From Wednesday to Saturday, November 13-16, the General Administration hosted an orientation for new superiors in the Congregation of Holy Cross. Eleven provincials and district superiors participated. Thanks to the hospitality of the Marist Brothers of the Schools, the sessions were held at their Generalate in Rome, Italy.

After the opening Mass and dinner on Wednesday evening, Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General, officially welcomed the superiors on Thursday morning. The first morning was dedicated to leadership style assessment led by Br. Jonathan Beebe, C.S.C., Sixth Assistant, and reflections on synodal leadership and spiritual stewardship by Br. Bednarczyk and Fr. Emmanuel Kallarackal, C.S.C., Vicar General and First Assistant.

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In the afternoon, Fr. Ulrich Rhode, S.J., Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, gave a presentation and answered questions on the canonical responsibilities of Major Superiors. On Friday morning Fr. Jack Ryan, C.S.C., General Steward, joined the orientation to speak on finances and stewardship. Drawing from the 2022 General Chapter, he focused on the importance of financial planning and sustainability.

In subsequent sessions, General Councilors led conversations on the role of the Major Superior in vocations and formation ministry and on best practices for working with Councils. Then Br. Mark Knightly, C.S.C., a clinical social worker and former mental health director with a geriatrics specialty license, gave a presentation on elderly care.

On Saturday morning, Br. Knightly and Fr. KJ Abraham, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of North East India, presented on child protection and safeguarding. Then Br.Beebe and Br. Bertrand Nee Wayoe, C.S.C., Fourth Assistant, talked about self-care in leadership. The afternoon sessions were devoted to a potpourri of matters relating to the administration of a jurisdiction and its relationships with other jurisdictions and the General Administration.

Throughout the days of orientation, the superiors and General Council gathered for Liturgy of the Hours and Mass in the beautiful main chapel of the Marist Generalate. During the evaluation conducted in the final session, the superiors expressed their gratitude for the orientation. In addition to the wealth of information shared, they spoke of the importance of the fraternal conversations and the opportunity to share as brothers about the joys and challenges, the difficulties and opportunities, of this important ministry of leadership in the Congregation and the Church.