Maryknoll Society Elects New Leadership

Representatives to the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers 13th General Chapter held at the Maryknoll Mission Center in Ossining, New York, have elected the Maryknoll Society’s new leadership for a term of six years through 2020.

Father Raymond J. Finch, a 38-year missioner who has served throughout Latin America, has been elected Maryknoll Superior General. Father Finch, 66, is from Brooklyn, New York, and the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Joseph M. Everson, III, a 15-year missioner who has served in Latin America, has been elected Maryknoll Vicar General. Father Everson, 52, is from San Francisco, California, and the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Father Russell J. Feldmeier, a 34-year missioner who has served in Korea, was elected a Maryknoll Assistant General. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Father Feldmeier, 69, moved several times with his family and eventually settled in Norristown, Pennsylvania, in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Father Thomas J. O’Brien, a 40-year missioner who has served in the Philippines and Vietnam, also was elected a Maryknoll Assistant General. Father O’Brien, 69, is from The Bronx, New York, and the Archdiocese of New York.

Photo: From left, Father Russell J. Feldmeier, Father Thomas J. O’Brien, Father Raymond J. Finch and Father Joseph M. Everson, III.

The Maryknoll Society’s new general council, which officially assumed office on November 3, will lead the approximately 350 Maryknoll priests and Maryknoll Brothers who currently serve in mission in 26 countries, including the United States.

Every six years, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers convene a General Chapter to establish goals and policy for the future, and to select new leadership. Father Finch, who most recently served as Maryknoll’s assistant regional superior and regional superior in Latin America, was selected to a second term as Maryknoll Superior General. Father Finch first served in that role after the 10th General Chapter of the Maryknoll Society from 1996 to 2002.

“We leave the Maryknoll Chapter with new energy for discovering and making known Christ’s presence and love in Asia, Africa and Latin America,” said Father Finch. “Following the call of Pope Francis, we pledge our efforts to call all to be missionary disciples, especially our brothers and sisters in our home church of the U.S.”

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers follow Jesus in serving the poor and others in need. All Catholics are called to mission through baptism and confirmation, and Maryknoll’s mission education outreach in parishes and schools throughout the country engages U.S. Catholics in mission through vocations, prayer, donations and as volunteers. Maryknoll missioners share God’s love and the Gospel in combating poverty, providing healthcare, building communities and promoting human rights.

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