Monday 28th June

We dedicate the whole morning to the voting of texts which will constitute a part of the Acts of the Chapter. These will be entrusted to every sister in the various Provinces, Regions and Delegation.
The message on behalf of the Superior general announces the end of the Chapter and the beginning of a new stage.  
On the following days each one of us will go back home, responsible to carry the chapter message…    

Are we capable to transmit with readiness and joy which characterised the Samaritan woman after her encounter with Jesus? 

PRAYER

Sunday 27th June

We dedicate the day to the re-reading of the texts which we will definitely vote the following day. 
We listen to the news of Central Africa, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Indonesia.  

Saturday 26th June
fest of the Blessed Nemesia

We start the day with a solemn mass animated by the novices. During the offering of Bread and Wine, the Vietnamese sisters carry out a truly beautiful dance. 
During the assembly we welcome some indications to launch the post-chapter stage.
In the group, we resume the reflection concerning:

• the booklet of the  ACTS OF THE CHAPTER 2010 (modality and contents).
• the document : "Sisters of Charity in Europe"
• the decisions relative to the composition of the next General chapter.

Friday 25th June

Father Gino’s introduction focuses our attention on the importance of the global objective: "in order to assimilate it, a personal transformation is necessary...  now it’s the time to be oriented in a decisive manner towards the mission’s primacy with a new apostolic maturity”.
Therefore, as Congregation, we are called to experience the Word’s power which will transform our mentalities, our lifestyle... now it’s the time to enter in a new spiritual dynamism.
The presentation of the document, "the Congregation in Europe", prepared by the European Provincial superiors, and the exchange in groups and in assembly, enabled the delegates to reflect on the situation in Europe. Suggestions were offered in view of rediscovering the Charism for the benefit of the whole Congregation.
We conclude the day with a spontaneous prayer during which we recite and sing the « Our Father » in the 17 languages spoken by the delegates.  This is also a sign of the diversity and richness of our assembly.

Thursday 24th June

Memorial of the birth of St. John the Baptist! The Chapter celebrates the birth of the General council for the next 5 years.

sr Mary Stephanos Councillor

sr Monica Binda Councillor

sr Nunzia De Gori Superior General

sr Silvia Dattrino Councillor

sr Christine Walzach Councillor

We enter together with them in a new phase of the Congregation’s history. Together, we can “contribute to sowing the seeds of a moderate, supportive and fraternal humanity” (cf. Global objective).
After lunch we resume our work to reflect on the post-chapter journey. First in groups and then in assembly we make suggestions which respond to this question:  "What should we do – and how – so that our sisters/communities live a  “micro chapter” by managing to enter a new “spiritual dynamism”?

Sunday 20th June

With the Eucharist animated by the sisters of India and of Indonesia we could appreciate the beauty of Asia. The songs in Tamil, Malayalam…. The music and the Indonesian dance at the offertory … gave solemnity to our Sunday prayer.
At lunch before entering the time of discernment at 16.00 p.m. the Chapter Assembly celebrated the feast day of Mother General.
With a bouquet of white roses, offered by the youngest of the Chapter sisters, Sr Noha - Provincial of Middle East – presents to Mother General the wishes of the whole assembly:

Dear Mother Maria Luisa !
At the vigil of your feast day, on the behalf of the General Chapter, I wish to « recall to memory » the many years you spent offering yourself for the service of the Institute that you love so much and that loves you as well!
Therefore, Mother, let me address you through God our “best wishes for a happy feast” and … “our Thanksgiving »!
We wish to thank God … to have sent you on our way, and to let us live in time moments which seem to be eternal!
May the Christ himself… begin a completely new time in the story  of love … which is the offering of your life … and that of all the sisters!
With all my affection, with as much love as you have for us … may we in our turn give honour to the excellent spiritual inspiration we received from you !
"Happy feast" Mother and "Best Wishes"

At 16.00 p.m. the Assembly prays the " Veni creator" and takes time to dwell with the question: "Lord, show us whom you have chosen for us" (cf. TEXTS : 1st part – Sunday - and 2nd part: Monday morning)

Saturday 19th June

We are now working to define the global objective and the ensuing needs.

Friday 18th June

Mother General answers the assembly questions in relation to chapter 7 of the Rule of Life. Clarifications and explanations follow... without mentioning the feeling of satisfaction and gratitude present in our heart as she read it: a new concept of authority is presented in an attractive style. We give you the joy of reading it directly...
In the afternoon, after a short and spontaneous communication of our spiritual experience in contact with the new chapter of the rule of Life, Father Gino invited the sisters-guests to express their opinions.

It was a moment of strong feelings of gratitude, discoveries, prayer and wishes. We entrust you some of the expressions:

After our day off, the global object is presented to us in its new version. We held an assembly to listen to the various reactions.   
Later in groups we determine the two or three needs which according to us seem necessary to reach the global objective.   
We recite the Vespers in the groups. 

Thursday 17th June

We have now reached the phase concerning Chapter 7 of the Rule of Life. Father Gino, the chapter’s facilitator, introduces us to it across a short biblical commentary: THE NEW CHAPTER OF THE RULE OF LIFE LE « so that the sisters of Charity dedicate themselves to the service of Charity » (read THE TEXT).  
Mother General presents to us the entire text. Starting from the beginning of the text’s elaboration she highlights the new articles while explaining the reason of certain changes or additions in relation to the actual text. She points out that the entire text has been read and approved by experts in Canon law. However, the Chapter welcomes it as an experimental text during the upcoming 5 years.

Wednesday 16th June  

THANKS ON BEHALF OF THE CHAPTER DELEGATES   

"We warmly thank the friends: lay and sisters together with the communities who wrote to us across the website.
Thank you for your interest in the work in progress over here.    

Tuesday 15th June

After celebrating the prayer of Lauds and the Eucharist, the Chapter sisters gather in assembly: “May it be done to us according to your Word” (cf. TEXT).

The Chapter reaches its central point: we need to walk towards the Objective for the next five years … in the Light of the Word, of the objective of 2005 and of the reflections made in the last two weeks, which are synthesized in the following text: EVALUATION OF THE FIVE YEARS 2005-2010 p. 1-3 and ENLIGHTENING STAGE p.4-7.

A question for you, sister, community or lay friend:
Starting from your personal reading of the text and your personal reflection, would you like to tell us an essential  suggestion  you consider important for the journey of the Congregation, in the next five years?
e-mail address: capitolo.sdc@hotmail.it

Sunday, 13th June

A morning of reflection on the lifestyle of the Sisters of Charity for the future … in the groups and in the assembly.
Our lay Friends depart after lunch.  Together with them, our stop at Sychar acquired something new and it opens for us a new prospective.

OF THE FRIENDS OF ST JEANNE ANTIDE
We felt totally accepted in the family of the Sisters of Charity.
We appreciated working in groups together with the Sisters.
We felt humbled and overwhelmed that the Sisters were willing to share their experience of being in community. We also appreciated the collective reflection and search for a more profound and vivid interior life.
Like us lay persons, the Congregation is intensely engaged indeveloping a transformative spirituality, grounded in the Bible, especially John’s mystical Gospel, and the spirituality of St Jeanne Antide.
As an international group, we worked very well together. We walked the Sisters’ walk, We walked around Rome. We had fun, related well and got to know each other well. We are now more committed to develop this connection we have so that our groups of Friends grow and flourish.
We understand what it really means to celebrate a General Chapter. We feel personally and collectively enriched and affirm that the process of this Chapter is an on-going prayer. Being in prayer helped us discern our movement forward.
We fully agree with the direction of the Chapter and want to be part of it.
We thank Don Gino for his deep and stimulating reflections, for the new interpretations and for provoking us to develop a new mentality new perspective for the life and action.

Saturday, 12th June

We thank Mr Dominique, who came from Besançon for the simultaneous translation from French to English and vice versa, who leaves today.  His presence was discreet and very helpful.  Since he is a permanent deacon, he also gave the homily in today’s Eucharistic Celebration.  With his consent, we publish the message that he gave us and we thank him once again with all our heart. 

On this Chapter journey we are always at the well … as we share in the group, we ask ourselves:

• What is the condition that will help us make a new experience of God?
• What decision to take so that the new generations – young sisters, sons and daughters of the laity – are led towards new models of spirituality … to become carriers of life?

In assembly we are enriched by the reciprocal listening.  The fruit of our reflection is entrusted to the editing commission.

After lunch we are again invited to meditate on the mountain, at the well of Jacob , close to the Lord.

We revisit some biblical texts that recall the theme of water: “the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” (Jn 4:14).

This personal meditation is followed by an hour and a half of spiritual sharing: a prayer, a hymn, a deep reflection … all that the Holy Spirit, our Inner Master, has aroused in our heart. 

Friday, 11th June

“Since yesterday the Chapter is at Sychar … sisters and laity, let us stay longer close to the Source … to dialogue with Jesus … on the models of spirituality … on the spiritual journey to be taken so that we can fulfil the objective of the Chapter 2005”.  With these words Don Gino introduces the workshops after which there is sharing in the assembly till lunchtime.

A PRAYER
Lord, by the expressions SPIRITUAL RENEWAL – A NEW SPIRITUAL MATURITY, You want to tell me:  this renewal springs from one’s interiority, like a spring that gushes from your heart … Scrutinize the Scriptures,
Dig within you, do not remain on a superficial level, gaze towards Him … may your heart expand to the size of the world, to the globality of the Congregation … rewrite the charism with a renewed mentality, with a biblical mentality …

Thursday, 10th June

“Do not conform yourselves to the mentality of this world, but transform yourselves renewing your mind, so that you can discern the will of God …”  It is the Word that has accompanied the different moments of our reflection of today.
Don Gino tells us that, at the heart of this expression, lies  the key word (TRANSFORMATION/CONVERSION), that will guide us in our discernment for the next 5 years.
As a chapter assembly, sisters and laity, do we have this mentality of change, of conversion …?  How can we define our mentality? …
The exchange in the group and later the sharing in the assembly, helped us to enter into this dynamic of renewal of our mentality … “ to discern … that is, all that is good, perfect and pleasing to God” (Rm 12:2)
In the afternoon, the reflection given by Don Gino on: SPIRITUALITY AND ITS TRANS-FORMATION (read THE TEXT) is a true biblical and ecclesial illumination on Christian spirituality.  It places us once again in the theme of the living water that is much in line with the global objective of the General Chapter 2005.
In the light of all this, we are invited to ask ourselves:

• As a religious or a lay person, what does the Spirit suggest to me about what is beautiful, important and new?
• What are the conditions (1 or 2) in our lifestyle so that we, laity and religious, can grow in age, wisdom and grace for all our life?

Wednesday,  9th June

An enlightening page of our itinerary with Marco Guzzi! (born in 1955, M.G. is a poet and philosopher.  Together with the poetic and philosophical research, he organizes seminars and conferences on cultural communication and has also worked in the means of communication of the masses).
With his presentation: “The spiritual turning point of our time”, he helped us read all the negativity of the contemporary history as the end of the cycle of the “ego”.  But he has also communicated his enthusiasm and his hope: “We Christians, he said, are able to face this apocalyptic time because something new is being born.  We want to live and to announce a birth, even in our today” (cf THE TEXT)

Tuesday,  8th June

After having drawn from the sources of the foundation event of our  story in Naples (1st phase), become aware of the various documents and listened to an initial discernment on the style of authority (2nd phase), we have reached the 3rd phase of our Chapter.
Ten lay Friends come to enrich our assembly.  They arrive from the U.S.A, France, Italy, Malta, Paraguay, Lebanon and from Central Africa (see THE PHOTO).  They are delegates of their own group … it is the first time in our history!
The hymn of the Lauds “Here I am, coming towards You, Lord, as on a journey towards a well, thirsting for you, thirsting for this life, I come to draw in you” places us once more – sisters and laity – on the route that leads to life giving springs.
Recalling the exhortation Vita Consecrata n. 54 "Communion and collaboration with the laity” Don Gino underlined the meaning of the presence of the laity: to write together a new chapter of our history.
After a reciprocal introduction, Gabriele Rossi, member of the Coordinating Equipe, shares with us the origin of the basic document (cf BASIC DOC: OF THE LAITY), an elaborated synthesis made up by the reflection of all the groups who have taken to heart their participation in the preparation of the General Chapter of the Sisters of Charity.
In the group we welcomed the enriching Text, all that is provoking in it, all that we wish to tell our Friends and what  they wish to tell us.
At the end of the day we were invited to write a “global word” suggested to us by the Holy Spirit.
Even if the groups have expressed themselves differently, the assembly felt that the Spirit was guiding us together – sisters and laity – on a journey of collaboration, drawing from the same spring and from the same charism.

Sunday 6th June

After listening to the voice of the Congregation through the Basic Document, The General report and the economic Report, we were given time to reflect and share in the groups, then in the General  Assembly.
At the end of the day, we listened to the communications of the Provincial/ Regional superiors, and of the Delegates.

 According to the theme of the Samaritan Women at the well of Sechem, each one of them shared, in the form of prayer, her style of authority:

“ Here I am , Lord, finally at Sechem!
Here I am at the well – chapter!

1.  Re –reading with you and in front of you the style of my authority, I have a lot to praise you to thank you   and to bless you, because I fee that, in this experience, I have revealed something of you, I have offered “drops of eternity” when…..
   
   
2. Considering my style of authority, I feel, Lord, that sometimes it resembles a bit the empty jar of the woman of Samaria: it seems to me meaningless and opaque. I feel that the beauty of my authority darkens, its efficacy weakens, because of these two or three reasons…
   
   
3. Anyway Lord, at the beginning of this journey of the Chapter, that is staring afresh, from the well of Samaria toward a new source of holiness and prophecy, you present yourself as the shepherd and the guide; and to me, sister servant of the Province/Region of …. You entrust the mission of revealing you, shepherd and guide, because you want that the sisters, while listening to my word, may hear yours, that calls and leads.

In order that I may be able to reveal you, “the only authority on our future”, you address me these two or three recommendations”…

It was a time of intense emotion and deep truth. The refrain: “Here I am Lord” sang after each communication, echoed the simple, true and beautiful sharing of the joys and difficulties of this service of authority. As we moved further, the lives of our superiors with their joys and sufferings, have been laid open before us. A strong feeling of being one Body- Congregation is born in us. This unique experience appeared to us like a visit of the Lord to our Chapter; we were overwhelmed. We are thankful to our superiors and especially to Mother Maria Luisa.

Saturday 5th June

A day of listening

In the morning, Mother General presents the General Report in two parts:

1. The look of the General council at the Congregation. The text starts with the 2005 Chapter and the  reading of the General objective. Then there  is an overview of the congregation today, expressed in 5 points: the mission, the communities, the service of formation, the service of authority and the administration of goods. The report highlights the positive aspects and the shadows as well. It also opens some perspectives for the future.

2. The  development of the Congregation during the last 20 years, as seen through the statistical analysis. Charts and graphics highlight the distribution of the sisters in the communities of the four continents. Today we are 2543 sisters: 2130 in Europe, 221 in Asia, 71 in Northern and Southern  America,121 in Africa.

In the  afternoon, we listened to the economic report that was presented by the General   Bursar: Sister Anna Maria. It was another way of looking at the Congregation’s reality in the context of the  world economical crisis and a challenge to make projects that take into account the  life style, solidarity, the common good and the free service.
In the evening we were sent in groups to make an “INSTITUTIONAL DISCERNMENT”.

We had to discern the Action of the Holy spirit in the Body-Congregation:

• What is the Spirit  doing as new and  important for our future?
• On what does it ask us to be watchful?
  

Friday 4th June

Opening of the General Chapter

The first day of the chapter opens with  the Eucharistic celebration, animated by the novices and the junior sisters who are studying in Rome. The chapel decoration reminds us of the theme of water and the hymns as well: “You, fresh source …Holy Spirit, come!...” In front of the well, we put down 3jars symbolising the thirst of the Church, the poor, and our thirst as sisters of Charity as well. At the offering, Mother General carried a candle with the logo of the Chapter, as symbol of the constant prayer of the congregation for the Chapter, and put it on the altar.

 Sister Monica who was leading the prayer, mentions(evokes) all our sisters in the four continents:
“ they are all with us here… the eldest and the youngest, those who are  near and those who are far as well”.
At 10 O’clock, after a deep silence, Mother General Maria Luisa Proclaimed solemnly the opening of the 19th General chapter of the Congregation (READ: THE OPENING MESSAGE OF THE CHAPTER).

The chapter hall, newly restored, looks like an amphitheatre equipped with all the modern techniques. The translators are in their booths, each chapter sister is equipped with  an ear-phone…everything is well prepared so as to facilitate the communication and the reflection. Some time was given to explain the planning and the norms of the procedures of the Chapter - a body of measures  which contribute to the good functioning of the Chapter. They help each Chapter sister to express herself and to be really  involved  so that the Chapter may reach its goals.

In the afternoon, Don Gino invites us to look at the journey we made between 2005 and 2010 as  “Salvation History”; Five years of joys and hopes, of lights and shadows…signs of the Spirit, calling us to write today a new page of holiness and prophecy.
We then listen to the presentation of the Basic Document. After a time of silence and personal reflection, there is a time of communication: the Chapter sisters are invited to share what they find important in the Basic Document. In an atmosphere of mutual listening, 35 Chapter sisters expressed their views giving a contemplative vision of the history of these 5years.

Don Gino gives us his feeding about the identity of a chapter sister : biblical texts with a brief commentary, enough to feed a time of meditation and prayer. (Read : IDENTITY OF THE CAPITULAR). Our stay in Naples, comes to an  end, with lunch.

Wednesday 2d June

Yesterday Fr Gino two interventions lead us to 2 sources: History and the Word as place where the Lord reveals Himself; the second day in Naples is under the sign of the 3d source, that of the liturgy.
It was around Saint Janarius baptism font that all the chapter assembly relived its baptism. In a mosaic background decoration of the beginning of Christianity we have renewed our baptism promises, with the words of Jeanne Antide: “ It is Jesus Christ only that we have always followed everywhere, and it is Him alone we want to follow” LD.95
Then in the chapel of the Treasure of St Janarius , we had the celebration of the Eucharist. In the right side of this small chapel, the bust of St Jeanne Antide welcomed us. She is there  with other  saints venerated by the Neapolitans, since the Archbishop of Naples has declared her co-patron of Naples.
“Like Jeanne Antide may we look at the One whose heart was pierced!” said Don Gino in his homely  (Read: III. The SOURCE OF LITURGY).
In the afternoon, the itinerary of our pilgrimage  from the cloister to the Incurables, from the Monastery to the street and from the street to the school…took us back to the Naples of the 19th  century. Sister Nunzia’s explanation about the history of these places has highlighted the model of the religious apostolic life that Ste Jeanne Antide with her first sisters  have started. ( Read: FROM THE MONASTERY …TO THE STREET)
In the garden of the Incurables , we could admire a camphor tree that is 200 years old. Who knows if it was not Jeanne Antide who planted it, with other medicinal plants for the care of the sick? There, with emotion, we heard the director of the hospital describing it as “the theatre of Charity”. It was frequented not only by the sick, but also by poor people, strangers…Jeanne Antide has reinforced this quality of the hospital by welcoming all the poor and the hungry, since she saw in them Jesus Christ’s members”.
Afterwards, we had a little surprise in the compound of Ste Jeanne Antide’s school: Children dressed in the 19th century clothes, have performed for us a show about the jobs of poor people at that time, with Neapolitan dialect. (Read: THE EDUCATION OF THE POOR)
The last step of our pilgrimage was a stop at the gate of the Monastery, at the fount where the poor drew water. (Read: THE WATER, AT THE DOOR OF THE MONASTERY)
We finish the day with the 4th source. (Read: THE SOURCE OF MISSION)

Naples

1st June

1st step: At the Church

The launching of our stay in Naples was held around the font which is in the heart of the cloister, a symbolic place that reminds us of the “Well of Sichem”, a biblical icon that accompanied us during this year of preparation for the Chapter. After hearing the reading of the text of the foundation (READ:  THE FACE OF THE POOR), we went out in procession to the street. At the entry of  Regina Coeli church, we heard a passage of the letter that J.A. Wrote on the 30th November 1810 : “ Finally , we arrived at Naples the 18th November; the civil and religious authorities had come before, they lead us to the church where Mgr the bishop celebrated holy mass with organ and music… then they took us to our house which is beautiful and very big, with terraces from which we could see all the city, the sea and the mountain that smokes and throws flames in summer”.
Mother Maria Luisa holding a lit candle enters first. All the assembly follows to Jeanne Antide’s altar. A short moment of silent prayer, then the Eucharistic celebration continued.
Don Gino, the animator of the Chapter, in his homely, resituated us in Naples as the symbolic place recalling “the space and the time”, God took to reveal himself to Humanity. “200 years ago, he said, Jeanne Antide came here, in this place to be “in this very time…”. (READ: HISTORY AS A THEOLOGICAL PLACE).
At the moment of the intercession, the provincial, regional superiors and the delegates light their candles from the one Mother General left at St Jeanne Antide’s altar. After lighting their candles they put them at the altar while formulating a prayer on behalf and for the sisters of Charity in the world, on behalf and for all whom we serve.

2d step, in the choir

It was in the choir, and around the Word of God that our second meeting was held. It was a time to go back to the Scriptures. (READ: THE SOURCE OF THE SCRIPTURES). We were invited to take off the seals and to open the book of History, to purify our eyes with an ointment to be able to read (Cf: Ap3, 18). The peak of this time of communitarian prayer was the dance that a group of young girls performed gracefully, recalling the dance David performed before the Ark of the Covenant.

3d step: on the roof

It was on the roof in front of the wonderful scenery of the bay of Naples and the Vesuvius that our assembly gathered at sunset. A little history of Naples on the 19th century helped us understand how Jeanne Antide and her sisters looked at the mystery of History with God’s eyes, and therefore succeeded to write new pages of holiness and prophecy in the Neapolitan history.

Towards Naples

31 May evening

Arriving at Rome from Europe, the two Americas, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East, the 67 chapter sisters headed to Naples to commemorate, in this jubilee year, the 200 years of the arrival of St Jeanne Antide at Regina Coeli, and to entrust to our foundress the 19th General Chapter.
We had three days in Naples to live a beautiful spiritual experience in “our first house, the most beautiful and the biggest “as Jeanne Antide herself described it.
The flags of each one of our countries, planted in the garden of the compound, add colours to the warm welcome of the sisters of Regina Coeli’s big community.
Untill supper the oratory of J.A. was crowded. All the sisters come to pray silently…St J.A. is there…her gaze rests with love on her daughters who hailed from far or near: from Vietnam to Sudan, from Indonesia or Albania, from Argentine or Chad….
In our hearts we hear her say: “I love you more than the most tender of the mothers for all time and for a life eternally blessed”.