Calendar
XV General Chapter of the Institute
Rome-Ottavia, 5 February – 19 March, 2008
Timetable of Chapter Events will be posted in order that Sisters can follow day-by-day.
— Affairs of the Institute
13-16 March – The Directory and Regulations of the Institute
Motions to the Chapter
17-18 March – The Work of the Commissions – Voting
19 March – Proposal Letter of the Chapter
Conclusive Celebration of the Eucharist -Mons. Enzo Dieci
Closure of the XV General Chapter
–
5 February – Official Opening of the General Chapter
6 February – Reciprocal awareness – guided by M. Marilyn Lim
- presentation on the community of Sant’Egidio – Antonella Antezza
- Praying with an Icon
7 February – Informative Session
8 February – “The General Chapter: An Experience” by Sr. Micheline Tremblay
9 February – Sharing on the Report by the Superior General
- Reports by Office of Postulation, Information Systems, SEICA, VOICA and the Lay Canossians
10 February – Reports by: CAMIC, CISC and ACSC
11 February – Report by COSME (Conference of European Major Superiors):
Brescia, Catania, Milano, Padova, Verona and Europe
12 February – Continuation of COSME reporting
13 February – Free Day
14 February – Reports by PCCI (Conference of Major Superiors of India)
India Centre, India North, and India South
15 February – Reports by COSMA (Conference of Major Superiors of Africa)
Congo, East Africa, Egypt-Sudan-Uganda,
and Delegations Angola-Sao Tomé, and Togo
16 February – Reports by CCTAO (Conference of Major Superiors of Asia-Oceania
Philippines-PGN,Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Singapore, Timor-Indonesia, Australia
17 February – Reports by CCTAO, continued
18 February – Reports by the Conference of Major Superiors of the Americas
Argentina-Paraguay, Brasil, and North America
19 February – Integration and Informal Sharing
The Elective Phase
20 February – Audience with the Holy Father Benedict XVI
Preparation for the Elections / Discernment and Criteria
21 February – Morning Free
Spiritual Exercises Begin in the Evening
(with Fr. Ugo Vanni, S.J.)
27 February – Conclude Spiritual Exercises (am)
Meeting of Mother General and Provincials
28 February – Preparation for the Election of the General Council
29 February – Declaration of Availability given by Sisters Nominated for Superior General
1 March – ELECTION of General Superior
2 March – Swearing in of the new General Superior
election of the new General Counselors
election of the Vicar General
Greetings of Father General of the Canossian Fathers, Fr. Antonio Papa
3 March – Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Divine Love
4 March – Free Day
5 March
Address by the General Superior M. Margaret Peter
Introduction to the Instrumentum Laboris
6 March – The Vows Today
Christological, Ecclesial, Pastoral – Fr. Rovira José
Femine Approach - Sr. Linda Lizada
7 March – The Vows Today
Charismatic Aspect, Fr. Augusto Boscardin
8 March – Round Table Discussion:
How do they see the relevance of the Relgious Vows Today – Bishop Domenico Sigalini
“Magdalene, Yesterday, Today and Forever”
9 – 12 March - Instrumentum Laboris (the working paper for the Chapter)
Dear Mother Marie and all the Chapter members,
We are with you in prayer for the success of the General Chapter. Sending our good wishes
Canossian Sisters Faizabad
North India.
Dearest Mother Marie and all the Sisters of the General Chapter,
we the Sisters from the Community of Ukraine wish to assure you all our closenes and love through our constant prayer to our Heavenly Father that he may shower down the abundance of the Holy Spirit so that all the work that you are doing may be light to You and may be fruitful to the whole Church.
Our hope stands high for a new spring in the whole Institute.
With sincere gratitude and love,Valeria,Alicia, Elizabeth, Rosa, Blondina , Oksana and Monica
Dearest Sr Marie and all Capitular Ssiters,
We are following you with our prayers and we prayed that each one of you be filled with light and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, so that we may continue to serve and love as the M. Foundress will do if she is here with us.
With our best wiashes.
Your sisters of Hong Kong -the first mission land
Dearest Mother and all the Capitular Mother ,
What a gracious moments of God’s blessings and graces on our institute.As we journey towards his greatest LOVE May we all be filled with the Authenticity of our consecration and be filled and rooted in the spirit and charism of our institute .And thus Jesus may be known and loved to everyone through our witnessing life.
We sisters of cairo waily community wish you all, the abundance of the HOly spirit upon each of you.we are with you with our daily prayers for you . we are very close to you in spirit .May our saintly mother accompany all and guide you all to listen to the spirit in the depth to be wise to go through this discerning process in order do his holy will always . loving greetings to all the mothers .
Dear Madre Marie and all the capitular sisters…
Loving Greetings!
Wish you all the blessings. We always pray for you. Remembering you all with much love and asking Jesus to guide all your journey.
Love and prayer,
Sisters and Novices
Jakarta – Indonesia
Dear M. Marie and all the Capitolo Sisters,
We from the land of St. Bakhita our Universal Sister,El Obeid ommunity come to you with the BISHOP, Priest, Religious and the Laity of our Parish who pray together for the Chapter that the Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel come on each of you as St Magdalene Our Mother and Foundress wanted us to move with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and our OPTION FOR THE POOR; thus making our CONSECRATED LIFE a Sign of Reconciliation, Dialogue,Peace and Unity with our Muslim brothers and Sisters, and our people, who are devastated by War and deprived of their human dignity. We remember you with love and appreciate very much to express ourselves through this corner.
All the best From divine Providence convent . Praying for you.
Dearest Mother Marie and Capitular Sisters,
In union of hearts and minds we are with you day by day as we earnestly ask the Lord to shower the fullness of His Spirit on all of you, so that you may see His Light and be empowered to lead us all along His ways in this Third Millenium so that our Institute may be rejuvenated and find the freshness of the Living Water Jesus promised all of us.
Sisters and Novices from the Canossian Novitiate Community, Arusha, Tanzania, East Africa
Dear M.Marie and All the Capitular Sisters,
We,the senior members of our beloved Institute at Lucknow, are praying fervently to our HEAVENLY FATHER and making little sacrifices, so that the members of the General Chapter , may be open to the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT and proceed with their work according to the spirit of our Institute and needs of the time.
Sr.Dorothy D’Mello & Sr.Linda De Zen from Lucknow North India
Dear M.Marie & all the capitular sisters,
Special greetings from Bintaro-Jakarta
We wish you “HAPPY VALENTINE DAY”
We all here praying for you all, may the Holy Spirit upon you all and fill each of you with the wisdom of God.
Love & Prayers
Sisters Community Bintaro
DearM.Marie& all the capitular sisters,
praying for you all,and for the chapter.
Love and prayers.
Fatima Gomes.
India Centre.
To Mother General and all the Capitular Sisters.
Our prayers are with you all some of your Sisters.
Dear Sr Marie and Councillors..
Before the upcoming election, we wish to send our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the last 6 eyars of your service to the Institute, we are praying that God will continue to bless you as true Daughters of Charity and Servants of the poor..we thank you for your service to each one of us in the insitute, for bringing us to understand more clearly the Vision of our Foundress and in many ways leading the way for the Future. We pray that what ever your future undertakings may be, God will shower his blessings upon you. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU…ALL THE BEST,MAY WE SERVE IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF HUMILITY, CHARITY AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD
Love and Prayers
Sisters of Mater Dei
Carissima Madre Generale
Offriamo le nostre preucupazioni, i nostri sacrificii, le l’acrime e l’amore di Timor Leste per VOI SORELLE CAPITOLARI, che Il Signore rinnova sempre i giorni del Capitolo, seguendo sempre la guida dello Spirito e trovando sempre il bene per i piu poveri amati di Maddalena.
Dear Madre General
We offer our intentions and sacrifices, the tears and love in East Timor for YOU and THE CAPITULAR SISTERS, May the Lord always guide you in your daily meeting to find God’s will for the growth of our Institute and for the good of Magdalene’s beloved poor.
Le Tue Sorelle
Sisters + Novices Jakarta(Timor-Indonesia)
Dear M.Marie and all the capitular sisters,
Thanks very much for all that you are doing for the good of the whole Institute. Be sure of our contant prayer, and daily offering of our little sacrifices.
United in Christ.
Sr. Irene Nakamanya,
(Junior)Egypt Cairo.
Dear M. Marie, Gen. Councillors and all tha Capitular Sisters,
Our prayers, gratitude and love are with you each day of the Chapter.
God Bless!
Sisters Felicity, Elisa, Jenny,& Teresa Celine…Sacramento,California
Dear M. Marie, Gen. Councillors and all the Capitular Sisters, thank you for participating in this great event of our institute. Thanks for the daily sacrifices offered for the good of the Institute. United with you in prayer may you be imbued and guided by the Holy Spirit and through the intercession of Mother Mary and our mother Magdalene.
May God Bless you all,
Sr. Theopista Tibamwenda (Cairo)
Dearest Sr. MARIE & THE BLESSED CHOSEN CAPITULAR SISTERS,
Praise the Lord for He’s journeying with you for these two weeks full time.We imagine the hall there shining with your golden auras while working with the Holy Spiritt
Today Mass was held in our convent for the your intentions and for a Spirit-filled & fruitful spiritual Exercises in Feb.21-27. May the Holy spirit together with Mama Mary & Beloved Foundress truly prepare you especially for HIS CHOICE OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL. May His charisms of WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE & DISCERNMENT overflow in your hearts. Amen!
Love & prayers,
Sisters of Jakarta, Indonesia w/ our aspirants,novices,lay collaborators-friends,& Lay Canossians
Dearest M. Marie and our dear Capitular Sisters,
As God unfolds each day His will and as each sister journey’s during this great event of our General Chapter we pray and assure you of our prayerful support and ask God to accompany you during your retreat and in the coming days.Our sincere and best wishes to each one of you.
Love and prayers,
Srs. Stella, Jasmine and novices
India, Centre
Dear Mother General and our Capitular Sisters,
We wish you the Fullness of the Spirit as you begin the Spiritual Exerecises.Our Prayers are with you all these days of prayer and discernment.
Holy Spirit, be with our Chapter Delegates.
Be their Strength, their Guide, their Counsellor, their Light .
Fill them with your gifts, especially the gifts of
wisdom, discernment, knowledge, understanding, and Courage
In all that they think, say, and do, let it be in accordance with your most holy and perfect will.
May Your Wisdom help them to discern Your Most Holy Will for living the vitality of the Charism of Our Institute. Amen
Sr.Annette and Elizabeth
Bangalore
dearest Sr. Marie & Beloved Delegates,
Today the Holy Spirit atarts to invite you all to the DESERT.Our Community in Bintaro, Jakrta,w/ our novices & aspirants, join you in offering our DESERT DAY today(Gr.i) & in March 7(Gr.2-teachers & student Srs.).Our Lay Canossians, staff of Retreat House, collaborators,priests,friends & relatives offer their prayers & sacrifices for your SPIRITUAL EXERCISES. We beg the Lord to fill all of you w/ HIS LOVE, & WISDOM. May His charisms of KNOWLEDGE & DISCERMENT be re-activated within you to move you to dance with HIM,according to His rythm and music.Thus your INNER SELVES intuit HIS CHOSEN ONES FOR your ELECTION OF THE NEW GENERAL COUNCIL.
Love & prayers,
Community of Bintaro, Jakarta, Indonesia
Dearest M.Marie,All the Capitular Sisters, Specially those of Africa,
Thanks for the sharing on Africa, I am happy to see the pictures and the market so well presesnted. I feel ElObeid-Sudan, in Africa,the land of St. Bakhita, is blessed with love and generosity. Bakhita never forgot her people and wanted us to go to them, thanks that we are here in El Obeid. I as an AD GENTES missionary here have learnt much from this land of Africa. It is rich in many ways and the presentation has shown to the Chapter delegates, Magdalene’s love to make Christ known and loved. Thanks to COSMA. I am happy to be here.
Sr. Philomena Fernandes
Dear M. Marie and Capitular Sisters,
We never miss a single day praying for you all and especially today that you begin your holy retreat.
May you experience Christ’s love more intimately and follow him more closely and enlighten you in your task of discerment.
With love and prayers,
The Sisters of East Timor, Indonesia and Setubal
Dearest M.Marie and Capitular Sisters,
As you enter the clouds with the Lord may the spirit stir your hearts.We wish you a gracefilled time with the Lord . We are intensifying our prayers for you. Please speak to the Lord about us too. With lots of love and assurance of our prayers,
Sr. Mary Chacko & Sisters
Zeitoun Community.
Dearest Mother Marie and Capitular Sisters,
As you are in the company of the Lord we are very happy to offer you our prayers for a happy and gracefilled time with the Lord. May you be filled with the gifts and fruits of the Holy spirit and follow His direction all throughout your journey with the Lord.
We are with you in prayer,asking the Lord to enlighten you in the work He expects of you.
Sisters of PremaMandira
Bangalore.
Thanks for the reflection on the GIFT OF WISDOM. We pray the HOLY SPIRIT will fill & re-fill you all during your Retreat this GIFT OF WISDOM. AMIN
Nice to see the fotoes of the own CCTAO.Lord bless each unique face there, familiar & not.
Love & prayers,
Community of Jakarta, Indonesia
COME HOLY SPIRIT
to our CAPITULAR SISTERS & FR.UGO VANNI,SJ
with Your GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING.
May they see deeper the inner mysteries of
the signs of the times, in events, in people.
AMEN !!!
Love & prayers,
Sisters of Jakarta-NOVICES-ASP-LAY FRIENDS-COLLABORATORS
Dear Capitular Sisters,
We followed you step by step during the past days, in particular during your time of intense prayer. It was a real priviledge to be part of your journey and we thank you for giving us this possibility. We believe that the Holy Spirit is working and will work wonders in you and through you, for the good of our Institute and for the people we are serving (Magdalen’s and our Poors). We continue to pray with you and for you especially in the next part of the journey of the Chapter.
United in love,
The Sisters of Australia
Dearest Mother Marie and all the Capitular Sisters,
Wishing you God’ Blessings and affectionate greetings from the Community of Christ
the King.
You are in our heart and mind as the time of discernment is at hand.Praying much for all of you. May the Spirit of God guide and fill you with wisdom and love.
United in Love and Prayers
Sisters of Arusha,
Spirituality Centre (East Africa)
Dear Mo. Marie and Sisters:
We are one with you in prayers. Our Sisters here in the Philippines are intensely praying for peace in everyone’s hearts as we approach a NEW DAWN in the History of our Institute through the 15th General Chapter. Very timely, we earnestly beg the Lord of Mercy to grant peace also to us here as we walk hand in hand with our people—searching for Truth!
As our communities share our recent experiences of the socio-political and spiritual crises in the land, we realize that it coincides with the 20th year of Magdalene’s canonization and the 200th year of our Institute. There is a deep calling for servanthood touched with humility. Our poor brethren are suffering so much by the evils of corruption around us and all of us here, as Canossians, are called to rise and walk with them. We are participating in circles of communal discernment and action. Tomorrow, 29th of February 2008, we shall engage in an Inter-Faith Prayer Rally as we converge all our strengths and energies in quest for truth and peace. Do pray for us also…. we beat our chest, in mea culpa for we are also part of this web of corruption and in humility before God who shall set us free….
Sr. Sally, FdCC (Philippines)
Dear Mo. Marie and all the Capitular Sisters,
Daily the Tagaytay Community watch with interest and concern the activities of the General Chapter. Especially our old Mothers would crowd near the computer to watch what is flashed on screen. We feel ourselves united with all of you and offer our prayers and sacrifices for the success of your works.May the Holy Spirit continually fill you with the Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel and especially we pray for your good health.
With love and prayer
Sr. Isabelita,fdcc Tagaytay City Philippines
Dear Mother Margaret Peter,
Our hearts rejoice in the Lord for His gracious gift – that you become our Mother General! Thank you for your generous “Yes” to the Lord.
May He bless you with His choicest graces and bless all your undertakings for the good of our Canossian Family.
May Our Lady and our Foundress accompany you in leading us on the journey of our making Jesus known and loved.
Sisters of St. Mary’s
Our Dear Sr.Margaret Peter,
We are indeed previleged to have you as our MOTHER GENERAL.
Our heart rejoice with you for the great choice God has made in our Canossian Family. Thank you for accepting this great mandate to guide the Institute in the coming years. Our Prayerful wishes are with you always.
May the God Almighty fill you with His choicest blessings and especially on all your undertakings.
May our Holy Foundress intercede for you all the time.
Prayerful Greetings
From Sisters St.Mary’s Convent, Fort Cochin,South India.
CANOSSIAN SISTERS:
PROVINCE OF EAST TIMOR AND INDONESIA
MARCH 1, 2008
Dear Sr. Margaret Peter,
Rejoicing with all the Sisters of the Institute, each and every Sister of the Province of East Timor and Indonesia together with the Aspirants, Postulants and Novices, Canossian Collaborators and lay, praise and thank God for our New Mother General, Mother Margaret Peter. Our Big and Loving greetings and best wishes:
“CONGRATULATIONS, PARABENS! PROFICIAT!,
DEAR MOTHER MARGARET PETER!”
With great joy and gratitude in our hearts we continue the good bond of friendship we have with you with our prayers, support and collaboration. Together we continue to journey onwards spreading the love and goodness of the Lord in the Church and among our people, especially the poor.
Once again we say, we rejoice with you…
Affectionately in the Lord and with our Blessed Mother,
The Sisters of East Timor and Indonesia
Canossian Sisters:
Province of East Timor and Indonesia
March 1, 2008
Dear M. Marie,
As we thank the Lord for the newly elected Mother General, we think of you with loving gratitude for all that you have been and for all that you have done for all of us and the whole the Institute. Wherever you shall be, you will always be remembered with love and gratitude. You have sown seeds of goodness, love, peace,joy and fraternity in our hearts and in our communities and the Lord will continue to give growth and fruition.
Thank you and please continue to remember us, Sisters in Timor and Indonesia in your prayers. Till we meet again!
We love You, dear M. Marie!
Affectionately yours,
The Sisters of Timor and Indonesia.
and the community of Setubal
Dearest Capitular Sisters,
As you continue w/ the AFFAIRS OF OUR INSTITUTE, we continesly cry to heaven to assist you all for the god of all our sisters later & our relevance of religious life & our apostolate as Magdalene says ‘WALK WITH THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES”.
Asking for prayers for the passing to the next life yesterday of the mother(Beatriz Osorio) of M.ZULMIRA OSORIO SOARES, our Prov.Coucilor in atambua,Indonesia.Thanks.
Cioa! Buon lavoro e recreio anche!
Love,
community of Jakarta
DEAR M.GENERAL,M.MARGARET
THANK YOU for your first letter to us. It breathes depth, freshness and vision!
WE ARE HAPPY and FEEL CONFIDENT TO JOURNEY WITH YOU though the implementation of the vision will require also good leadership.
WE ARE READY to “start afresh with Christ…” and the Liturgical Season is suggesting it too.
Hope to meet you soon in Hong Kong.
Best wishes to you and your Councillors. Greetings to all Capitulars.
This 15th General chapter has been enriching not only to those who are near but also to some of us who are working far away in the remotest areas.
My wish is that the chapter should not end only “nell’aula di conferenza a Roma” but it should start now AFRESH WITH CHRIST. Thank you Sisters for the hard work you have been doing for the Institute. As you come back let’s enjoy together with greatiful hearts the fruis of the Holy Spirit
Dearest M.Margaret,Gen.Councillors & all Capitular Sisters,
Praise the Lord for His wonderful deeds in you, in our Institute, in the Church for our XVth Gen.Chap.Thank you for the joys, sweat,frowns, smiles, headaches,doubts, lights,ecstasies you shared to REFOUND OUR CANOSSIN CONSECRATED LIFE.
Everything has an end in this world & tomorrow is the closure of the Gen.Chap. Tomorrow in our convent, we offer you a THANKSGIVING MASS to celebrate the GREAT WORKS THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH ALL OF YOU.CONGRATULATIONS!PROFICIAT!PARABENS!AUGURONE A TUTTE!
wE LOVE YOU,
Sisters of the Indonesia-East Timor-Setubal