Right beside the majestic Colosseum of Rome, under the shadow of the Crucifix in the garden of the Passionists fathers guest house, Sr. Maria Yaneth Moreno Rodriguez, the tenth Mother General of the Sisters of the Divine Savior has convoked the XXII General Chapter “Walking Together, rekindling the gift of the Holy Spirit among us so as to proclaim and inflame all . Sister Yaneth was surrounded by the other generalate members, delegates, translators and the members assisting the Chapter. The entire seen represented the descending of the Holy Spirit.

Sr. Yaneth after a very meaningful and melodious opening liturgy warmly welcomed all participants, expressing gratitude to the sisters, facilitators, translators, and supporting members for their presence and contributions. She emphasises the historical and spiritual significance of holding the Chapter in Rome, a city deeply connected to the roots of the Salvatorian Family and early Christian martyrdom.

In her opening speech she reinded the sisters the importance of happily embracing vulnerability, recognizing both personal and collective weaknesses as opportunities for growth and transformation through God’s strength. She encouraged the sisters to engage deeply in synodality—walking together in faith, prayer, and communal discernment under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. She reminded that the Chapter is seen as a chance to evaluate, discern, and set priorities for the next six years while fostering unity and collaboration.

She also highlights the theme of hope, particularly in light of the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025, urging the sisters to be “Pilgrims of Hope” and to live out their mission with a prophetic and transformative spirit. The speech concludes with an invocation for divine guidance and the intercession of Mary, Blessed Francis Jordan, and Blessed Mary of the Apostles, officially opening the Chapter with trust in God’s providence and a commitment to their shared journey.

The celebration of the Holy Eucharist was followed later. The main celebrant Fr. Milton Zonta SDS expressed his joy to be present as we begin our 22nd General Chapter. He too hightlighed that the listening to the Spirit is the foundation of deepening the interior life and authenticity in the relationship with God. He encouraged to engage in sincere discernment, and maintain a compassionate heart while listening to the Spirit. He stressed that the vocation of Salvatorins is apostolic and we must always go forward with out letting down our missionary spirit.

The rest of the day followed by the introduction to the general organization and the getting to know of the Sisters. Among the delegates there are quite good number of sisters who are taking part in a General Chapter, so the Opening day of the Chapter broke open a vast field of exploring, discerning and renewing.

Preparing for the XXII General Chapter has been a journey filled with trials, tests, and errors, yet it has beautifully highlighted our resilience and the strength of our teamwork. The arrival of the sisters brought joy, alleviating both the heat of the day and the stress of our preparations. The sisters expressed their happiness to be at this particular venue, rich in spirituality and history. We are truly grateful for the many individuals offering their assistance and support.

While the sisters from the Congo region who are yet to arrive, the rest of the participants, including translators, were excited to come together for this significant event. Some sisters are just beginning to make new acquaintances, while others are reconnecting with familiar faces among the chapter participants.

Sr. Maria Yaneth and others have been overwhelmed with warm wishes and greetings from sisters, friends, and well-wishers, which fosters a sense of strength and connection among us all, even from across the globe. Filled with the grace of our Savior and the joy of our fraternal spirit, we eagerly anticipate the grand opening of the XXII General Chapter on September 1, 2024.

 In the coming XXII General Chapter, we especially take into our hearts the value of walking together, as our theme espoused. This moment of time together is valuable and is the grace of God. We hope that you all have a goodtime being together and Walking together as Salvatorians enflamed with the zeal to proclaim Christ. Wishing you all hearty Welcome to our XXII Genera Chapter.