Category Archives: The General Chapter

  From our sister, Gratienne Ndizeye It is with a heart full of gratitude that we come to share with you a quick word about the post-capitular Chapter which took place from October 13 to 20, 2023, at Carrefour Providence in Montreal. The first surprise and novelty was the invitation to all the sisters who wanted and could participate. So, we were 25 sisters and Ms. Mélanie our coordinator. The chapter was led by Sr. Micheline Trembley, a Holy Cross Sister. We were accompanied in prayer by all our sisters who first took part in the preparation through sharing their reflection on the 2023 Capitular Acts. The hall in the house of Cartierville had been arranged to welcome the chapter participants. The Sisters formed small communities of disciples at round tables.   The second surprise was the joy of welcoming freshness from the General  Council who accompanied us throughout the…

Read more

  From Fr. Dave Sullivan M.Afr., spiritual companion at the MSOLA chapter On one of the first days of the chapter I spoke in a homily about my first experience of going to a dance where boys and girls danced together. At that time I had no experience of dancing. The girls that I danced with taught me that in order to dance it is necessary to listen to the rhythm of the music and then to move to that rhythm. This lesson is true not only on dancing but also of all aspects of life. We are to listen to the rhythm that God is playing in our lives and then we are to dance to that tune. During the first days of the MSOLA chapter I had the impression that God was playing a different tune in my life. It was a more “feminine” tune, a tune that…

Read more

  Sharing from Sr. Magdalena Orczykowska The event of the General Chapter was for me an experience of deep listening on all levels, an experience of contemplative listening in which all the voices counted, were heard and welcomed. Myself, as a temporary professed sister, I felt welcomed, loved and free to share, despite my little experience of the life of the Congregation. I recognized the presence of God among us and I was deeply touched by the participants’ openness, availability and docility to the Holy Spirit who thus was allowed to guide us, together, in this transforming journey. It was for me a time in which God helped us to look closely at our weaknesses and vulnerability, but with God’s own eyes that do not condemn but love unconditionally and accept. Far from being discouraged by the wounds we carry as congregation, my love for our religious family increased and was…

Read more

  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…

Read more

  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…

Read more

  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…

Read more

  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…

Read more

  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…

Read more

  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…

Read more

  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…

Read more

10/49