A Shepherd with a Missionary Heart: Fr. Chicho

Fr. Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, OMI, known warmly as Fr. Chicho, assumed the role of Superior General of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in October 2022, bringing with him a wealth of administrative and missionary experience. As the 14th Superior General, he leads the global congregation with a vision rooted in compassion, justice, and the charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Missionary Oblates. His leadership is marked by a deep commitment to the poor and marginalized, the center of the Oblate charism and mission. Fr. Chicho’s role involves not only spiritual guidance and administrative oversight of the congregation but also inspiring and animating Oblates worldwide to live out their missionary calling with renewed zeal.

Rooted in Spain, Formed by Mission

Born in Madrid in 1963, Fr. Chicho entered the Oblates in 1982 and was ordained a priest in 1988. His early ministry in Spain included roles as vocation director, superior of the scholasticate, and eventually provincial of the Spanish Province. These formative years shaped his leadership skills rooted in pastoral formation within the Oblates. This period gave him the ability to understand people in their spiritual and personal journeys with God while fostering a sense of connection with the local and global Oblate communities. This would greatly serve him in his role as general councilor under Fr. Wilhelm Steckling, OMI, Superior General, from 1998-2010 in Rome.

A Missionary in the Margins: Western Sahara

From 2017 to 2022, Fr. Chicho served in the challenging mission of Western Sahara, Africa, a predominantly Muslim region marked by political tension and religious minority status. There, he embodied the Oblate spirit of presence and dialogue, building bridges of understanding and compassion. His ministry was not about conversion but about accompaniment—offering a Christian witness through solidarity, service, and interfaith respect. Fr. Chicho said, “the local Muslim community knew the Oblate presence because of our love, respect and engagement with them.” His time in the Sahara deepened his appreciation for the quiet power of faithful presence in places where the Church is small but vital. In 2022, when elected as Superior General, Fr. Chicho was affectionately sent off by the Muslim community while saying, “One of us has been called to the center of the Church in Rome.”

Leading with Vision and Humility

Now based in Rome, Fr. Chicho brings the lessons Europe and Western Sahara to his global leadership. His approach as Superior General is pastoral and inclusive, encouraging Oblates to be close to the people they serve and to remain faithful to their missionary identity. He emphasizes prayer, discernment, and community as the pillars of Oblate life. Under his guidance, the congregation continues to respond to the cries of the poor and the needs of the Church in diverse contexts—from urban centers to remote villages—always with the heart of a missionary.

Now Is the Time to Act

Will you help us carry the Mission of Missionary Oblates to where we are called? Your support is not simply a donation—it’s a lifeline to love, respect and dialogue. We are called into relationship with God, and our response is vital to the well-being of the world. You may never meet those you help, but their lives will forever be changed by your kindness and support..

Father Chicho’s life of service is a witness to the power of faith in action. Will you join him? Will you be the answer to someone’s prayer today?