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Due to the declining health of Miles Jesu’s Founder and first General Director, Very Rev. Alphonsus Maria Duran, MJ, a General Assembly to elect his successor was held in Kyiv, Ukraine. It began on August 28th, the Eastern Rite Feast of the Dormition of Mary, in order to place it under the guidance and protection of the Blessed Mother, and it came to a close on August 31st.
The location for the assembly was chosen because of Father’s great love for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and as a sign of Miles Jesu’s continued commitment to promote unity between East and West in the Church.
At the General Assembly, Fr. Mark Gelis, MJ, was elected General Director. Fr. Gelis was born in Slidell, Louisiana, USA, in 1963. Joining Miles Jesu in 1980, Fr. Gelis was a close collaborator with Father since 1987. He obtained his philosophy and theology degrees at Pontifical Universities in Rome, where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1994 and served as both Father Founder’s personal secretary and as Vicar Director up until the recent election.
Fr. Gelis asks for prayers for the grace to fulfill his duties as the first successor to Miles Jesu’s Father Founder as General Director and for Miles Jesu as it begins this new phase of its history.
Miles Jesu (Latin for Soldier of Jesus) is a form of consecrated life in the Catholic Church for the laity, known as an Ecclesial Family of Consecrated Life, whose purpose is "to instill Catholic ideals and goals in the world to further the Kingdom of Christ, making Him the Center of all human life". The Holy Father himself is consistently promoting such forms of consecrated life as something especially inspired by the Holy Spirit for the needs of our times. Miles Jesu works to promote unity and harmony in the Church by spreading the teachings of the Vicar of Christ.
"You Are Soldiers"
Pope John Paul II called Miles Jesu 'soldiers' ... the front-line soldiers who are essential in bringing the Catholic faith and Christ to the world. Miles Jesu is active in many countries around the globe, bringing Christ to the poor by meeting both their bodily and spiritual needs. We sponsor soup kitchens, boys' and girls' towns, medical missions, vocation discernment retreats, schools, conferences and much, much more.
Please take some time to explore our site, we have much to offer you on your spiritual journey. If you have questions about Miles Jesu or how you can assist one of our ministries, please contact us.
In Corde Matris,
the members of Miles Jesu
Thank you for visiting!
"If, therefore, there is any comfort in Christ, any encouragement from charity, any fellowship in the Spirit, any feelings or mercy, fill up my joy by thinking alike, having the same charity, with one soul and one mind. Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of vain glory, but in humility let each regard the others as his superiors, each one looking not to his own interests, but to those of others. Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:1-16)
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