About Us
Secular Institute of Schoenstatt Fathers
Our community is an Institute of Pontifical Right, recognized by the Holy See and under the responsibility of the Holy Father.
Visit the worldwide Schoenstatt Fathers website: schoenstatt-fathers.org
Our community is an Institute of Pontifical Right, in other words, we are recognized by the Holy See and under the responsibility of the Holy Father (as opposed to a certain bishop or diocese). The priests and deacons of our community are incardinated into the Institute, and their responsibilities are stipulated by their community superiors. That being said, we have made agreements with bishops to work in parishes in many of the dioceses where we are present, and any assignment in a diocesan parish ultimately depends on the decision of the bishop of that diocese.
The members of our community live in community houses (filial houses) where we cultivate a family spirit and aspire to live the Ideal of Zion. There are also externs, members that do not live in a community house for apostolic reasons; nonetheless these members belong to the nearest house community and share life with them regularly.
General Council 2022 – 2028
The General Council of our community lives and works in the “Father House”, our headquarters located at the place of foundation of Schoenstatt near Koblenz, Germany.
General Superior
Father Alexandre Awi Mello
General Superior
Father Alexandre Awi Mello
Following the will of the Founder, our Institute strives for a prominent family character. We want to be not only a community of work, but also a community of life and a community of hearts. We have experienced and we know the Founder as a fatherly figure, and our superiors strive to embody Father Kentenich especially in this aspect of his personality.
The current General Superior is Father Alexandre Awi Mello, from Brazil. He has been General Superior since 2022.
The General Superior is elected for a period of 6 years. The election takes place at the General Chapter.
Following the will of the Founder, our Institute strives for a prominent family character. We want to be not only a community of work, but also a community of life and a community of hearts. We have experienced and we know the Founder as a fatherly figure, and our superiors strive to embody Father Kentenich especially in this aspect of his personality.
The current General Superior is Father Alexandre Awi Mello, from Brazil. He has been General Superior since 2022.
The General Superior is elected for a period of 6 years. The election takes place at the General Chapter.
General Council Members
General Councillors
General Council Members
General Councillors
The other members or advisers of the General Council assist and advise the General Superior in his many responsibilities. They are also elected by the fathers reunited at the General Chapter. It is an important criteria for the election the desire that all of the cultures and life currents of our community be represented by the members of the Council. The council members take on responsibilities according to their areas of competence and also by continents. By our Constitution they have voting rights in many decisions.
- Father Ignacio Camacho, from Chile — First Councillor
- Father Francisco da Cruz Sobral, from Portugal — Assistant of the Free Communities
- Father Joy Puthussery, from India — Formation Incharge
- Father Arkadiusz Sosna, from Poland
The other members or advisers of the General Council assist and advise the General Superior in his many responsibilities. They are also elected by the fathers reunited at the General Chapter. It is an important criteria for the election the desire that all of the cultures and life currents of our community be represented by the members of the Council. The council members take on responsibilities according to their areas of competence and also by continents. By our Constitution they have voting rights in many decisions.
- Father Ignacio Camacho, from Chile — First Councillor
- Father Francisco da Cruz Sobral, from Portugal — Assistant of the Free Communities
- Father Joy Puthussery, from India — Formation Incharge
- Father Arkadiusz Sosna, from Poland
Other Fathers with Special Responsibilities
General Bursar
Father Pablo Javier Pol
(Argentina)
The General Bursar assists directly the General Council in relation with all economic and financial matters. Since 2019 he is also rector of the Original Shrine.
General Secretary
Father Raúl Espina
(Chile)
The General Secretary helps the work of the General Council and is responsible for electronica and paper correspondence, for the flow of information of the Institute, and also for the General Archive.
Leadership
Providence Provincial Council
Following the vision of our Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, the Providence Province strives to foster a vibrant family spirit rooted in faith, unity, and apostolic zeal — a community of life and hearts, inspired by the Covenant of Love.
Fr. Paul Panamkulam ISch
Social Activities
Fr. Paul Panamkulam ISch is our Provincial Superior. He was appointed for a second term of office on the Feast of Immaculate Conception, on 08th December 2025. He further takes care of the social activities of the Province.
Fr. Sherin Kannappilly ISch
Formation of Members
Fr. Sherin Kannappilly ISch is the First Councillor (Asst. Provincial Superior). He is, at the same time, Secretary to the Province Council and looks after the Formation of Members.
Fr. Babu Kalathingal ISch
Educational Apostolate
Fr. Babu Kalathingal ISch is Councillor. His concentration is on the Educational Apostolate of the Province.
Fr. Thejus Peedikathundiyil ISch
Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement
Fr. Thejus Peedikathundiyil ISch is Councillor. He coordinates the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement.
Fr. Xavier Manickathan ISch
Finance
Fr. Xavier Manickathan ISch is Councillor and focuses on Finance of the Province.
Provinces, Regions and Delegations
The worldwide community is organized in seven provinces and regions, with their respective delegations in further countries:
South Asian Province
(India)
- Providence Province — Kerala
- MTA Province — Tamil Nadu
Pentecost Province
(Chile)
- Delegations in: Mexico, United States, Spain and Portugal
- Foundation in: Ecuador
Father Region
(Argentina)
- Delegation in: Paraguay and Nigeria
- Foundations in: Italy
Christ Region
(Brazil)
- Delegation SPA: Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (depending directly from the general council)
European Province
(Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Great Britain and Czech Republic)