25 elected delegates of Schoenstatt’s Apostolic Women’s Federation have participated in their General Chapter. The event took place in a hybrid form, some attending physically in Schoenstatt and others online. The meeting began on December 27, 2021 and ended on January 7th of this year.
The attendance to the Chapter is defined by the positions the women hold, including the general director of the International Federation and those who are members of the General Council. In addition, the previous directors and the regional directors participate with the respective delegates from each country.
The Brazilians represent Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Portugal. They are Valda Roseli Perez and Sandra Regina Féres, both from Araraquara, Sao Paulo, and Geni Maria Hoss from Curitiba, Paraná, who was physically present in Schoenstatt, Germany.
The General Chapter of the Women’s Federation is the assembly that brings together representatives of the entire international community to analyze the life of the community, plan future goals and elect the new general leadership.
The Chapters are held every five years, according to the guidelines of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, the agency in Rome to which they are linked.
Valda Perez commented: “I see these as days of grace and blessings for the Chapter, days in which the Holy Spirit acts upon our international Women’s Federation family. Besides the general election, we can take a look at the inner life of the community, analyze the steps taken so far and plan the way forward in the future, so that we can better live our consecrated vocation in the world.”
The results of the election within the community’s General Chapter
For the first time, a Brazilian has been elected to the position of general director of the Schoenstatt Women’s Federation. She is Dr. Geni Maria Hoss, who lives in Curitiba, has a degree in theology and has experience working in the field of bioethics.
The election of the entire international leadership took place on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, and after the deliberations, the new general leadership for the next five years was established as follows: Geni Maria Hoss from Brazil, as international director; Celia Etchegaray from Paraguay, as head of the free communities; Bettina Betzner, Magdalene Windoffery and Brigitte Krompaß, all three from Germany, as first, second and third councilors, respectively.
We are called to unite in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit for the fruitfulness of this General Chapter, that this time may be a Pentecost for the entire International Schoenstatt Women’s Federation.
Source: schoenstatt.org.br
