Mother Marelis succeeds Mother Ligia R. Díaz, who had earlier held the post for twelve years (1984- 1996) and then for another six (2002-2008). The chapter started on 21 August with the theme “Identity of the Congregation”. Chapter assessor was the Augustinian Recollect friar Ricardo Riaño, Vicar Provincial of Saint Joseph Province in Venezuela. On 29 August, as is the practice in the Congregation, the new general council was elected. Its members are Sisters Aurora Colmenares (Vicar General), Rosania Gualdrón, Éukare Josefina Moreno and Martha Lucía Rojas.
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Augustinian Recollect family
The Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of the Heart of Jesus was founded in Maracay, Venezuela, by Monsignor Justo Vicente López (1863-1917) called the “apostle of charity”, and the Blessed María de San José (1875-1967), the first Venezuelan blessed. The Mother Foundress used to tell her religious: “those rejected by everyone, those whom no one wants to accept, they are ours”. The spirituality of the Congregation is founded on evangelical charity and Eucharistic life, with all that means in relation to God, to neighbor, and to the mission. The Augustinian Recollect Sisters of the Heart of Jesus form part of the Augustinian Recollect Family.