Fr. Emile Mayoraz

   Superior General of the Fransalians (1977-2001)

Very Rev. Fr. Emile Mayoraz has been the Superior General of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales consecutively for four terms of six years each. The General Chapter of 1977 elected him as the Superior General to succeed Fr. Duval. The three succeeding General Chapters also placed confidence in him and entrusted the Congregation to his wise direction.

Fr. Emile Mayoraz was born on 1st March 1928 at Heremance in Valais (Switzerland). After his studies at the Juvenate of Bonlieu and at the college of St. Michel in Fribourg he made his first profession on 19th September 1947. He did his theology at the University of Fribourg and was ordained a priest on 6th January 1953. Later he obtained a licentiate in Canon Law from the Gregorian University in Rome.

During the past 48 years he has rendered his services to the Congregation as well as to the Church at large in various capacities. He was the rector of the Scholasticate and Superior of Bonlieu from 1961. Later he became a Councillor of the Franco-Swiss Region. In 1966 when the Region became a province, he was appointed as its first provincial.  During his 4th mandate as the provincial, he was elected as the 12th Superior General of the Congregation and is completing his 24th year in that capacity.

At one time or other, he has also been the defender of the marriage bond in the diocesan chancery member of the diocesan Synod and of the Priests’ Council in the diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg and President of the union of major superiors of the French speaking part of Switzerland.

During his term of office as its Superior General, the Congregation has experienced phenomenal growth in various fields.  Today   it has nine provinces out of which five are in India. The major asset of any Congregation is its members and one of the major concerns of the congregation during the past quarter of a century has been the growth of its members both in numbers as well as in quality.  The number of formation houses opened and the importance given to the field of formation is a sure sign of the growth in the right direction.

Yet another major development in the recent years has been the planting and expansion of the congregation in the African soil.  Confreres are present as on today in less than 8 countries of Africa.  A novitiate house in Tanzania is already having the first African candidates preparing for the First Profession.  Present indications reveal that the presence of the MSFS in Africa is bound to grow and spread in a big way.

Fransalian International,  Vol. 3  May 2001

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