Declan Marmion wrote:

"Our General Chapter was held in Nemi, Italy between 16th September to 5th October 2025, with 36 Marist delegates from around the world. During these weeks delegates have been receiving and discussing reports on governance, formation, community life for mission, marist mission today, lay partners and legislation. Revised versions of these documents will no doubt form part of the final declarations of the Chapter. All this has taken place in a synodal atmosphere of prayer and listening. Mary in the Upper room with the disciples has been our guiding motif. An hour of communal adoration early each morning and a sharing on the Gospel of the day have been an integral part of the Chapter process.

The SVD Centre here in Nemi has proved an excellent venue beautifully located in a secluded spot above lake Nemi. Throughout we have been tremendously assisted by the General Secretariat and translators - some of whom are our multilingual seminarians and who have also provided the music for the Eucharist each day. This week six Marist students from our international theologate at Casa di Maria will take their final vows at a mass here in Nemi in the presence of the Chapter delegates - another sign of hope for the future. Despite our different backgrounds, cultures and languages a truly open and fraternal atmosphere has reigned throughout. Let's hope the decisions of this Chapter will bear fruit in the years ahead as we continue to build a new Church with a Marian face."

FR DECLAN MARMION WAS ELECTED AS THE 15TH SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE SOCIETY OF MARY

Declan Marmion was born in 1961 in Ireland. He was a student at C.U.S. in Dublin and joined the Marists in 1981. He has been most recently the Vicar Provincial of Europe and also the National Administrator of the Marists in Ireland. He has done his studies in several European countries and has been primarily engaged at third level theological education, research, and academic administration, most recently at the Pontifical University of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he served as Dean of the Faculty of Theology.

In his first words to the gathered capitulants, he emphasised the importance of the Society’s mission today as articulated in the approved Chapter documents as well as the need for fraternal collaboration, communion and the implementation of the orientations and decisions of the Chapter.