XXIVth GENERAL CHAPTER

"Let's cross to the other side..." 

The General Chapter is a fraternal, intergenerational and intercultural assembly of Sisters, a living expression of the unity of the Congregation. Composed of elected members and members by right, this assembly meets every 5 years.

It is a time for prayer, discernment and sharing... together to reread the past, to seek directions for the coming years, and to elect the general team responsible for the animation and communion of the religious family.

From August 16 to September 1, 2024, 25 Sisters Capitulants, from France, Spain, Latin America, Ivory Coast and India, gathered together at the Congregation's motherhouse, in Anglet, on the site of Notre Dame du Refuge, to take part in the XXIVth General Chapter of the Servants of Mary, on the theme "Let us cross to the other side"...

• August 16 to 18: on the way to the Spirit, together…

The XXIV General Chapter kicked off on Friday August 16, with a spiritual time led by Father Laurent Bacho, SCJ, and Maïté Irazoqui.

Then on Saturday, the 25 Sisters Capitulants were led, in a climate of silence and prayer, to rediscover the source of their founder, Blessed Louis-Edouard Cestac, to rekindle the Spirit within them.

On Sunday, a pilgrimage was organized to Sarrance to walk in the footsteps of Father Cestac, and pray to Our Lady of Sarrance, Mother of Hope for all the Sisters of the Congregation, before entering, together, into the time of the Chapter.

• August 19 to 21: opening of the General Chapter

The Chapter opened on Monday morning with the approval of the General Chapter Regulations, and the presentation of Sr. Marián, from the Congregation of the Sainte Famille of Bordeaux, who will accompany the Capitulants throughout the Chapter in the role of "facilitator". The meeting then proceeded to the elections of the different teams (Scrutineers, Secretary, Coordination, Listening and Communication) in charge of the smooth organization and better communication between all the Capitulants.

Over the next three days, the various delegates presented the Reports from each Region and Delegation around the world, supported by the projection of illustrated presentations. Each presentation was followed by a moment of exchange, with questions, reactions, comments, feelings... to better understand each present situation, and the expectations, calls... for the future.

Afterwards, the Capitulants were invited to a short time of silence and personal reflection, to reread and absorb the highlights of each presentation...At the end of the afternoon, they met in small review groups of 5, to share what they had retained from the presentations, exchange their impressions and feelings, take note of the expectations and calls they had heard... in preparation for the orientations that will be defined during the Chapter.

• August 22 to 23: Moral, Economic and Patrimonial Reports

Moral Report

After the various presentations of the Regional and Delegation Reports, Sr. Isabelle, Superior General of the Congregation and President of the Chapter, presented the Moral Report for the last 5 years on Thursday.

Mrs. Pierre Santini, Denis Delerue, Guy Brignon and Guy Kelmant, as well as the Cheminons Ensemble team, responsible for the trusteeship and the associations in contact with the Congregation, were invited to take part in the presentation, either in person or by video.

Economic and Patrimonial Reports

On Friday, Sr. María-Jesús, General Treasurer, presented the Congregation's Economic Report. It showed that to date, thanks to serious management, the economy is balanced and remains in solidarity.

Sr. Isabelle then took the floor to present the Congregation's patrimony around the world, its current situation and ongoing projects.

This balance sheet, both financial and patrimonial, enabled the Capitulants to grasp a range of data essential to defining tomorrow's orientations with a clear conscience...

A fraternal atmosphere

It's in a very good atmosphere and in the respect of each one, that the Capitulants shared moments of communion and prayer, of exchange during meals and breaks, and of fraternity and relaxation in the stillness of the Refuge's gardens. These are precious moments that helped them to calmly tackle the important issues at hand…

• August 24 to 25: Appeals and Discernment

Saturday was devoted to "gathering the appeals" heard through the various reports presented during the week, in view of the Orientations to be taken for the next 5 years for the whole Congregation.

What do we need to "Cross to the other side", according to the Chapter's theme?

On Sunday, after a morning of rest to recharge their batteries, a time for personal reflection and prayer, the Capitulants entered the "Discernment Process" to seek together God's will for the Congregation, in view of the elections. 

• August 26-28: elections

It's an electoral process codified according to the Constitutions of the Congregation, but also times of prayer, silence, reflection, sharing and discernment, which lead the Capitulantes to the election of the Superior General and then, in a second stage, to that of the General Councillors.  

Here are the members of the General Council elected for 5 years:

Sister Isabelle (France) has been re-elected Superior General, along with Sr Jeena (India), General Councillor; they are joined by Sr Marita (Uruguay) and Sr Marie-Noëlle (Ivory Coast).