C O N G R E G AT I O N O F T H E M I S S I O N GENERAL CURIA

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e-mail: cmcuria@cmglobal.org

Rome, 24 January 25, 2014

To Visitors and Vice-Visitors of the Congregation: Dear Confreres: After my recent letter informing you of the resignation of Fr. Patrick Griffin, C.M., due to health concerns that no longer allow him to carry out his ministry as Director General of the Daughters of Charity, I asked for your prayers. Having considered the suggestions received, and with the consent of the General Council, I have appointed Fr. Bernard Schoepfer, C.M., as new Director General of the Daughters of Charity. He will serve in this position for a three- year term. Fr. Bernard was born in Bale, Switzerland and grew up in the Alsace region in eastern France. A member of the Paris Province, he was admitted into the Congregation in 1984 and ordained in 1989. In his quarter century of ministry, Fr. Bernard has engaged in pastoral work in rural areas; accompaniment for candidates in seminary formation for the Congregation; chaplain to the shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, spiritual advisor to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a provincial council member for the Province of Paris. Currently, Fr. Bernard serves as Superior at the Maison-Mere in Paris, and the national chaplain to the AIC in France. I thank Fr. Bernard for his willingness to serve, and I assured him of our prayers and fraternal support in his new ministry. I express my deep gratitude to Fr. Patrick Griffin for his tireless devotion to duty as Director General these past three years. We pray the Lord grant him good health, so that he may continue for many years to serve the Lord with gladness. (Ps. 100:2) Let us entrust Fr. Bernards mandate to our Blessed Mother, because as St. Vincent told us, When the Mother of God has been invoked and taken as patroness of important matters, everything can only go well and accrue to the glory of Jesus, her Son. (SV: XIII b, p.3) Your brother in Christ,

G. Gregory Gay, CM Superior General