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Six years have passed since the last General
Chapter and we need to review our life, our
mission, and rethink the present in the light of
the past in order to go into the future under
the guidance of the Spirit. That is why the
Capitulars are here. Now everyone is here and
all is ready.
Monday Sept 1, 2008
At 9:00am Opening of the Chapter.
In a joyful and recollected atmosphere the Sala
Pia is filled with 116 Capitulars coming from 44
nationalities, representing all the continents, and
two sisters invited by the General Council.
We had a beautiful opening ceremony prepared by
the three liturgists:
Sr. Montserrat Simón, Sr.
Malgorzata Ksiazek, and Sr. Caroline Kulandaiswami.
The symbols chosen were placed at the feet of
the Virgin Mary in the Sala Pia, to signify the
different elements of our FMM vocation. Our
life, our work, our prayers have contributed to
the Chapter preparation:
- The Bible- “ that the Word of God
clarify our choices and decisions!”
- A lighted candle- “that Mary, our
Mother be the star that shows us the way!”
- A towel, a ewer, a basin-“
that Francis guide us to true service of the
Gospel!”
During the prayer to the Spirit each of the
General Councilors placed a lighted lamp near
the Virgin Mary.
Now it was time for Sr. Christiane Megarbane,
Spr. Gen. to proclaim the 22nd
general Chapter open. In her opening remarks,
she warmly welcomed everyone: In welcoming you
on the part of the General Council, I want to
tell you how happy we are to meet again this
morning at the commencement of the General
Chapter.
We have numerous questions at this moment: where
do we wish to go and what do we want to live?
How and with whom? The readings of today’s
liturgy, a divine harmony, give us
answers which keep us in trust and hope.
Together we can bring to our minds our reality,
our preoccupations and our hopes, to look ahead
without centering on ourselves exclusively, but
to discover where the Spirit will lead us to
respond to the needs of the Church and the
world…This time of grace that God offers us,
this kairos, invites us to profound changes, and
a transformation.
As far as the Chapter we must discern under the
Spirit what are the signs of new life emerging,
for the Lord wants to do something new with us
and he asks that we recognize it; (cf Is 43, 19)
so we can receive, even now, the newness of his
sending: bring the Good News to the poor,
proclaim release to the captives and recovery of
sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go
free, and announce a year of the Lord’s favor. (cf
Lk 4,18 -19)…”
Sr. Christiane then presented the personnel of
the Chapter , beginning with the moderating
team: Fr. Gilles Bourdeau, ofm- vicar general of
the Order from 1991-1997, and current vicar
provincial of his Canadian province, Sr. Silvana
Gerosa, Sr. Helen Mendoca and Sr. Lydia Umipig.
In collaboration with the General Council, they
prepared the Chapter. Afterward, the editing
team, the Chapter secretary, the text
translators, the simultaneous translators, etc.
After the break, at 10:30 the roll call of the
Chapter members was taken in silence by Sr.
Francoise Pecresse, General Secretary, each
Capitular responding “present” as sign of her
commitment to the important task of the Chapter.
Then Fr. Gilles ofm spoke to us about the spirit
and requirements of a General Chapter.
In the afternoon, Fr Gilles spoke at length
about discernment, and at 5 pm, Fr General
arrived and gave us a beautiful conference on
the kenosis of Christ. He hopes that the
discernment in this Chapter will lead to us to concrete
choices.
Immediately after his talk, Fr General and Fr
Gilles celebrated the solemn opening Eucharist,
which started in the Sala Pia with the Liturgy
of the Word so that all could understand the
Word proclaimed in her own language. We then
processed to the large chapel for the
continuation of the Eucharist.
After the liturgy we went to the main dining
room for a festive and fraternal meal.
PHOTOS
1. The Chapter members at the
Sala Pia during the Opening Ceremony
2. Sr.Alberta Duggimpudi, delegate from the
Province of India-Mumbai and Sr. Mercedes Núñez Sánchez, provincial
of Colombia-Ecuador bring up the towel, ewer and
basin
3. Sr. Ramona Iribar Cortajarena, provincial of
Spain, places the Bible at the feet of the
statue of the Virgin Mary.
4. Sr. Angela Hayashi Setsuko, General Councilor
places a lighted lamp beside the Virgin Mary
5. Sr Christiane Mégarbané, Superior General and
Fr Gilles Bourdeau, ofm
6. Chapter members at the Sala Pia during the
break
7. Sr Christiane Mégarbané, Superior General
delivering her word of welcome
8. Chapter members at the Sala Pia
9. The musical instruments are ready!
10.
Father General
and Fr Gilles celebrated the solemn Opening
Eucharist
11. Five sisters from the 5 continents
bringing up the globe of the world during the
Eucharist
12. A festive and fraternal meal |
