Biography
Father Richard Hanley was elected Superior General of the Congregation, on May 9, 1972 for a term of six years, the first Superior General to be elected for a term. He succeeded Father Leo Deschâtelets. Born in Jamaica, in the diocese of Brooklyn, USA, February 22, 1931, he studied at the International Scholasticate in Rome, and was ordained a priest in Roviano, Italy, July 13, 1958. While a professor at the scholasticate in Washington, DC, in June 1969 he was appointed provincial of the Western Province of the United States, an office he held until he was elected Superior General. He put his dedication, sincerity, ease of contact and encouragement at the service of the Congregation. He exercised his office in keeping with the directives recommended by the General Chapter that elected him. “One of the traits of his two years as General was the almost superhuman feat of personal contact with the 6500 Oblates of the Congregation spread in 46 countries of the world.” He resigned for personal reasons in June 1974.
