November 25th was a special day for us. During the Holy Mass we prayed for Sr. Katarzyna Tusch from Belize and Sr. Katarzyna Gołub from Ukraine (Procura) on the occasion of their name day, and for our Sisters from the Queen Apostles Province in the USA on the Thanksgiving Day. In his homily of Fr. Martin recalled St. Catherine of Alexandria and her courage to confess Christ.
We started the morning session with a lecture by Fr. Xavier Jeraj, SJ on the political and social consequences of Covid-19. As positive effects, he mentioned a greater need to search for God, solidarity, strengthened family ties, a cleaner natural environment, financial support for medical research, and others. As negative effects, he listed fake news, the use of the pandemic for arbitrary government solutions violating human rights, mass protests, domestic violence, environmental threats, etc. With regard to consecrated life, the pandemic showed that we need conversion, the search for new solutions, compassion, and mutual respect. We have to ask ourselves: What is the most important? What does God expect from us, from our communities, from our Congregation? The discussion in the plenary made us realize that we are facing a decision. The situation of the pandemic forces us to give radical answers.
The second speech by Ms. Patricia Morgante (UISG) dealt with the positive aspects of using new technologies during the pandemic. There is no turning back the digital world, and we must be present in it if we want to be in contact with people, especially the younger generation. Covid-19 has forced us to use different new technologies, not just social media. Let us therefore ask ourselves: What is the digital culture of our Congregation? Are we well prepared to use it? The digital world, although invisible, is real. The presence of consecrated men and women in it is necessary to bring evangelical hope into our world.
At noon we met for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
For dinner, because of Thanksgiving, there was of course turkey!
In the afternoon, Ms. Jeniffer Trotter (England) gave us a presentation on the impact of the pandemic on the financial sector. In the plenary discussion, we had the opportunity to talk about the situation in our institutions during Covid-19. After the break, we worked in groups on the topics of formation and community life, and we presented the fruits of our work at the plenum.
In his closing words Fr. Martin noted that the Chapter is gaining “substance”: The Sisters’ concentrate more on important topics that require a decision; they practise discernment and listen to God’s Word and to one another. The day ended with Vespers.
