Organization

Our community is an Institute of Pontifical Right, in other words, we are recognized by the Holy See and under the responsibility of the Holy Father (as opposed to a certain bishop or diocese). The priests and deacons of our community are incardinated into the Institute, and their responsibilities are stipulated by their community superiors. That being said, we have made agreements with bishops to work in parishes in many of the dioceses where we are present, and any assignment in a diocesan parish ultimately depends on the decision of the bishop of that diocese.

The members of our community live in community houses (filial houses) where we cultivate a family spirit and aspire to live the Ideal of Zion. There are also externs, members that do not live in a community house for apostolic reasons; nonetheless these members belong to the nearest house community and share life with them regularly.

General Government

The General Council of our community lives and works in the “Father House”, our headquarters located at the place of foundation of Schoenstatt near Koblenz, Germany.

General Superior

Following the will of the Founder, our Institute strives for a prominent family character. We want to be not only a community of work, but also a community of life and a community of hearts. We have experienced and we know the Founder as a fatherly figure, and our superiors strive to embody Father Kentenich especially in this aspect of his personality. In this light we have the tradition of calling our General Superior “Paterfamilias” (‘Father of the Family’, in Latin).

The General Superior is elected for a period of 6 years. The election takes place at the General Chapter.

The current General Superior is Father Juan Pablo Catoggio, from Argentina. He has been General Superior since 2015. 

General Council

The other members or advisers of the General Council assist and advise the General Superior in his many responsibilities. They are also elected by the fathers reunited at the General Chapter. It is an important criteria for the election the desire that all of the cultures and life currents of our community be represented by the members of the Council. The council members take on responsibilities according to their areas of competence and also by continents. By our Constitution they have voting rights in many decisions.

The Councillors are:

Father Antonio Bracht, from Brazil. He is the First Councillor, Assistant of the Sion Province and the Swiss Province)

Father José Luís Zabala, from Chile. He is the Assistant of the Free Communities, Assistant of the Pentecost Province, the Christ Region and the Father Region.

Father Heinrich Walter, from Germany. He is the Assistant for working with the Schoenstatt Movement

Father Raúl Espina, from Chile. He is the Assistant of Formation (of our seminarians and fathers)

The General Superior, Father Juan Pablo Catoggio, is the Assistant for the MTA and Providence Regions in India, and also for the foundations in Africa.

 

Other Fathers with Special Responsibilities

General Bursar

The General Bursar assists directly the General Council in relation with all economic and financial matters. Since 2019 he is also rector of the Original Shrine.

Father Pablo Javier Pol (Argentina)

Berg Sion 1
56179 Vallendar
Germany

Tel. +49 (0)261 6504-200

generaloekonom(at)schoenstatt-patres.org

General Secretary

The General Secretary helps the work of the General Council and is responsible for electronica and paper correspondence, for the flow of information of the Institute, and also for the General Archive. The position is currently vacant. For the time being members of the General Council respond to electronic mail.

gensec(at)schoenstatt-fathers.org

 

Provinces, Regions and Delegations

The worldwide community is organized in seven provinces and regions, with their respective delegations in further countries:

• Sion Province (Germany, Austria, Great Britain, and Czech Republic)
• Pentecost Province (Chile) - Delegations in: Mexico, United States, Spain and Portugal, Foundation in: Ecuador
• Swiss Province (Switzerland) - Delegations in: Poland, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo
• Father Region (Argentina) - Delegation in: Paraguay, Foundations in: Italy, Nigeria
• Christ Region (Brazil)
• MTA Region (Tamil Nadu, India)
• Providence Region (Kerala, India)