APOSTLES OF JESUS CONVOKES THE 7TH GENERAL CHAPTER
By Rev. Speratus Kamanzi, AJ
Pastor – St. John the Baptist Church – Allentown, Pennsylvania
Superior General Emeritus
The Religious Missionary Institute of the Apostles of Jesus (AJ) is currently preparing its 7th General Chapter that will culminate with the election of their new General Superior General the Councilors. Very Rev. Angelo Bettelli, FdCC, Pontifical Commissary officially convoked the chapter in Nairobi, Kenya on June 29th, 2026 on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles – patrons of the Institute.
Canon Law defines the general chapter of a religious institute as “a sign of its unity” (Canon 631:1). As a symbol of unity, this assembly offers a moment of gratitude to Jesus Christ, who calls the Institute’s members to be with Him and sends them forth to preach to the nations (AJ Constitutions, 1).
As the highest assembly of the Institute, the General Chapter unfolds in several overarching phases.
Phase I: The Preparatory Stage
This phase focuses on planning and broad engagement across all levels of the Institute. It starts with the formation of the chapter preparatory committee. This committee develops a questionnaire that is sent to all members from which the chapter agenda is drawn.
In the spirit of synodality, all members are meeting in their communities, zones, and regions to dialogue and listen to each other. The USA Region, for example, held its Assembly from July 27–31, 2026, at the Malvern Retreat House, Pennsylvania, in which all the members working in the Region participated.
During the gathering, members reviewed the progress of the Chapter’s preparatory stage and had an address from Rev. Dennis S. Mrosso, AJ, one of the senior members of the Institute who is also a member of the 7th General Chapter Preparatory Committee.
In Uganda Region, they are meeting in their communities to discuss three documents: Amendments to the Constitutions, The Ratio Formationis and Guidelines for Administration of Temporal Goods. According to Fr Mark Masaba, AJ. (A member of preparatory committee, the compilation is expected to be done by November 9th, 2026. The merged report will be sent to the preparatory committee thus opening the phase of voting for delegates.
This preparatory stage culminates in the election of delegates; elected exclusively from perpetually professed members. Their duty is to deliberate on the life, charism, mission, and ministry of the Institute. Delegates bring diverse experiences, gifts, and insights to address the needs of both the Institute and the broader Church.
Phase II: The Assembly Phase
This marks the official gathering of delegates representing the entire Institute. The 7th General Chapter will open on February 18, 2027. The opening ceremony will be presided over by Most Rev. Philip A. Anyolo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya, and Moderator of the Institute.
Key tasks during this major assembly will include electing the Superior General and his Council—a process often informally referred to as “a conclave without smoke.”
Phase III: The Implementation Phase
This final stage begins when the Chapter’s major decisions are promulgated to guide the members’ lives and ministry for the next six years and beyond. Reflecting Cardinal Lawrence Shehan’s remark at the close of the Second Vatican Council, “The Council has ended; the Council has just begun” – the Chapter’s conclusion marks the true start of transformation. Guided by the Holy Spirit and in a spirit of synodality, all members under the new leadership discern the signs of the times to implement these decisions, driving the Institute’s growth.
Every religious institute has a unique spiritual gift, known as a charism, for the well-being of the Church and the world. For the Apostles of Jesus, our charism is following Jesus the Good Shepherd. As members listen attentively to the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd, we turn to His Most Sacred Heart through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, entrusting the success of the General Chapter to the intercession of the Institute’s patrons: the Apostles of the Lord, St. Joseph, and the Martyrs of Uganda.
