Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - The Chapter of St Joseph’s Missionary Society (also known as Mill Hill Missionaries) took place from 22 June to the 22 July and was held for the first time in Nairobi, Kenya. The main themes/issues were how to cope with the diminution of members of the Society, Procurator general Fr Ludwig Jester told Fides. Today the Society has just over 500 missionaries aged between 65 and 70 and of whom about half have retired. In view of this the question of where to continue and where to close down becomes a real issue. Also it is getting increasingly difficult to find members for various posts especially in recruitment and formation. The decision to continue with recruitment and formation in some mission countries has been confirmed: in Central Africa, India and Philippines.
A new leadership was elected by the Chapter. Superior general Fr. Anthony Chantry (England), consultors: Fr Brendan Mulhall (England) vicar general Fr. Michel Corcoran (Ireland), Brother Joos Boorkamp (Holland). The St Joseph’s Missionary Society is an international society of priests and lay brothers founded in 1866 by Cardinal Vaughan Archbishop of Westminster (London) to serve the poor and the hungry all over the world offering spiritual and material help. Today Mill Hill have about 30 communities of missionaries who evangelise in mission countries on all five continents. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 26/7/2005, righe 20, parole 286)