Seekers of truth, doers of justice

General Leadership

The General Superior and the General Assistants are elected during a General Congregation.

The members of the General Council

Veronica Fuhrmann CJ

General Superior

I was born in Mainz (Germany) in 1961 and joined the Congregatio Jesu in 1981. I worked in different places as a teacher, in nursing and in caring for refugees. As General Secretary, I was able to gain very enriching international experience. Before I was elected Superior General, I worked as a Provincial Assistant in the Middle European Province of the CJ. Throughout my religious life, Mary Ward’s words – “God’s working – beginning, middle and end” – have accompanied me in a special way.

Estela Clara Grignola CJ

Vicar General

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1966. I entered the Novitiate in 1987. I lived the mission in schools and then in the field of spirituality and accompaniment. I lived for four years in Central America in El Salvador and Guatemala. I have shared and carried out theological reflection with abused women. I have been part of the Formation team in charge of the Juniorate and then in Ongoing Formation. I was part of the Provincial Leadership Team of the new Amerindian Province in Latin America. I thank God to be part of this historic time of being one Mary Ward family. Today I feel very strongly the words of Mary Ward: Refer all to God.

Mary Kamotho CJ

General Assistant

I was born in Kiambu (Kenya) in 1975. I joined the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary now Congregation of Jesus in 2002. I worked in different places first as a clinical nurse and later as a nurse educator in Kenya.  I served for a brief period as a member of the Eastern Africa province leadership team. Prior to becoming an Institute consultor, I had the joy of working briefly in Lukulu, Zambia as a nurse educator. Today, as I join the  General leadership team of the merged  Congregation of Jesus, I am inspired by the words of Mary Ward; ‘Do your best, and God will do the rest’ .

Helena Kang CJ

General Assistant

I was born in Seoul (South Korea) in 1966 and became a CJ member in 1990. I have been Provincial Assistant, Postulant mistress in the Korean Province and have taken part in the mission in Mongolia for 4 years. For the past two years, I have had the same jobs as local residents on the outskirts and have also worked with NGOs visiting undocumented immigrants in captivity. As a General Assistant, I believe in God’s time and His will in this era, and I intended to be faithful to my mission with a mission-oriented priority according to the message of the GC.

Geraldine Moktan CJ

General Assistant

Pratima Pinto CJ

General Assistant

I was born in 1961 in Mangalore in the state of Karnataka, India. I entered the novitiate in 1981. I have lived my mission in school and later as Provincial Secretary, Junior and Tertian Directress, Animator of communities and Provincial of the Delhi Province. I am touched and moved by the courage and faith of Mother Mary Ward who said, “we must wait for God Almighty’s time and leisure, for we must follow, not go before him”. It is my firm conviction that God will accompany us as we journey together towards ‘Becoming One’ and taking forward the GC Key Statements.

Annamaria Quinterio CJ

General Assistant

I was born in Merate, in northern Italy, in 1961. I met Mary Ward and the spirituality of the Congregation in 1981. I worked in school as a music teacher and in prison too, I was part of the Raab group that helps prostituted women to regain hope and dignity. I had the joy of living 11 years of my life in Cuba where I experienced a beautiful intercultural community, I am very grateful for this important life experience. I had the joy of walking and accompanying two communities in the north of Italy (Vicenza and Rovereto) and of being part of the Provincial Council of the LEP, the Latin European Province, born from the merger of Romania and Italy. As Assistant General, I make my own the words written on Mary Ward’s tomb: love the poor, persevere in it, live, die and rise again with them!

Františka Sedláková CJ

General Secretary

I was born 1964 in Prešov, Slovakia, I got to know the sisters of the Congregation of Jesus during Communist times and joined them in July 1989. I was captivated by the great love and courageousness of Mary Ward. Since March 2012 I have been working as General Secretary. I do my mission with pleasure and I really enjoy it. Through my service for others I look for and I find God, joy and goodness. I try to do ordinary things with love.
gencj@congjesu.org

M. Anna Schenck CJ

General Bursar

I was born in Augsburg (Germany) in 1976. At university, I did religious studies with a focus on Islam and the relation between religion and politics. Soon after my graduation I discovered my talents in management and economics. So I worked in different posts trying to put those skills at the service of the well-being of others, especially the needy. This is also how I understand my work as a general bursar: as a service to the apostolate of the whole congregation. It was through the Ignatian spirituality that I got in touch with the Congregatio Jesu, today living my vocation in the footsteps of Mary Ward fills me with joy.

Hellen Oluoch CJ

Assistant Bursar

Newsletter of the Generalate

To ensure that all members of the Mary Ward Family are aware of current events at Via Nomentana in Rome, a brief newsletter is published once a month by the Generalate.

Find out more about the Congregatio Jesu

Our Way of Living

Prayer and practical service

Each member is invited to nurture a contemplative heart in the midst of action – to listen deeply, to discern wisely, and to act courageously. We believe that spiritual depth and practical service belong together. We seek to accompany others on their journey toward wholeness and freedom.

Being One

A heritage of courageous love

Since 4 November 2025, the two branches of Mary Ward’s Institute are officially and legally One. IBVM and CJ now shape their future together as Congregatio Jesu.