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 prayer and bringing His love to all. The journey of this momentous day began early in the morning with our travel to the Vatican, entering the Palazzo Apostolico, and the anticipation that paved the way for the indescribable joy of meeting our Holy Father.

We shared this great event with members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who are also holding their General Chapter here in Rome. The experience was lightened when Pope Francis began dialoguing with the General Superiors. He smilingly inquired of Sr. Maria Yaneth, “How many novices do you have, and what nationalities are they?”. 50 novices in formation across various units, including Brazil, Congo, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania was the reply of Sr. Yaneth.

Pope Francis began addressing the members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary first and later, he spoke to the Salvatorians, highlighting the four essential elements of our demanding Chapter theme, “Walking Together, Rekindling the Gift of the Spirit Among Us so as to Proclaim and Inflame All.” He emphasized that this theme reflects the foundation of our Charism: to proclaim, “This is eternal life: to know you, the true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). This was also the prayer of Jesus in the upper room when he was with his disciple.

He invited the capitulars to spend ample time in prayer, especially during these significant days, to meditate this scene of the upper room, on being ignited to rekindle others with love. Citing the example of Mary, he encouraged us to be like her—attentive to others, speaking less, and always pointing to Jesus. He concluded, “The Madonna never shows herself but always points to Jesus.”

The capitulars expressed immense joy at this opportunity, uniting their voices in song, “This is Eternal Life.” The day concluded with a meaningful Eucharistic celebration led by Fr. Paul Trung Tin Tan, SDS, who urged the sisters to be bold like the woman in today’s Gospel who approached Jesus with repentance, humility, and mercy. Grateful to the USA Province for guiding this thanksgiving liturgy.

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 facilitators led the capitulars to walk further 12 years forward and see how this present general chapter can be a turning point in the history of the congregation. They have to situate that the generation of sisters in the future, 12 years forward, will be able to say that they took such a powerful, audacious, radical decisions that the congregation is now walking together, rekindled and proclaiming and inflaming all. So that they might feel forever grateful to the capitulars of today.

Later on the capitulars again discussed on the powerful intention that comes out of the eight Salvatorian key elements. They have clearly pinpointed the mental models that have been operating in the congregation, but are no longer useful and must therefore be let go of. Creating visions for the future, new mental models that the congregation need to embrace in order to bring radical and life-giving transformation and accompanying behaviors have been shared,

The day ended with the solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by His Eminence, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect for the Section of Evangelization; Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization. Reflecting on the gospel of today Lk 7, 31-35 he said that discernment is not as easy as we think. He prayed that we receive the grace to be freed from our preconceptions, and rigid ideas that might prevent us from seeing the diverse ways by which God is operating his Salvation. God can manifest his saving action through a variety of persons and signs and he wished that the Salvatorians may be attentive to the creative Suprises of the Savior.

The delegates from the Philippine Region organized the liturgy with a taste of their traditional Feast of the Child Jesus (Sto. Niño) during the offertory procession.

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 their journey in this general chapter.

The capitulars worked very hard in the deliberation in groups of the eight Salvatorian key elements which came out during the whole process in the sensing and letting go. Key principles which were in each of these eight Salvatorian key elements were accorded. In the repeated group sharing, they see whether these general principles emerge clearly from the part of their “letting go” and do they adequately in the process guide them, the capitulars in further discernment? This process that they are undergoing is not yet that stage of formulating the final chapter document, this is just a starting point, a way to be there. A thorough process of scrutiny and assessment of principles inside these eight Salvatorian key elements was done in the plenary.

The sharing of ideas, the expression of confirmation and even non-approval of these principles or suggestions for further improvement of these eight Salvatorian key elements made the afternoon session a very meaningful yet very Salvatorian in itself.

The day ended with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Agustin Van Baelen, SDS – General Councilor and Secretary of the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorian Fathers). The celebration was particularly moving and lively due to a number of Spanish songs sang, and this was made possible by the delegates from the Colombia Province and S. Maria Yaneth Moreno – General Superior of the Sisters of the Divine Savior (Salvatorian Sisters), who is a Colombian herself.

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 “walking together” invited us to go beyond the familiar and take a risk of the unknown and different, at this point has something shifted in them during this time? This is the point of the capitular’s reflection today.

The facilitators looked backed at the experience of the capitulars during the first two weeks journey. They were led to sense the reality of the congregation as individual, as communities, as units and as a whole. They were introduced also to the process of “letting go” of some concepts, ideas and even realities which does not anymore give life. After this process. They were also given time to listen to Jesus the Savior and listen to what He is saying to each of us was experienced individually and as a group. This time, the facilitators are starting to lead the capitulars in the process of “letting come”, where we as capitulars are led to discern the implications of God’s call for our reality, for our orientations, our decisions and in the time of election of the new leadership team.

Fr. Agustin Van Baelen, SDS – General Councilor and Secretary of the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorian Fathers) celebrated the Holy Mass. Fr. Agustin underlined three attitudes of Jesus that might also be of help in the capitulars process of discernment and decision-making as follows; flexibility, closeness and being unafraid and amazement. He quipped, “Dear sisters, may these attitudes of our Savior, also encourage us to be flexible, to be close to people in their needs, without fear of reality and always knowing we are called to awaken the best in the other.”

The liturgy was creatively organized and planned by the delegates coming from European House, Belgium; Poland Province and England Mission.

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, Blessed Jordan, along with Lüthen and von Leonhardi, celebrated Mass in the room where St. Brigida passed away. On December 8, 1881, they dedicated themselves to the Apostolic Teaching Society in this very place, where Bless Jordan resided from 1880 to 1882 until he and his collaborators moved to Palazzo Cesi.

Participating in the Holy Eucharist celebrated by Fr. Adam Teneta in this special place was a wonderful gift for us. We prayed for all the members of our Salvatorian family during the Mass. The reflection given on today’s Gospel, Mark 8:27-35, centered around the pivotal question Jesus posed to St. Peter: “Who do you say that I am?” This question is essential for each of us as Christians. Our response cannot stem from mere knowledge about Jesus; we can answer this question only through a personal relationship with Him. Many, including St. Brigida, our beloved founder Blessed Jordan, and numerous saints, have professed that “Jesus is the Son of God” after establishing such a relationship. Fr. Adam emphasized that these individuals serve as examples and intercessors for all of us, encouraging us to grow in faith and deepen our connection with Jesus.

As the visit concluded, the celebrant hoped that this Sunday would be a day of reflection, prayer, and thanksgiving as each visit to this foundational site brings us joy and profound emotions. He expressed his wish that this joy and time we spent in this sacred place may draw us closer to our teacher, Jesus, our God, and our Savior. The liturgy of the day was meaningfully prepared and guided by the Italian province. Later in the day, we explored various sites in different groups, further enriching our experience. We are also grateful for the Bridgettine sisters who welcomed us allowed us to visit this place.

“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 cross.” This is the opening words of Fr. Agustin Van Baelen, SDS – General Councilor and General Secretary of the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorian Fathers) during the Holy Mass which he presided at the beginning of the day.

The whole day was an “Emmaus experience”. The capitulars were guided to form a pair, form a trio, a group of six and a group of twelve. The sharing focused on the experience of the previous day dialogue with God, what happened in that dialogue and what did they hear God saying to them. In all of these groups, they would share and make two sentences that would capture their experiences. In the end, the capitulars, after coming from a group of 12 people, were asked to have only two statements that would capture their experience of the day in dialogue with God and what would God want to say to them.

The process was an experience of the goodness of walking together and the challenge of walking together too because of language, however, there was a feeling of belonging to a family, a family that is so different, yet so much alike. It was as if the capitulars are led to write a Salvatorian gospel through the workings of the Holy Spirit.

It was a relief to have undergone this kind of process, that we are reminded always that prayer is the foundation of the life of a Salvatorian, as Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan admonishes us; “Carry on your spiritual dialogue with the Savior. Sit at His feet, humble and docile and attend to His words.” (I/65)

*The delegates from the Holy Land (Emmaus, Nazareth and Jordan) organized the solemn liturgy.