrics. They also promote projects of social-health development and adoption at a distance. The Congregation was awarded the Geneva Prize 2002 for Human Rights in Psychiatry. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 24/5/2006, righe 31, parole 428)
