The day started with a lively celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Laurent Madiba, SDS.

The capitulars gathered in the morning to share in the plenum what they have sensed and feel on what the proposals are saying about the BODY, or the congregation. The team facilitator reminded each of them to put aside for the time being the temptation to debate, find solutions and make decisions regarding the proposals submitted.

In the next half of the morning, the capitulars were given ample time to be with themselves alone and reflect on the past days that has been. Looking through one’s notes, they were invited to reflect further whether they have still that need to inquire more about certain topic or issue for better understanding. There might be links that are beginning to emerge, to be visible after hearing the different presentations, they were asked to name them. In addition, during this sensing phase of the general chapter, what else is going on in the congregation that the capitulars have not yet talked about and that they needed to pay attention to?

In the afternoon, the capitulars were given the floor to share the product of their time of silence and reflection. In all that was spoken and said, the capitulars are reminded of the fact that purpose of any of the Salvatorian Sisters is to have positive and lasting impact in the world that is so vulnerable and fragile.

We recall that at the beginning of the day, Fr. Laurent emphasized in his homily that Jesus invited us to leave behind a suffocating religious rigidity and invent new paths of love, peace and inner freedom which the world needs today. And if we want to walk together and propose this gospel to the world, we have to prepare our hearts to welcome newness of the Holy Spirit, for it is said that a heart that is not inflamed, cannot inflame others. Therefore, let us leave a positive impact in this world!

“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.

On this day, the feast of Blessed Mary of the Apostles, the capitulars were led to a personal experience with her. If she is with her Salvatorian Sisters in this general chapter, what would she be saying to each one personally, and to the whole BODY (congregation)? And in turn, as a capitular, what we would like to say to Blessed Mary of the Apostles?

The morning session, though heavy it was, was enriching with the sharing of the two other branches of the Salvatorian Family – the Society of the Divine Savior and the International Community of the Divine Savior (ICDS). The presence of Fr. Miton Zonta, SDS – General Superior; Fr. Agustin Van Baelen, SDS – General Councilor/ Secretary and Fr. Ferdinand Lukoa, SDS – General Councilor of the Society of the Divine Savior and Mr. Christian Patzl – ICDS Coordinator is a proof of their good will and brotherly love to collaborate as one family under the inspiration of our founder Blessed Francis Jordan and co-foundress, Blessed Mary of the Apostles. Joint Salvatorian Family recommendations were presented and the capitulars were asked to reflect on them and in the course of the general chapter, deliberation and decision will be made. Before this part of the session ended, it is quite inspiring to end by this words of Fr. Milton, “In nourishing the roots of our unity, we have to be reminded of our founders’ words: If we want to follow the holy apostles, we must have great charity, and among us, there must be mutual love and peace”.

The day would not be festive without visiting the chapel of Blessed Mary of the Apostles. The Holy Mass was presided over by Fr. Milton Zonta, SDS at the Motherhouse Chapel in the afternoon. The joy of “walking together” towards the Motherhouse to celebrate together this day’s feast was truly a manifestation of joy. The guided historical tour around the Motherhouse, the very Salvatorian liturgy, the lively and festive songs, the angelic voices, the joyful camaraderie among the sisters of the Motherhouse, the capitulars, the Salvatorian Fathers and brothers was indeed a true manifestation of a familial spirit which Blessed Mary of the Apostles wishes for all. It is but just right to end the day with this words from the homily of Fr. Milton, “My dear Salvatorians, in this time of chapter discernment, do not forget these essential aspects of Blessed Mary of the Apostles; her search for a deep spiritual life, her search to grow in holiness and her making mission the logic of our life. In short, let us choose to live our identity and our mission today, not in isolation, but in the footsteps of Blessed Mary of the Apostles. Go forward with a shared apostolic mission in communion with the other branches of the Salvatorian Family and in unity with the whole Church. Let us reveal the beauty of the charism we have received!

Happy Salvatorian Family day and Happy Feast Day, Blessed Mary of the Apostles!

The day started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by Rev. Fr. Adam Teneta, SDS – General Vicar of the Society of the Divine Savior.

The capitulars met together per continent, namely; Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. They shared about the ongoing projects that they collaboratively planned and implemented. In the process of sharing, they distinguished which ones feels energizing or thriving and or worth the sisters’ investment of all their abilities and strength. On the other hand, they also shared which ones are floundering or draining the sisters’ energies. Before the continental gathering ended, on a macro level, they together looked at what is happening in the world around them and named those which might be worth paying attention to. The output of the morning session was shared in the plenum.

In the afternoon, the capitulars were divided into three groups to listen to the report of the Generalate for the past six years. The report of the Generalate focused on three major topics as follows; realities that they find in the visitations, the beauty there is, the possibilities, contradictions and challenges; the Generalate’s journey of coming together as a team, both as a working team and as a community of sisters and the concerns of the Generalate Team for the future as ONE body. The members of the Generalate Team divided themselves accordingly and made the presentation in a creative, engaging and understandable manner.

The day ended fruitfully with the capitulars sharing their thoughts, feelings, assessment and even affirmation about the Generalate report for the past six years.

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.

The second day of the XXII General Chapter started off with a faith-sharing on the Gospel of the day, from Luke 4:16-30, part of which says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor.” Connecting the whole gospel with the process of the previous Congregational Council in 2022 and coming here to the general chapter, they richly shared on what does this gospel mean to them and what is God telling them at the beginning of the general chapter.

To encourage interaction and make the atmosphere comfortable for each one and to know more about each other and form relationships, a getting-to-know-you activity was facilitated. This time, they were led to share personal information on their vocation story and present apostolic ministry. They also shared their hopes and concerns in coming to the general chapter.

The facilitation team slowly took the sisters’ awareness on some of the mental models or the chapter-in-mind that they might have and how this mental model might carry them through the on-going chapter. After which, the sisters are facilitated to leave the role that they are holding before they come for the general chapter so that they would be able to cross that path from being an elected delegate or an ex-officio delegate to taking on the role of a capitular.

The next half of the day was spent on getting ready or setting up the “open market” – a strategy designed by the team facilitation. Rather than hearing unit reports, the capitulars are invited to go out, visit the “open market” prepared by each unit and seek information about them. They are to ask questions, take notes and particularly be attentive to the number of communities, demographics, key apostolates and other elements that would help the capitulars sense the life of a particular unit, in the world around now and into the future. A mixture of words, figures and drawings, objects and or symbols would be as easy to understand as possible.

The day rightfully ended with a Holy Eucharist presided over by Rev. Fr. Nicolas Espinosa, SVD.