The Outgoing Superior General of the Adorno Fathers

The outgoing Superior General, Father Raffaele Mandolesi, CRMwas elected Superior General during the 61^stGeneral Chapter in 2006 and reelected at the 62^ndGeneral Chapter in 2012.  He is the 59^th Superior General of the Clerics Regular Minor – Adorno Fathers. He has been instrumental in the strengthening and growth of four delegations (Italy, USA-Philippines, Africa, India-Germany) and mission areas in different parts of Africa.

Father Mandolesi made his solemn profession of vows on November 25, 1971 and was ordained a priest on October 2, 1972. After his ordination, he was assigned to the minor seminary of the Adorno Fathers in Anagni, Italy for five years. In 1977, he was transferred to St. Nicholas Parish in Villa Santa. Maria, Chieti, Italy until 1986 when he was sent to our mission in Nyamilima, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 20 years.

As mentioned above, In 2006, at the 61^stGeneral Chapter, he was elected Superior General of the Order of Clerics Regular Minor (Adorno Fathers) and reaffirmed as General in 2012.   This year, 2018, marks the last year of his second term. Twelve years of hard work for the good of the Order and initiating the growth of four delegations including numerous missions opened in Africa have been a great mark on his term as Father General.

In his homily at Mass on the second day of the 63^rdGeneral Chapter,  he compared community life to a family growing in the love of God. To improve life in the religious community, he added; “one must renew his commitment to the religious vows and to the good that is done for the glory of God everyday. Only death is outside of this commitment when the Lord calls each one to live with him forever.”

The outgoing general exhorted the chapter fathers, to bring about in their respective communities, a commitment to the Order and to the Church in good times and in bad.  In order to do this, he said that each one must go back to the first “YES” that was uttered when answering the call of the Lord.  Our YES must continue everyday in spite of differences with those who we journey with in the community.

Twelve years as Superior General has taught him and allowed him to experience many things, especially regarding fraternal love that every community showed during his canonical visits.

The spirit of community, being with each other and the desire to journey together in humility and service for the greater glory of the risen Christ, is especially stressed. He thanked everyone for all the love and support during his term and wished that the good work that the Lord has began in each one may flourish grow far and wide.

In our Constitutions, chapter IV number 69 states: According to the teachings of the Founders, “common is God, common is the commitment to perfection, common are the difficulties, common the work, common the salvation, common finally will be the glory”. The common life is for us, therefore, the indispensable condition for putting into practice the perfection of charity.

We thank Father General Raffaele Mandolesi, CRM for his 12 years of hard work, leadership, and fraternal love shown to all the confreres around the world. May God bless and keep you.