The Superior General of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill (CMM), Fr Michael Maβ, has called on consecrated men and women to be “signs of God’s hope, pilgrims of hope, and signs of reconciliation in today’s world,” highlighting the prophetic witness of consecrated life in a time marked by division and uncertainty.

Fr Maβ CMM is currently in Southern Africa for a canonical visitation of the Mariannhill Province. Speaking to Vatican News during his visit to South Africa, he explained that the visitation offers an opportunity to accompany confreres closely, to encounter them personally, and to listen attentively to their lived experience of mission and apostolate.

“Currently, I am in Mariannhill in South Africa for a canonical visitation of our province here in Mariannhill,” he said. “I am about to visit all our confreres, to meet them personally, to see their places of work, and to hear from them how life, how the mission and the apostolate is going.”

The visit coincided with the Congregation’s principal feast, celebrated on the Day of Consecrated Life, a moment Fr Maβ CMM described as one of deep gratitude and joy. The celebration was marked by the first profession of 23 members and the perpetual profession of four confreres.

“Today, as a congregation, we celebrate our principal feast. It is also the Day of Consecrated Life,” he said. “Here in Mariannhill, we could celebrate today a beautiful celebration with 23 first professions and four confreres who made their perpetual profession. It was really a day of joy for us to receive all these young people into our congregation.”

On the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, during Vespers on 1 February 2026, Fr Maβ CMM also presided over key moments in the life of the Congregation, including the reception of 18 postulants into the 2026 Novitiate, the renewal of vows by fraters, and the installation of new leadership. Fr Roberto Fernando Cossa CMM was installed as Monastery Superior, while Fr Siyabonga Nicholas Mbeje CMM was installed as Provincial Superior.

Reflecting on the significance of the Day of Consecrated Life, Fr Maβ CMM underscored its importance as a time of prayer for vocations and thanksgiving for the witness of religious life.

“The Day of Consecrated Life is a day to pray for good vocations,” he said. “It’s a day to be grateful for all those religious men and women who are dedicating and consecrating their lives to the service of God and to the service of the people of God.”

He stressed that, in today’s context, consecrated life must visibly reflect the joy and hope that flow from the Gospel. “I think in today’s time it’s very important that our life as consecrated persons is really a sign and a witness to the joy of the Gospel,” he said. “Our life must be a prophetic sign of love and mercy, of reconciliation and peace.”

As leader of an international congregation, Fr Maβ CMM also pointed to intercultural community life as a vital sign for the Church and the wider world.

“Especially as we are an international congregation, I think it’s also important that our sign of living in an intercultural community is also a sign for our world and our societies,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where people come from, which language, which culture, which country—we can live together through the Gospel, through following Jesus Christ, and being His witnesses in today’s time.”

Concluding his message, the Superior General extended his greetings and encouragement to consecrated men and women in South Africa and across the world.

“I want to wish all consecrated men and women here in South Africa, but worldwide, a beautiful day, God’s graces and blessings,” he said. “I would like to encourage all of us that we really take it seriously to be signs of God’s hope, pilgrims of hope, and signs of reconciliation in today’s world.”

Fr Michael Maβ CMM is the 11th Superior General of the Missionaries of Mariannhill since the Congregation’s foundation in 1909, following its emergence from the Order of the Reformed Cistercians (Trappists). Born in Landshut, Germany, on 19 May 1980, he was ordained a priest in Würzburg in 2007. He has served the Congregation in various leadership roles, including Provincial Superior of Germany from 2014 to 2016 and Vicar General from 2016 to 2022, before he was elected Superior General.