NICE TO MEET YOU

Today we want to introduce Sr Margaret Bob to you.  She is from Manus, Papua New Guinea and has been in our Congregation for 27 years.  Sister is a member of the Provincial Council and this is her second mandate.  Since she is trained as a nurse, she is also working part-time with the government in the area of health.  As a nurse, she worked for many years in various parts of PNG.  This is the first time that she has participated in a General Chapter and is enjoying it.

Sr Margaret says “I hope that this blog will inspire many young people to hear God’s call to religious life and be challenged to follow that call as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.”

PNG Delegates

WHAT’S GOING ON

Today we had enriching and interesting discussion on various items on our agenda.  This afternoon most of the delegates met together in their inter-continental groups and their sharing brought life to the members.

LOOKING BACK WITH US

Here below is the final article on the topic of previous General Chapters.

THIRTEENTH GENERAL CHAPTER

Rome, 2 August - 1 September 1981

In her opening address M. Gerarda set the tone for this Chapter:

“This is a unique occasion. We are gathered here from many different countries to carry out the important mission entrusted to us. For the first time in our history, we have been asked by the Church to revise our Constitutions in a major way… From the beginning we have realised that the aim of the Church was not merely to rewrite the text of our Constitutions, but to renew our lives according to our particular vocation in the Church.

The work on the first seven chapters of the Constitutions and Directory was finished by 21 August. The prepared text on Formation took the following two days and Authority and Government was the last Chapter to be discussed.

On Sunday 30 August, foundation day of our Congregation, M. Gerarda opened the ‘Year of Mother Marie Louise’ (100 years since her entrance), a year in which the Congregation would pay special attention to this courageous woman of faith, to whom it owes so much.

The important moment for the voting on the new texts of the Constitutions and Directory had now arrived. This was done chapter by chapter; for the Constitutions an absolute majority was required, and for the Directory a relative majority.

Mother Gerarda made a formal proposal:

“I propose to the Assembly that we abrogate our 1969 Constitutions by machine vote.”

After unanimous acceptation, she continued:

“I propose that we accept the new texts of the Constitutions, with the amendments.

This also was unanimously accepted. After singing the Magnificat and the Ametur the session closed. In the evening all the participants celebrated the birthday of the Congregation with a festive meal and then sat down in the garden in the cool of the evening, enjoying a program of singing and dancing performed by the various Provinces.

The General Chapters in the History of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Sr Immaculata van Wijngaarden

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CHAPTER

IN OUR AGENDA

Tomorrow our discussions will centre around Mission and Ministry and we will vote on the Revised Constitutions.  We hope that you will accompany us in your prayers.

NICE TO MEET YOU

Today we meet Sr. Filomena Mastrogiorgio from Italy.  Born in Santo Elia A Pianisi, Campobasso, Italy, Sister is a teacher and worked in a primary school for many years especially in Toscana, Doganella and Terni.  Next year, she will be celebrating 60 years of Religious Profession already.  This is Sister’s second time to attend a General Chapter and to you our dear blog followers, she wants you to know that she prays that all may become close to God because God is the one who will never disappoint us.

Italian Delegates

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Three of our Lay Associates from the Philippines were with us today and they shared to us how they see themselves in the future and what support they need from us.  Anching Fajardo is the coordinator of our DOLSH Associates in Manila.  She was blessed to have attended the International Meeting of Lay Associates of the Chevalier Family in the Dominican Republic in 2008.  Dory Ogan is a principal in one of the public elementary schools here in Manila and she is an active member of our DOLSHA in Manila.  Debbie Melijor is a Lay MSC and she is from Cebu.  Debbie is the National Coordinator of the Chevalier Family Lay Associates in the Philippines.

DREAMING WITH US…

Remember the sentence completion exercise we suggested the other day?  Well, here are some of the responses you sent:  Renewed, let us go forth….

Renewed, we will go forth …together !

Rita

Renouvelées, allons de l’avant...

d’abord, il suffit d’y croire

en nous informant, nous ouvrant à ce qui se passe autour de nous

en acceptant de nous renouveler dans nos différents engagements

en nous rappelant que Dieu est le Maitre de l’impossible et qu’il peut faire surgir la vie de ce qui parait mort

en vivant dans l’espérance, la confiance: “c’est maintenant le temps favorable”

.... sans oublier”nos canes”!!!

Les sœurs de  la communauté de Clamart

 “ O que significa para mim NOVOS HORIZONTES”?- Primeiramente, a pessoa deve ter-se nas mãos, muita unida a Jesus, amiga de Maria nossa Mãe.- Estar consciente de si e de tudo o que a envolve.- estar disposta a deixar-se  amar e a tocar pela ação de Deus, que age a cada instante.- Na primavera deste novo tempo, temos que caminhar com a Igreja ainda mais. Expandindo o Reino, o amor de Deus; pelo testemunho, pela tecnologia.-Acredibilidade entre nós, as delicadezas, devem crescer.NOVOS HORIZONTES é abrir o coração e abraçar  as  novas realidades, novos desafios e assumindo novas fronteira com coragem e amor.- Com pés no chão, coração,mente em Deus;mãos dadas com os irmãos,corpo saudável,olhos abertos e cheios de fé, ouvidos atentos e esperançosos., boca que proclame os louvores do Criador.- Ser que expresse gratidão, alegria, harmonia,ou seja os sentimentos do coração de Jesus. Que é a nossa bandeira maior “Ser o Amor” remédio para todos os males do mundo.- O entusiasmo, alegria deve-nos levar para frente! Somos chamadas,escolhidas e enviadas a ser no mundo o sonho de nosso Fundador.- A nossa divisa: AMADO SEJA POR TODA PARTE O SAGRADO CORAÇÃO DE JESUS nos leva a ver longe;bem como nos leva a entrar dentro de nós e nos a desafiar, a mudar  de vida.-Não podemos ser pessoas medrosas, medíocres, vazias, cheias de si. O Amor nos impele a sermos diferentes, a ser solidários!, a sermos pessoas apaixonadas.-NOVOS HORIZONTES –avistamos caminhos novos,não precisamos pisar nos outros,ou menos prezá-los para chegar os nossos sonhos. Basta ter coragem para amar e agir segundo a vontade de Deus. Fazendo bem todas as coisas que nos foram confiadas.
Maria da Paricida

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CHAPTER

IN OUR AGENDA

We continued today with our Agenda Items and discussed about our Mission and Apostolic Priorities. We know you continue to pray for the Chapter everyday sisters so we thank you!

NICE TO MEET YOU

In this Chapter, the youngest delegate comes from our biggest Province, Indonesia - Sr. Laurentia Piranti! Sr. Laurentia comes from Central Java and she is involved in the health ministry. She is also a part of the Indonesian Provincial Council. It is her first time to attend a General Chapter and for her, it is an amazing experience. The process of reflecting on our life as a whole Congregation, especially the revision of our Constitutions, is an expression of the renewal of our life. Indeed, the Holy Spirit works…before…now…and forever.

Indonesian Delegates

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Inspired and challenged by yesterday’s conferences on prophecy and mysticism given by Sr. Judette Gallares, RC, we embarked on today’s work with energy. We started with the first of our Agenda items: Formation. This is an important area, not only for today but for the future of our Congregation.

THE SISTERS BEHIND THE BLOG

Srs Merle and Renisa

We are on the last week of the Chapter and we decided introduce ourselves to you our dear followers before we run out of days: Sr. Renisa from the General Council (the thinker) and Sr. Merle from the Philippine Region (the writer); Sr. Philippa from Australia and Sr. Marisa from Brazil (special collaborators) and Sr. Reine from France, Sr. Immaculata from the Netherlands, Sr. Luciani from Indonesia and Sr. Glacidalva from Brazil (translators). We also acknowledge the many Chapter members and assistants who have been taking and contributing pictures for the blog.

LOOKING BACK WITH US…
Here is part 3 of the History of FDNSC General Chapters:

TENTH GENERAL CHAPTER

Rome, 26 April - 10 May 1963

In 1937 the General Administration had already bought a property in Rome, on Via Casale di San Pio V, in view of the transfer of the Generalate. However, it would be almost 25 years before this came about. It took place on 21 October 1961.

Poverty was one of the topics to be discussed. One of the decisions was that sisters who had a camera, a typewriter, a tape recorder, scooter, etc. would not consider these as their personal property, but as belonging to the community.

At this Chapter much attention was given to formation at all levels. The delegates decided on a new formation program for the Novitiate. In the second year there would be possibilities for secular studies and professional formation, but no examinations were allowed.

A pamphlet on our spirituality and mission would be prepared for people interested in our Congregation. Every Province could contribute ideas for this pamphlet.

Furthermore, the Chapter delegates discussed the possibility of a Juniorate of at least two years, in order to give the newly professed not only a good intellectual and technical formation, but also a better doctrinal and spiritual basis.

An important task is still ahead: the revision of the Rules which will take five days to complete! Later a small committee will, under the supervision of the General Council, be responsible for writing the text in a more positive style!

To remind us of the highlights of our Chapter, starting today, we will be posting a few photos … through these pictures, let us together remember the FDNSC 18th General Chapter!

IN OUR AGENDA
Tomorrow, 29th of November, we shall be welcoming three Lay Associates of the Chevalier Family to the Chapter. This is an important day for us and for them, we again solicit your prayers.

NICE TO MEET YOU

We now travel to the Pacific and meet our delegates from Kiribati.  Sr. Beneteta Ione is the incoming Provincial Leader of Kiribati and she is from Tarawa, the main island.  Sister is a spiritual and retreat director not only to our sisters but also to religious from other congregations as well as lay people.  Sister was also a delegate in the 2005 General Chapter in Issoudun.  At that time, she said, everything was just new.  In this Chapter, sister feels more at home and therefore owns it more.  She now has a stronger sense of belonging.  Dear Sisters who are following the blog, Sr. Beneteta would like you to know that your prayers are really much needed and appreciated.  This Chapter is for you, it is your Chapter.  Sister hopes that as you read the blog daily, you will know what is happening here, and when we return home to share to you the fruits of the Chapter, you will be ready to accept these fruits.  So please continue praying for us who are here.  

Chapter Delegates from Kiribati

  

WHAT’S GOING ON?
We have entered the final week of the Chapter today, as the universal Church begins a new liturgical year.  Sr. Judette Gallares, a Religious of the Cenacle from the Philippines, was with us challenging us with her conference entitled “Opening the Heart to Listen: Becoming Mystics and Prophets Today.”  Sister Judette is involved in the ministry of retreats and spiritual direction. She has also worked for many years in formation both in her congregation and also in the inter-congregational religious formation programs. At present she is professor of Spirituality at the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia and a visiting professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (Philippines). She is the editor of Religious Life Asia Magazine and an author of several books and articles on Women in the Bible, Spirituality and formation.

WALKING THE EARTH WITH US…

Yesterday, 26^th of November, we had our second outing.  This time, we visited CELL (Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning), an ecological center founded and managed by the Columban Missionaries.  Half of the group went in the morning while the other half went in the afternoon for a three-hour “earth walk” around the Center.  It was a little way by which we heed the call to love and heal Mother Earth! Here are some of our pictures…

IN OUR AGENDA

As we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent and opened a new liturgical year, we started to look towards the future.  Tomorrow, we will begin discussing the answers to our pre-chapter reflection questions.

We invite you our readers to join us in looking toward the future of our Congregation by completing this sentence: RENEWED, LET US GO FORTH….  Send us your answers and together, let us pave the road ahead!  

CONTACT US

generalchapter2011@gmail.com

NICE TO MEET YOU

Today, we are featuring two of our delegates, one from the French Province and one from the Province of the Netherlands.

Sr. Denise Doppler, like Mother Marie Louise Hartzer is an Alsatian girl.  She was born in Alsace, in the city of Huningue.  Sr. Denise is a high school teacher.  Since 1981, she was already in the service of the Province, first as Novice Mistress, then as Provincial Bursar and finally as Provincial for 9 years.  This is already her 7^th General Chapter. To you who are following the blog, Sr. Denise has this to say: “This year I had a great joy because it is the year I celebrated my 50^th anniversary in Religious Life.  It was a good occasion for me to review my life and see the wonders God has done.  I am very grateful for everything that I received. With joy, I say that I never regret my choice to be a religious!”

French Delegates

Sr. Elly van Dyk, from the Netherlands, was born in Venlo.  She is currently based in Tilburg being one of the Provincial Councillors of our Dutch Province.  Sister is also working at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Sittard.  This is the third General Chapter that she has attended.  The first time (in 1999), she was invited to talk about our ageing provinces.  As in this Chapter, she was a member of the 2005 Chapter.  Sr. Elly shares with us her impressions: “I experience an atmosphere of unity in diversity and that is why I am learning a lot. There is also an atmosphere of hope: with trust, we, the younger and older Provinces together, walk towards the future!”  For you our blog followers, she says “Thank you for following us by reading our blog.  It encourages us to go on.” 

Dutch Delegates

WHAT’S GOING ON?
Of course you have read the post just before this …with you we congratulate and welcome our newly elected Superior General Sr.Mary Fyfe!  As a whole Congregation, we rejoice, and confident in the love of our God, we proclaim RENEWED! LET US GO FORTH!

We share to you some words of the Holy Father about the importance of the Office of the Superior General of a Religious Institute.

"You are aware that each Superior General is called to be an animator and promoter of a "mystic and prophetic" Consecrated Life, strongly committed to the realization of the Kingdom of God.

Dear Religious Sisters, if you want to walk faithfully in the footsteps of your Founders and Foundresses to help your own Sisters to follow their examples, cultivate the "mystical" dimension of Consecrated Life, that is, always keeping your soul united to God through contemplation.

As the Scriptures teach, the "prophet" first listens and contemplates, then speaks, allowing himself to be totally permeated by that love for God which fears nothing and is even stronger than death. The authentic prophet, therefore, is not concerned so much to accomplish works, which undoubtedly are important but never essential. Above all, he tries to be a witness of God's love, seeking to live it among the realities of the world, even if his presence can sometimes be "uncomfortable" because he offers and incarnates alternative values.

May it be your prime concern, therefore, to help your own Sisters to seek Christ above all else and to place themselves generously at the service of the Gospel. Never tire of taking every possible care in the human, cultural and spiritual formation of the persons entrusted to you, so that they are able to respond to today's cultural and social challenges. Be the first to set an example by fleeing commodities, comforts, convenience in order to bring your mission to fulfilment. Share the richness of your charisms with those who are committed to the one mission of the Church, which is to build the Kingdom.

Address of his holiness Benedict XVI To the International Union of Superiors General

Monday, 7 May 2007

LOOKING BACK WITH US…

As we welcome Sr. Mary Fyfe, let us also remember all the Superiors General who came before her.  We thank God for the gift of them and their valuable contributions to the life and growth of our Congregation over the years.

 IN OUR AGENDA

It is “outing” time again and tomorrow, we are visiting CELL (Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning) .  It is also shopping time for some and just a time to rest for others.  There will be no post tomorrow so see you on Sunday, 27^th of November and together let us enter the final week of the Chapter. 

CONTACT US

generalchapter2011@gmail.com

The newly elected Superior General of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is:

Sr Mary Fyfe

Congratulations!!!

Nice to Meet You

Today we feature our delegates from Brazil, particularly Sr. Norma Helene Santos who was born in Poté, Brazil.  She is a teacher and works in the area of education.  She is one of the founders of our mission in Venezuela and was there for ten years before she returned to Brazil where she is now a principal in one of our schools.  Sister is happy to be here at the Chapter and for her it is an interesting experience of friendship and internationality.  To you our followers she says “I wish you who are following us on the internet many blessings from God!”

Brazilian Delegates

 

What’s going on?

Today, we finished our discussions on the Revised Constitutions.  In the last four days, the Chapter Assembly reviewed the Revised Constitutions chapter by chapter. Comments and questions from sisters before the Chapter and from the floor were received and thoroughly discussed.  At the end of each day, the steering committee met to summarize the discussions in the sessions and came up with proposals that the Chapter Assembly then considered.  The process of reviewing the revised constitutions resulted to a deepening of the sisters’ understanding and appreciation of our rule of life.  We believe this deepening will in turn lead to a renewed and revitalized living of our charism and mission in the Church.
 

Looking back with us:

The General Chapter has always been a major spiritual event in the life of the Congregation.  Here is a short history of a General Chapter to give us some perspective into the value of this important event.

FOURTH GENERAL CHAPTER

Issoudun, 25-29 June, 1927

After a long exile the General Administration returned to France in November 1923; hence the fourth General Chapter could be held in Issoudun for the first time. Then M. Gertrude read out the Report of the General Administration. In her account she mentions her visit to Australia and the missions of New Guinea and New Britain. (from December 1921 to December 1922). She also mentions her visit to Alfenas (Brazil) in 1923. She speaks also about the foundation of the French and the Dutch Provinces, both in 1925; about the new mission in Congo, where meanwhile a second group of Belgium missionaries had gone already. At this stage the Congregation numbered already  465 professed sisters:

§  in Australia                                        161      37 of them in the missions

§  France/Belgium                                 185      67 in the missions

§  Netherlands                                       119      30 in the missions

  There were 80 postulants and novices in formation.

Moreover, new foundations had been made in every Province, so that Mother Gertrude, not without reason, finished with the exclamation:

“Don’t we have good  reason, dear Mothers, to be very grateful...?”

The General Chapters in the History of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Sr Immaculata van Wijngaarden 

In our Agenda

We are now ready to start the process of election of our Congregational Leader.  Tomorrow, the election process will be explained to us and the next day, Friday, will be election day.  Sisters, we all know that these are really important and sacred days for us, days when we listen to the Holy Spirit in a really attentive way. Please accompany us with your prayers. 
We will not have a post tomorrow. The next post will be on 25 Nov, soon after the election of the Superior General.

Nice to Meet You

We have two delegates from Belgium and one of them is Sr. Josefa  Bertels.  She was born in Retie, Belgium and was a missionary to Congo for 38 years.  From Congo, the war brought her to Senegal where she stayed for 6 years.  Today, she is back in Belgium looking after our sick sisters, preparing their medicines and giving them as much attention as she can.  To all of you following our blog, Sr. Josefa wishes that we all be united in the spirit of our Congregation, in prayer and in mission.

Belgium Delegates

What’s going on?

We started our discussions on draft 4 of the Constitutions last Sunday, feast of Christ the King.  Since then, the members of the Chapter have been working hard.  It is now the third day and the work on the revised constitutions is nearing its end.

We thought we will share with you today Fr. Ad’s homily for the feast of Christ the King. Fr. Ad says to us “Yes, let us celebrate Christ as our King but let us realize that the only robe he will accept will be the jacket you gave to somebody who was cold, the only scepter he will find worthwhile may be the half-eaten hot dog you shared, and the only crown may be the umbrella you held over the head of somebody wet of the rain or burned by the sun.”  We invite you to read the whole homily and like us, be inspired and challenged.

Homily 20 November 2011- Christ the King

Maybe you will allow me to share some personal memories on this day, before sharing the more important reflections on today’s feast of Christ the King. They were triggered by one of our Filipina DOLSH Sisters here: when she realized that our Brazilian Sisters would be leading us in our liturgy, she reminded me: that is where you could have ended up, in Brazil. In an interview some weeks ago, Sister Che asked me why I had chosen the Philippines for my mission area. I had to admit that when after ordination we were asked about out preferences, the Philippines was for me not really in the picture: I wanted to go to Brazil. Not that I really knew that much about Brazil, but our Dutch missionaries in Brazil were just the only ones who would more regularly write about people and mission there – enough to inspire many of us. But that gave our Provincial then the problem that he had too many volunteers for Brazil and not enough for here in he Philippines, so he most friendly asked me to reconsider – which I did, without regrets, even though at tmes I keep wondering what I would have grown into, if I would have stuck to Brazil. Anyway, it shows that willingness to serve without foreseeing all the consequences often enough works out pretty well, as many of us here – with or without religious vows – have discovered.

The Feast of Christ the King: It is a feast that is still enthusiastically celebrated by the faithful in many countries, but surrounded by question marks by believers elsewhere. Let us start with some of the questions, without fear because the questions people ask, are not necessarily a sign that they believe less in the core of the Gospel of Jesus than the people who celebrate. One main question seems to be: what can we still do with the title “King” for Jesus in a world that hardly knows what kings are? … In societies that have sometimes rather violently overthrown their kings and have opted for more democratic types of leadership? Or in present-day cultures where kings and queens are only known for their fairy-tale weddings on television – weddings that as often break down as those of ordinary citizens. The kings of this world, under whatever titles we find them now, have not often contributed much to the good and well-being of their people. Be they kings, tyrants or presidents, be they of great good-will towards people of just plain oppressors – by and large they have not been very successful to make this world into a good world for all. So should e make Christ our King? Maybe we should think twice.

We know, of course, that in the biblical tradition, the kings were a response to the clamor of the people to be led by somebody who in God’s name would protect them – would lead them as good shepherds to good grazing ground and refreshing water.  In today’s first reading we heard how poorly that worked out. Even their shepherd-kings had become abusers, fallen prey to the temptation of all human leadership structures, in power to benefit themselves. And Ezekiel paints an image of a God who has gotten truly mad at these shepherds and he shouts it out: Woe to the shepherds of Is­rael who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? But you feed on milk and are clothed in wool, and you slaughter the fattest sheep. You have not taken care of the flock; you have not strengthened the weak, cared for the sick or band­aged the injured. You have not gone after the sheep that strayed or searched for the one that was lost. Instead you ruled them harsh­ly and were their oppressors.  And then this wonderful reading of today starts, where God says: now I am going to do it myself; I myself will take care of my sheep and watch over them; I will tend my sheep and give them test; I will search for the lost and bind up the injured. And then, in the middle of all human oppression, abuse, lording it over – sometimes even notwithstanding many good intention – a new way of leadership becomes visible. Never mind how you call it, shepherd or king; never mind the titles we can invent, kings or presidents, superiors or leaders, the only valid norm of human leadership in the eyes of God is caring for the weak, sharing live with those who are exhausted, hiving hope to the hopeless. Any other way – as Ezekiel tells us – awaits the wrath of God himself.

The gospel of today allows us to test the kingship that Jesus takes upon himself against this image left us by Ezekiel. The setting is the final judgment. In an eschatological picture we are shown the final criterion between what fits within the Kingdom of God and what not. Yes, we could say that Jesus wants to be served as King, but he apparently does not seek any glory and praise for himself. If we pledge ourselves to his service, proclaim him as our king, he send us back immediately to where people are suffering and in pain. The only way in which he will measure our fidelity to him as our king is the glass of water we share, the hungry we feed, the suffering people we dare to be with. So yes, let us celebrate Christ as our King, but let us realize that the only royal robe he will accept may be the jacket you gave to somebody who was cold, the only scepter he will find worthwhile may be the half-eaten hot-dog you shared, the only crown may be the umbrella that you held over the head of somebody wet of the rain or burned by the sun.

The feast of Christ the King: a celebration of our true acceptance of Jesus’ message that God is a God with a heart for all people in the world, especially for the hungry and thirsty, the oppressed and abused, the ones without hope – seeing no future…

It is a celebration too – if we honestly dare to call him our king – of our re-commitment to the mission he gave us when he sent us on our way to walk through this world with a heart a great as his.

Laughing with us…

Here is a video we thought you might enjoy.

In our Agenda

Tomorrow, we spend our fourth and last day on the revised Constitutions.  Dear sisters and friends, thank you for your constant interest and prayers.  We truly feel your love and support.  Please continue praying for us as we also daily hold you in our hearts.

NICE TO MEET YOU!

INTRODUCING SOME MEMBERS

Philippa Murphy, the youngest of the delegates of the Australian province, is from Sydney, Australia.  She is currently a missionary to South Sudan and is the community leader in Mapourdit.  It is her first time to attend a General Chapter and she says “It is great to be with our sisters in this international family.  There is a wonderful feel of unity.  Marie Louise Hartzer said ‘Let us always be united, forming one heart’ and I feel this happening here.”  Philippa adds “It is a real privilege to be here, to be part of the group making decisions for the congregation.”  To you who are following the blog, Philippa assures each and every sister that you are held in the hearts of all gathered here.  We are filled with hope.  The world is in desperate need of our charism to be the heart of Christ to all.  Finally, to those in difficult times of isolation, ministry and mission, Philippa says “Know, that you are not alone!”

Australian Delegates

WHAT’S GOING ON?

As we continue our discussions on the Revised Constitutions, some of the younger Sisters present here at the Chapter share with us which chapter or paragraph of the Constitutions they find most inspiring:

Sr Maria Teretia Babetara: Kiribati

The constitution I find most inspiring is Chapter 4 no 62

The love of the heart of Jesus moulds us to become a sign to all , a mission established by Jesus. With this mission we are always renewed to go forth and penetrate the world with a spear /sword of love.

I also like Chapter 8 no 88 :

Our vocation is the vocation from God. Our formation is the moulding of the self that will transform us in the Herat of Jesus, to be equipped to share his mission in the heart of the world.

Sr Laurentia Piranti : Indonesia

The constitution I find most inspiring is no 117

Celebrated in an attitude of prayer, openness to the Holy Spirit and paternal love, the General Chapter is a spiritual event in the life of the congregation.

It is an occasion for the renewing the vitality of our charism and a means of strengthening unity.

Sr Madeline Dione :  African Union Leader

Le chapitre qui m’inspire plus dans nos constitutions, c’est le premier sur le Charisme la Spiritualité et la mission spécialement le numéro qui dit ceci : Nous sommes appelées dans l’Eglise a partager la vision de foi de notre fondateur. Comme lui, nous découvrons dans le cœur transpercé de Jésus la tendresse infinie et l’amour compatissant de Dieu pour tous.  Mais tout est  inspirant pour ma vie de FNDSC .

Sr Silvia Solda : Italy

The constitution I find most inspiring Chapter two Prophetic Obedience.

Obedience is the only way in which the human person, being intelligent and free , can fully realize himself/herself.

Jesus is first in this, obedient until death on a cross.

Sr Marife Mendoza : Philippines

The constitutions I find most inspiring are 3 & 4

It speaks of our call and our particular flavour – our Spirituality of the Heart and our Marian dimension.

Sr Margaret Bob : PNG

I find in chapter one on Charism, Spirituality and Mission paragraph 3 very inspiring.

This paragraph was lived and witnessed to by the sisters I first met that attracted me to their way of life. It sums up the call and what it means for me to be a DOLSH

Sr Mairead Kelleher : Ireland

Chapter one on Charism, Spirituality and Mission paragraph 3

Like Jules Chevalier, I too was called in faith, in Baptism and as the Holy Spirit has placed in Jules Chevalier’s heart a deep desire to contemplate and come to understand , his faith vision , that he wished to share with all of us and which I am privileged to be called to be called to know and to experience the infinite tenderness of the love of God for all. Every day we are called to live this out in a prophetic way, to reach out to the very needy of our world , with compassion and concern and be able to make a difference, by making the Sacred Herat of Jesus everywhere loved.

Sr Anne – Maeie Hermans : Belgium

Chapitre Deux  Consecration Religieuse P 10

Soyez religieuse en tout

Et souvenez – vous toujours que vous n’appartenez qu’à Dieu, que vous lui avez tout donnė et que c’est pour lui seul que vous devez vivre.

Sr. Marisa Aquino : Brazil

O numero que mais aprecio em nossas constituições.

Todo o texto  de nossas constituições é muito expressivo, mas para mim o numero 13 tem um sentido muito especial, pois nos dá a certeza de que o mesmo Deus que nos chama a seguir Jesus Cristo na radicalidade do evangelho, se faz presente em nossa vida através do  Espirito Santo que nos consagra e envia para a missão. É essa a nossa grande riqueza.

Sr. Elly van Dijk: The Netherlands

For me that would probably be chapter three “Community in Christ”

In our old constitutions this chapter was named ”Community life”. One day when we were speaking about this with some sisters everybody agreed that community life is a gift but also a challenge. Our community with Christ challenges us to build up communities of love. Father Chevalier said in his spiritual testament to us: between you should exist a strong bond of mutual love. Although it is not always easy to realize that, in days as these, when we are celebrating our General Chapter but also on many other occasions , we experience that it is possible and that is what I want to pass on to the people around me. So: Renewed, let us go forth!!

Sœur Marie-Christine Kunzi : France

Dans la version de nos constitutions que nous travaillons actuellement, j’aime tout particulièrement un passage du No 62 : « Suivant l’exemple du Père Chevalier, nous prenons dans notre cœur et notre prière les espoirs et les angoisses des hommes de notre temps. Nous utilisons les moyens dont nous disposons pour leur venir en aide. » et le No 65 : « l’internationalité de la congrégation exprimée dans notre devise « Aimé soit partout le Sacré-Cœur de Jésus ! » offre une opportunité réelle pour témoigner de l’amour du Cœur de Jésus pour tous dans un monde divisé. »

LOOKING BACK WITH US:

Since the foundation of our Congregation, the Constitutions have had a number of revisions.  Here is some interesting information about their development over the years:

FDNSC CONSTITUTIONS

The Constitutions prior to 1881

There is no extant copy of these; there exists in the handwriting of Father Chevalier a resume of their main points. This document, dated 29th Nov. 1877, was drawn up at the request of Mgr. Marchal, Archbishop of Bourges, who wished to present  it to Mother Felicity, the superior at that time, for her signature.

The Constitutions of 1881

All that remains of the edition of the Constitutions, approved by the Archbishop of Bourges in 1881, are pages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 67 of a handwritten copy. These pages concern the purpose of the Institute, the qualities which must characterise a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and the Council of the Superior General.

1891 Edition

This is the first printed edition of the Constitutions.

1899 Edition

These Constitutions were never officially promulgated.

From the point of view of the history of the Constitutions, this edition is important since it was the last one to be revised by Father Chevalier.

1901 Edition

The revision was made by Father Meyer, MSC, with permission of Father Founder. On 4th December 1906 it received diocesan approval.

1910 Edition

This was the 1906 edition which, after presentation to the Holy See, had received the Decree of Praise on 23rd July 1908. But it was not possible to have it printed before 1910.

1931 Edition

This is the edition which, on 4th April 1928, had received the DEFINITIVE APPROBATION of the Holy See. The delay in the printing is explained by the fact that the text approved in 1928 was not received from the Holy See until 11th January 1931.

1958 Edition

The 1958 edition was the last to be printed before Vatican Council II.

1983 Edition

The Edition of 1958 was revised, according to Conciliar directives, and the 1983 Edition is the result of this revision.

IN OUR AGENDA:

Today, we discussed various points in relation to Chapters 1 to 4 of Draft 4 of the revised Constitutions and tomorrow we will move on to Chapter 5 until 8.  It has been a very productive day!

CONTACT US

generalchapter2011@gmail.com