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…
Day 15 – A marvellous Sunday
On the Sunday after the elections, an outing had been planned for those of us who wanted to visit the small town of Cori and the Ninfa gardens in the Lazio region, south of Rome. The weather forecasted rain but to our surprise, as we waited for the bus, the rain stopped. All along the way, the sky and the mountains were covered with clouds, but as we approached the province of Latina, where Cori is located, the clouds started to dissipate. On the way we saw some small towns on the hilltops. Sr Gisela had prepared maps and directions on what to see in Cori. When we arrived, spontaneous groups formed and we set off in different directions to discover the old town, which already existed 350 years before Christ. Its narrow, medieval streets were decorated with banners, flags and exterior window hangings of the Virgin Mary.…
Day 12 – Women standing upright, helping others to stand upright.
Morning Prayer was centred around being clay in the hands of the master, letting ourselves be moulded and shaped in ways that will enable us to respond to the needs of those to whom He will send us. He has chosen us even though we are broken and vulnerable, so that we pour ourselves out to others as He pours himself into us. How to liberate our positive power We thank the Lord for our experiences during which our inner space is opening up to transformation, for us and for all of humanity. The Holy Spirit with our participation, is shifting our awareness and creating a new narrative in us. If we haven’t experienced or don’t trust our God-given “power within”, we are either afraid of power or we exert too much of it over others. Enduring structures of “power over”, like patriarchy, white supremacy, and rigid capitalism,…
Day 10 – Changing the narrative
The Prayer was centred on “New Wine”, a time to connect to myself, to become aware of what is happening in me. Under difficult situations God makes a new wine, opens new paths of freedom, so that we may walk together in the way of truth and justice. The Co-Facilitators noted with appreciation and affirmed the evident shift that was happening in the here and now. They brought it to the awareness of the Capitulants that along the process the working groups / teams had become communities! Transformation was already happening. Each of the Capitulants was responsible for this shift. We are becoming aware that along the process the working groups have become communities. The work of the day will be centred on Mission and XXX. I take time to see first in me and then in the group/community what is happening in the processes we experience in our…