Today October 17 we FCJ Sisters celebrated the formal opening of our General Chapter. The twenty-eight Chapter members gathered in the garden of Franciscan Centre Ladywell to process into the Chapter room for a prayer ritual, made even more meaningful by a graceful and joy-filled liturgical dance, and words of welcome by Sr. Bonnie Moser fcJ, General Superior.
In small groups capitulars shared their hopes for the Chapter, and how they want to ‘be together’ in the process.
Heartfelt thanks were expressed to the Chapter Planning Committee who attended the meeting via zoom. The Planning Committee work started over a year ago. It included the helpful society-wide process leading to the identification of the ‘matters of great importance’ to be discussed.
A Steering Committee of three was elected to work with our facilitator, Sr. Piluca Benavente Serrano, a member of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. Sr Piluca is on the staff of Faith and Praxis for Global Leadership, an organisation founded in Rome by Sr Christine Anderson fcJ to support religious organisations in leadership training and transformation. Sr Piluca and the Steering Committee will lead the Chapter process.
The rest of the morning passed quickly with reminders of the norms to be observed during the Chapter, approval of the agenda, and other business details… e.g. NO cellphones allowed!! And confidentiality will be respected.
Capitulars then had quiet time to review the Report from the General Superior to the General Chapter for the rest of the morning, keeping in mind some reflection questions given by Sr. Piluca.
In the afternoon, they considered certain aspects of the Report. The session began with a moving reflection on the meeting of Jesus with the Samaritan woman (John 4:4–42), as an image of how an encounter with Jesus leads to a shift in consciousness. Photos of each FCJ Sister who has died since the last Chapter in 2019, echoed the truth underlined by Jesus’ treatment of the Samaritan woman … that every person matters!
Sr. Brid’s vote of thanks to Bonnie and the Councillors gave voice to everyone’s deep gratitude for their creative and loving leadership during these past six years.
Participants concluded with a sharing of some of the insights received during the session.
Such was the first day, and it was GOOD!
Find out more about what a General Chapter is or the preparations for our FCJ General Chapter. Follow the Chapter news on the News of our General Chapter page.
