On Thursday 29th September 2022, during the 37th General Chapter, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate elected Fr. Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, O.M.I. as its 14th Superior General for a term of six years.
Fr Luis, commonly known as Chicho, was not present at the Chapter, as he has been serving in the Oblate mission in the Western Sahara.
Fr Chicho was was born on 4 December 1963 in Madrid, Spain. He professed his first religious vows as a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate on 19th September 1982, and received priestly ordination on 21st May 1988. Within the Oblate congregation, he has held the following roles:
Vocation director for the Province of Spain (1988-1992)
Superior of the Scholasticate in Pozuelo, Spain (1996-1999)
Provincial of the Province of Spain (2000-2004)
General Councilor for Europe (2004-2016).
From 2017 he has been serving in the Western Sahara Mission of the Mediterranean Province.
Upon arrival to Rome, the outgoing Superior General, Fr Louis Lougen, presented the Founder’s cross to Fr Chicho as a sign of him taking up this important office. Fr Chicho then proclaimed a profession of faith and oath of fidelity to the Church, before kneeling and washing the feet of three Oblate representatives, showing how he will follow the model of servant leadership set down by Christ himself.
Please pray for Fr Chicho as he begins to lead our congregation.
