EUROPE/ITALY - Monfort Missionaries elect new Superior General Santino Brembilla the first ever Italian to lead the Missionaries of the Company of Mary.

Rome (Fides Service) - On 15 May Pentecost Sunday, the General Chapter of the Monfort Missionaries of the Company of Mary, meeting in Rome 1 to 21 May elected as new superior general Italian Father Santino Brembilla, aged 59 born in Stezzano, Bergamo, Italy. According to a report sent to Fides by the Monfort provincial secretariat Fr Brembilla is the first Italian to be elected to guide the Congregation founded by St Louis Maria Grignion de Montfort. The Company of Mary today has 950 members working in about 30 different countries evangelising following the example of the poor apostles in the footsteps of their founder.
Father Santino Brembilla, ordained in 1971, are some years of ministry in Italy went as a missionary to Peru in 1979 where he served the Church with great dedication to the people of God. The new Superior General, called to guide the Monfort Missionaries for the next six years told the Chapter members “we must welcome life and mission as gifts of God and face the challenges of our day with creativity”. His task will be to look to the future to trace new paths. In this he will be flanked by four assistants general elected by the Chapter: Olivier Maire (France), Donald Lasalle (United States), Joseph Philor (Haiti), Mathieu Jenniskens (Holland). (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/5/2005 - Righe 14; Parole 215)