Communication – 2
January 21-24, 2023
The third day (21.01.23) began with the morning prayer led by Sr M. Paulcy Thelakkaden and Team.
The proceedings of the day began at 8.45 AM. Superior General Sr. Micaela Monetti, the chapter consultant who greeted the chapter delegates, entreated the members to keep in prayers the other circumscriptions and delegation who also began their provincial chapter on the same day. In her presentation on the reality of the congregation, she said that the chapter is an experience that transforms our lives as sisters, as province, and as a congregation. We must not worry about applying regulations or producing new documents, rather we need to focus on the living God who transforms our lives. With the image of four windows, she explained a holistic view of the congregation namely
1) The experience of being a person
2) The experience of being a system
3) The experience of being a context &
4) The experience of being intimately connected to God.
She emphasized the 4th point as the most essential point for our lives and mission.
She said that in the heart of every person there is always a desire for something and so she invited the members to have big desires for the province and the congregation. She repeatedly reminded the chapter delegates that the interconnectedness between persons, context, system, and the experience of the living God is important for harmonious living. All this makes us realize that the living God is with us. She helped us with a question to reflect together in small groups and to bring to the assembly our reflections. She also reminded us not to Spiritualize but to Incarnate.
In the evening session, the moderator invited Sr. Kanikai Mary Issac to present the guidelines for the 10th General Chapter. She in turn explained to the group the dynamics of how to go about choosing the two priorities on which we need to work on during the General chapter. With the time for personal study, the day was concluded.
On the fourth day (22.01.23) the prayer was led by Sr M Gracy D’Souza & team. The minutes of the meeting were presented digitally and were approved by all the chapter members after which the Provincial Superior Sr M. Celine Cunha, presented the Institutional Report of the Indian province from 2017 – 2023. The study of the detailed report took the morning hours.
In the afternoon session, the Provincial Economer Sr. M. Florence lark Vijayaraj presented the Economic Report of the Province to the participants from 2017 – 2022 (March). A detailed presentation of the economic situation of the province was projected, giving emphasis on various sectors, structure, progress, and decline of the economy during covid, etc. chronologically. It was indeed a very systematic presentation appreciated by everyone. The session was concluded with a note of thanks to the Almighty God for his providential care.
On the fifth day (23.01.23) the prayer was animated by Sr Little Flower Mudiappan & team. The day began with the chapter members working in groups to arrive at the two priorities. In the general assembly, we realized that it was indeed the work of the Holy Spirit that united our minds and hearts that all the groups had their priorities selected as
1. Formation
2. Mission, each group expressing their motivation for choosing those priorities.
In the afternoon once again, the Institutional report was taken up for discussion and with some queries for clarification and suggestions for integration the report was voted on and accepted by the members.
The members also clarified their doubts regarding the Economic report and expressed their concerns regarding the decline in the economy with a slight rise in recent times. With the suggestion to qualify more persons for the different areas of our ministry with a deep sense of satisfaction and gratitude to God, the day was closed.
On the sixth day (24.01.23) on the death anniversary of Blessed Timothy Giaccardo the prayer was creatively animated by Sr M. Scholastica Panthaladikal & team highlighting the great self-offering of for the existence of the Pious Disciples in the Church.
The Superior General Sr. Micaela Monetti while guiding the meditation on this significant day, explained to us about the founder’s sense of loss on the death of Timothy Giaccardo and his contribution for the formation of Pious Disciples. He was called Signor Maestro because he was Master in Prayer, Master in apostolate and Master in ordinary life. She also shared her thoughts on the Gospel (Mk 3:31-35) and highlighted the importance of belonging to the family of Jesus by fulfilling the father’s will. She reminded us that Francis de Sales whose memorial is celebrated this day is a patron of the journalist and so as Pauline members we have the duty to pray for the journalist who at times work in a very perilous condition.
At 9.00 am after reading the minutes the chapter members spent the morning till 11.00 am in prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to elect the members for the General Chapter. The voting began at 11.00 am. The members elected are Sr Kanikai Mary Issac, Sr M. Regina Sebastian, and Sr M. Vimala Thottumannil. The afternoon was once again spent in prayer. At 4.00 pm the voting began for electing the substitute members for the general chapter. The substitute elected members are Sr M. Tessy Thekkenvazhakala, Sr M. Shanthi Priya Lewis, and Sr M. Amita Mascarenhas. Thanking the Holy Spirit for his guidance the day was closed.
Sr. Saly Joseph & Sr. Kumudini Toppo
