A transformative service
From Sister Anafrida Biro, of our Gumo Community in Ghana When I think of our 26th Chapter, I feel very grateful for the experience lived. The Lord surprised me like the servants of the last hour. I did not expect to attend the Chapter. But one day I was asked to come and assure the service of translation (French to English). Fraterna Domus where we had our meeting, was a very conducive place for the work of the Chapter favouring one’s full presence. Simplicity seemed to be key: A simple convocation of the Holy Spirit, simplicity of our facilitators, our spiritual companion, a Marist brother who guided us in a recollection, Carol’s apostolic witness… I quickly noticed how God uses the simple ones to do great things! The language mostly used was English, so there were moments when I – from my place – could enter into reflections or…
The story of the bird
From Sr. Càrol Garcia Murillo, Spain I still remember when a few months ago, Sr. Carmen Sammut invited me to participate in our General Chapter. I couldn’t believe what this offered to me and, at the same time, I was invaded by a big emotion. It was not easy to negotiate with the doctor to be able to spend three weeks in Rome, but I managed no less than eight days! Although I would have preferred it to be more, I was happy and very grateful. Many of you were able to see it. However, I’ll be honest with you: due to my physical fragility, I don’t think I would have been able to stay in Sacrofano for three full weeks, following your intense and fruitful pace of work, which I undoubtedly admired. The days before my departure I felt great uncertainty, fear of the unknown, excitement for…
Impressions from the General Chapter 2023
From Sr. Margret Tovar, in Trier in Germany On April 29, I arrived in Rome knowing that I would be the oldest delegate at the General Chapter. I felt hesitation, a little fear and a certain insecurity. From the beginning, I tried to remember the names of my younger sisters, unfortunately without much success. At the opening of the Chapter, each was invited to a commitment, and mine was to listen with all my being, all my intelligence, all my heart. I experienced day by day a transformation in myself and in all of us through respect and true and deep sharing. The times of silence, the fact of letting emotions come and appear without embarrassment, helped us to go further and to experience this transformation. Working and sharing in a group favored this journey as well as the prayers and Eucharists so well prepared. “At my age”, I am…
How we experienced union with the capitulants at the General Chapter
By our sister Birgitta Gremm in Nairobi, Kenya During our 26th General Chapter we lived in deep union with our sisters gathered at Sacrofano. This deeply lived union had begun already with the Convocation Letter, written on 2nd January 2023: “It is with a grateful heart that we call on each sister and each community to continue the road, which leads to our next General Chapter.” And it was with a grateful heart from our side having received this invitation and we answered it with gratitude and joy. Our union continued to be strengthened during our sharing about the questions asked in the Convocation Letter and in the sharing among the sisters of ECA Entity. The day came 28th of April, our first two sisters were ready to go to the airport and we waited for the other two sisters to leave later. When the suitcases had been loaded…
Days 20 and 21 – Transformed people transform other people
On the 20th day of the chapter the prayer was centred on listening to the source within us that tells us to love, a living water that becomes a river that takes us to the ocean… to a land that awaits to become the temple of a God who makes himself present. A presentation of Masaru Emoto on Crystals of water showed us how everything we do and think, even the words and the manner in which they are spoken, influence those around us and the milieu…. This affirms the importance of living a deep spirituality and having loving attitudes, to generate positive energy. I can be love or destruction, the choice is mine! If a “thank you” changes a molecule of water, imagine what prayer, love, brotherhood, courage, and friendship can do around us and in the world. I have the power to change the situation. “It all…
Day 19 – Bringing to Birth…
The morning prayer asked: What shall we bring to birth in the new creation, in our communities, in the MSOLA family, in our partners. The response expressed the desire to carry: a new culture of collaboration, a safe space for sharing our views and opinions, our contribution to the African world, a caring and benevolent attitude, unconditional acceptance of each person. The list was quite long with the attitudes lived during the chapter. We prayed to the Risen Lord, sure that He will accompany us along the way and give us the strength to realise our dreams, wherever we go. Everyone is busy preparing the final documents. This makes us sense the end of the chapter and the beginning of new life in our communities, in our congregation and in all creation. Today we looked at the journey made during this chapter and where the Spirit has…
Day 18 – The Journey Done
During the morning check-in we were reminded again of the phrase of Mahatma Gandhi “Be the change you want to see in the world” and we add “in the community and in the MSOLA.” This time and the atmosphere of trust created in the chapter-community have allowed us to deal without fear with issues coming from deep levels, dreams, but also important and difficult issues, in an atmosphere of intense listening. All through this chapter we have gone through a deep experience of transformation. The experience lived here tells us that we can create an environment where truth can emerge, be listened to without judgment and be healed. We have seen that repressed anger is a big issue that does not allow life to circulate, and we need to deal with it, as we all carry wounds, and we all need to be healed. Then we will become…
Day 17 – Honouring deep democracy
The morning prayer was centred on the fact that Earth, filled with God’s family (all people and all creation and the richness of our diversity) belongs to all. We are all connected to the earth and to one another, all wounded but participating in God’s healing creation, all connected to one another with respect, humility, patience, open mindedness, and the spirit of forgiveness we have received in Christ Jesus. Each one is worthy of being respected and cared for. We commit ourselves to work together, to build God’s kingdom here today: equality, sharing, compassion, reconciliation will be our way, so that this world may become a place where all people live in justice, freedom and peace. Through what we have lived these days we are becoming aware that we are like a tapestry welcoming our differences and showing our similarities. . The daily morning “checking in”, as a…
Our new General Council
The new General Council: Sr Angela Nemilaki Kapitingana, Tanzania (Superior General) Sr Jeanne d’Arc Ouattara, Burkin Faso (Assistant General) Sr Leticia Garduño, Mexico(Assistant General) Sr Małgorzata (Gosia) Popławka, Poland(Assistant General) Sr. Angela Kapitingana, new MSOLA Superior GeneralSr. Angela Nemilaki Kapitingana (Superior General) I was born on 5th January 1969, of Tanzanian nationality. I started my religious formation with the MSOLA in Mwanga –Singida (Tanzania) in 1991. I joined the postulate in Arusha in 1992-1993. I had two years of apostolic experience in Mufulira (Zambia); then I joined the novitiate in 1996. I made my first profession in Arusha on 25th March 1998 and my final vows on 25th September 2005 in Arusha. I have lived my mission in Mufulira (Zambia), in Kisubi (Uganda) and then in Arusha (Tanzania) as formator at the postulate. Then I was sent to South B, in Nairobi (Kenya), to Kigali (Rwanda), and to…
Day 16 – Dealing with the past and moving forward
The present moment of the chapter is seen as new life but, like it happens in the seed, the splitting of the seed-shell is painful. We all carry this new life within us, but also the pain of letting go. We need a lot of compassion and patience in our hearts, feeling responsible for one another as we live this painful moment with compassion and respect. Each one of us is responsible for the new MSOLA plant that is developing. As in the Ninfa Garden we visited yesterday, where something new has been built on the ruins of the past, in the MSOLA congregation too, each generation is adding something to the present garden. Today, we need to add our newness to the congregation. The difficulty we had with the technology at the beginning of the prayer showed us that even if things have been well prepared, any…