The Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus elected Idília Maria Carneiro as the new Superior General of the Congregation for the 2024-2030 period, under the XXII General Chapter which has been taking place in Rome since 24 April and will end on 26 May.
“The community of sisters, after a process of discernment, elected me as Superior General. And even with a mixture of feelings inside me, I want to thank you for your prayers, for your friendly presence throughout this time of the Chapter and, above all, for continuing to entrust to God this journey which, as a congregation, as a Hospitaller family, we are making,” she said with emotion as she addressed her first words to the Hospitaller community.
“We continue to count on your prayers so that the hospitality we carry within us will grow and become a word of hope and a gesture of service to all the most fragile people, in particular those suffering from mental illness. Welcome, and we count on you and on your prayer and dedication,” she added.
Sister Idília was born in Mozambique in 1966 and joined the Congregation of the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1984.
She holds a degree in Social Work from the Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences in Lisbon (1988-1993), a Master’s degree in Spirituality and Ethics in Health (1997-2000) and a postgraduate degree in Human Resources Management (2004).
Her hospitaller experience has been in the field of management and accompaniment of the Hospitaller Mission, and in the animation of the Province and Communities of Portugal.
Since 2018, she has served as Vicar Provincial, coordinating the Province’s Centres and the Hospitaller Mission area. She has also served as Superior of the Community of Idanha (2012-2018); Provincial Superior of Portugal (2006-2012); 2nd Provincial Councillor, assuming the animation of the Hospitaller work (2000-2006); and Managing Director of the Bom Jesus Health Centre in Braga (1997-2000).
The new Superior General will succeed Sister Anabela Carneiro, who was elected for two consecutive terms (2012-2018 and 2018-2024). The two are also sisters by blood: Sister Idília is the fourth of five sisters, three of whom are Hospitaller Sisters.
During her two terms at the head of the Congregation, Sister Anabela Carneiro – who has hospitaller experience developed mainly in the field of training – played a fundamental role in the midst of the pandemic. Thanks to the public-private collaboration promoted by the Congregation, more than 6,000 patients were treated globally between 2020 and 2021. Another milestone of the Congregation was the renewal of the Sisters Hospitallers’ Constitutions in November 2022 which updated and promoted the Hospitaller mission around the world.