New secretary of superior general ?surprised? at his appointment
The new secretary of the Marist brother’s superior general expressed joy and surprise when he heard about his new position that he will start after the summer.
“The truth is I didn’t expect it,” said brother Pau Fornells, who will take on his role from Sept. onwards.
“When (superior general) brother Emili proposed it to me, I didn’t find any reason to say no,” he told the general house press office in Rome on May 29.
Brother Pau, who belongs to the Norandina Province and is currently in Maracaibo, Venezuela, also noted he is “very happy to return to Rome, where I left great Friends, brothers and laity,” adding that “Italy fascinates me.”
He served as director of the Secretariat for the Laity from 2006-2010 during his time in Rome.
The new secretary will work for a period of three years and will also be the executive secretary of the preparatory commission for the 22nd General Chapter in 2017.
“My two tasks scared me a bit because of the novelty of the responsibility involved, but I trust in the expertise of my two good heads, brothers Emili and Joe McKee,” remarked brother Pau.
The Marist, originally from Spain, will arrive to Rome at the end of August and will receive training from the current secretary, brother José María Ferre, whom he will replace after having served for two periods of three years.
Superior general brother Emili Turú made the announcement in a message to the brothers provincial, district superiors and their councillors dated May 24.
“My warmest thanks to brother José M. Ferre, who has accompanied me very discreetly and efficiently over the past six years,” said the superior.
“The brotherly support you have given me with your multiple qualities, José María, has helped me live very calmly and confidently during this period,” he added. “I know you have lived this time with a very Marian attitude, and I thank you for it.”
Brother Pau Fornells, became a Marist aged 24 in 1979 and has lived in Spain, Italy, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.
His work has included teaching mathematics, Catalan, religión, as well as ministry for youth, laity and indigenous, and being a member of provincial councils.
“I love working with children, youths, elderly and also grandparents, an age which I am also reaching,” he stressed. “I am very happy in my Marist life although I’ve also experienced difficulties and tensions, (but) it is where I experience that God loves me.”