6th Day: XXII General Chapter_“Change is the only constant in life!”

“Change is the only constant in life!” This famous quote seems to agree on the gospel of the day from Luke 5:33 – 39. In parallel to this was the reminder of Pope Francis when he was in Florence in 2015, “we are not living an era of change but a change of era”. On this, the day started with faith sharing in groups, reflecting on these questions: first, what resistances or fears in me that prevent me from embracing the new? (in the world, in the Church, in the Congregation) and secondly, in which way this gospel is disturbing or challenging me?

In the first half of the morning, S. Brigitte Thalhammer, SDS – General Treasurer presented a very clear view of the financial status of the congregation as well as the situation of its legal and financial entities, presenting demographics, statistics and comparative views. The report elicited a strong sense of ownership and belongingness among the capitulars. As a final word to the report, S. Brigitte clearly stated that in every situation, there is not a solution for all. In most of the situation we are called to be a good steward, because nothing belongs to us, everything is only being lent to us and so the responsibility is on each and everyone of us. The great challenge is that we cannot separate spirituality from our responsibility entrusted to us as stewards of the congregation’s temporal goods. Dottoressa Flavia Fabene – Generalate Office Administrative Assistant who did a good job in supporting S. Brigitte in financial matters was present.

On the second half of the morning, Ursula Schulten – Share Global Head of Projects, fundraising office of the congregation shared to the capitulars updates on how the office works with the presence of some new staff in the office, their strategies used in fund sourcing, growing network of funding agencies, the on-going mission projects, the challenges met by the office and as well as the blessings and successes for the past years. Importantly, the office is into capacitating and empowering sisters who are holding projects in their respective units.

In the afternoon, the capitulars were invited to work on the different proposals sent by the units and also by the Generalate Team. They were asked to analyze and see what do these proposals tell them about the whole congregation, what reality of the congregation are these proposals indicating that they need to pay attention to. A time of silence were given for each of the capitulars to deliberately look into each proposals and after which they together worked in groups.

The day ended with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Bernhard A. Eckerstorfer, OSB – Rector of the Pontifical University of Saint Anselm, Rome. He rightly concluded the day with these words, “Everything holds the possibility to bring you closer to God, to deepen your relationship with God”. With all the things and all the information that have been shared, all these are for the greater good and for whom we are journeying this life with – our Divine Savior, who never changes.