With the Gospel reading from Luke 4: 31-37, where Jesus had authority over unclean spirits, the capitulars once again started the day with faith-sharing. This time they were guided to name the “demons” which they are fighting right now at the beginning of the general chapter and share experiences of getting over them, with the help and power of God.
During the first half of the day, the capitulars strolled around the “open market”, visited each unit and engaged with what is being presented. The richness of culture, the varied apostolates, the giftedness and richness of young vocations, the wisdom of the those who have been the pioneers in the congregation made the conversation enriching and lively.
The afternoon was spent with sharing in groups on what has touched them and what did they discover in the situation of the units presented through the “open market”. They also discovered convergencies between the various realities that the whole congregation encountered and what are the differences in these convergencies. A rich sharing of one’s interior movement after hearing from the experiences of the sisters in the different units on their Salvatorian life, mission and spirituality and realities concluded the day’s work.
Rev. Fr. Vito Patera, CP – Director of Saints John and Paul Retreat House, where the general chapter is being held, presided over the Holy Eucharist ending the 3rd day of the general chapter. In memory of St. Gregory the Great, Fr. Vito left this message, “we can encounter the Lord in the people whom we meet in the peripheries of the society”. And indeed, it was, the life and vocation of the sisters from the different units, a manifestation of meeting Jesus among the peripheries of the society where the Salvatorian apostolates and mission can be found alive.
21th Day: XXII General Chapter_Discernment on the future leadership
On the feast of St. Matthew, the Apostle, Fr. Johnson V. Kumar, SDS celebrated the Holy Eucharist at the start of the day. As we are in an important phase of the general chapter, discernment on the future leadership of the congregation for the next six years, Fr....
20th Day: XXII General Chapter_ Welcoming the Holy Spirit to be the guide for this day of discernment
Today’s gospel, from St. Luke (verses 1-3), lists the names of the women accompanying Jesus along with the apostles. In the faith-sharing session, the capitulars were led to reflect on their attachments which prevent them from hearing the names that God sees as those...
19th Day: XXII General Chapter_ Salvatorians are blessed with the private audience with the Holy father, Pope Francis.
Today will be a day to linger in our memories for a long time. We had an important and intimate encounter with Pope Francis, who closely models what Jesus wishes for all Christians, particularly religious, to follow with fidelity and courage—listening to His voice in...
18th Day: XXII General Chapter_ May the Salvatorians be attentive to the creative Suprises of the Savior.
The gospel of the day from St. Luke, chapter 7, verses 31-35 guided the capitulars as in relation to the on-going general chapter, each one is asked on what messages we might not be hearing or responding to? With this disposition, the general chapter proceeded. The...
17th Day: XXII General Chapter_ Deep into the Salvatorian key elements.
The morning started with a faith-sharing in groups on the gospel of today, from St. Luke, chapter 7: 11-17 and also from the first reading of today, from 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14; 27-31. They were led to reflect on these two beautiful readings of today in relation to...
16th Day: XXII General Chapter_ Go beyond the familiar and take a risk of the unknown.
The capitulars started the day with faith-sharing from the gospel of St. Luke, chapter 7 verses 1-10, where the centurion being from a foreign nation is recognized as friendly to Jewish people and Jesus recognizes the great faith outside Israel. The general chapter’s...
15th Day: XXII General Chapter_ Recalling our Salvatorian Foundation at the Chapel of St. Brigida
Today was a significant day for us as we visited the site of our Salvatorian foundation, the Chapel of St. Brigida, co-patron of Europe. Sr. Natanaela Szczurko gave us explation of this place and its historical importance to our Salvatorian family. Here, our founder,...
14th Day: XXII General Chapter_God’s works can only prosper in the shadow of the cross.
“The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and the text of today’s Gospel, leads us to a statement that accompanied Blessed Francis Jordan throughout his life and which he even wrote in his spiritual diary (I/163): God’s works can only prosper in the shadow of the...
13th Day: XXII General Chapter_A day before God in stillness and silence
The capitulars reflected on the gospel of the day from St. Luke, chapter 6 verses 39-42. “Taking out the plank in our own eye first”, is an illustration of not forgetting our one’s tendency to be self-righteous, a reminder that all ungodliness is a cause for concern,...
12th Day: XXII General Chapter_God knows the direction He wants us to take; we only need to place our trust in Him.
At the start of the 12th day, the capitulars gathered once again for faith-sharing and reflected on the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 6, verses 27-38. The Gospel is filled with challenging verbs that pertain to attitudes, and at this juncture of the general chapter,...