Volume 1, No. 1

Biennial Assembly Convenes — a Moment in History . . .

Sister Danat Marie Brysch and the General Administration, Provincial and Vice-Provincial Ministers, Vicars and Councilors responsible for Provincial Chapters gathered for the Biennial Assembly at the Redemptorist Retreat House in Krakow, Poland from September 11 to 17, 2022. Irma Maria Aparecida Vilas-Bôas and her Councilors joined via Zoom from Brazil. Frances Heery, the General Chapter facilitator, was also present for all of the sessions. The theme for the 25th General Chapter (GC) of 2024, The love of Christ impels us: Conversion, Reconciliation, Mission was the overarching theme for the atmosphere of the seven-day meetings. Following Morning Prayer, the Eucharistic Liturgy and breakfast the days were filled with sessions, conferences, reports, large and small group discussion, sharing and times of quiet reflection. In her opening address* to the Assembly, Sister Danat Marie noted that during a time of rapid historical change… we are called.. to wonder where it is all leading and what is our role in it all as Felician Sisters trying to live out God’s dream that was passed on to us through Blessed Mary Angela… Part of our answer is in our theme, the love of Christ impels us… With these opening thoughts Sister Danat encouraged the participants to enter fully into the process of the Biennial Assembly as we listened to the conferences and planned to make the General and Provincial Chapters transformative events in the life of the Provinces and Congregation.

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Where there is an asterisk * within the article, see the links below.

Sr. Danat Marie Brysch:

Opening Remarks

Fr. Lukasz Stec OFM:

Homily, September 17

Fr. Krzysztof Gierat, CMF: Biography

General Chapter Facilitator Named

Frances Heery, a Catholic Laywoman, who comes to us from Ireland, will be the Facilitator for the 25th General Chapter. Frances has worked with Faith and Praxis Associates International as an associate for the past six years delivering leadership programs for Religious Leaders in Rome and internationally. She comes with the referral of the Union of International Superiors General and the recommendation of Brother Emili Turú, FMS, its director. Frances has extensive experience working internationally with Chapter facilitation and formation programs. She has provided support to leadership teams to discover dynamics that foster collaborative working together, as well as those factors that hinder working well as a team. She has facilitated various congregational gatherings as well as chapters and assemblies. Francis has worked as a teacher, psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor in the educational and health sectors. She holds Master’s Degrees in Science in Organizational Analysis and in Arts in Counseling Psychology. Click here to continue reading.

Notes from the Chapter Planning Committee

The General Chapter Planning Committee (GCPC) has been meeting since February 2021 and to date has had seven two or three-day meetings—over eight time zones and three continents—all via Zoom. What an experience! What an accomplishment! Members include: Sister Danat Marie Brysch and Siostra Maria Franciszka Stępniewska, Chairperson and Chapter Coordinator, Siostra Maria Błażeja Kowal (PZ), Sister Mary Jolene Jasinski (NA), Sister Margaret Mary Njoki Mbogo (KY), Siostra Maria Maristella Hełmecka (KR), Sister Mary Rosita Brennan (NA), and Siostra Maria Wirginia Nowak (WA). Siostra Maria Anita Ruguła serves as the Translator (RO) and Sister Felicity Marie Madigan (NA), as the Recording Secretary. Irma Jusciêda Maria Araújo Menezes would be present to represent Brazil as she could. This article will present some highlights and important points from the seven meetings.

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Qualities of a Delegate

Delegate Responsibilities

Respectful Conversations

Communal Discernment

Revising the Constitutions

The 24th General Chapter directed the Minister General and her Council to establish an ad hoc committee to review the Constitutions, Response to Love, in the light of current Church documents that address consecrated life and our lived experience. The Constitution Revision Ad Hoc Committee commenced its work at a meeting held at the (former) Generalate in Rome, Italy from January 21-23, 2020. Members of the committee include Sister Danat Marie Brysch, Minister General, Siostra Maria Franciszka Stępniewska, chair, Irma Jusciêda Maria Menezes (BR), Sister Mary Anne Nanjala Tangati (KE), Sister Mary Jolene Jasinski (NA), Sister Judith Marie Kubicki (NA), Siostra Maria Marta Zielinska (WA), Siostra Maria Miriam Pelka (KR), Siostra Maria Krystyna Pustelak (PR), and Sister Mary Rosita Brennan (NA). Sister Mary Eliana Remiszewska (NA) serves as translator; Siostra Maria Agnieszka Mruga (WA) serves as secretary.

Father Henry Lemoncelli, OMI, addressed the committee at its first meeting, presenting considerations for reviewing and revising the Constitutions, including the Chapter directive, latest Church documents, and Canon Law. The committee has continued to meet once a month via Zoom for two-days, three hours per day, for most months of the year leading up to the present time. The process has included discussion of the comments and suggestions received from the sisters throughout the Congregation, rewriting of various parts of the Constitutions, articles and statutes, and annotating references from Church and Congregational documents. At the present time, the committee is concluding its third round of work on all the materials and preparing proposals for consideration at the General Chapter.

General Chapter Subcommittees

Every six years the Congregation engages in the process of bringing together delegates representative of the entire membership, to reflect on where the Holy Spirit is leading our Congregation . . .

in service to God’s people by being open to the “signs of the times”
in how we are in communion with one another
in considering that review of reports, discussion of issues, proposed actions as well as any major business matter reflects our Congregation’s precious heritage
in election of the minister general and councilors.

Realizing that preparations for the 25th General Chapter needed to begin, Sister Danat Marie Brysch, Minister General, initiated the establishment of the 25th General Chapter Planning Task Force. It is the concern of this Planning Task Force to implement plans and procedures that will enable each delegate to fulfill her responsibility in serving as a participant in the General Chapter for the common good of our Congregation. One of its first tasks was the establishment of the various subcommittees and clarifying their responsibilities.

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List of General Chapter Task Force and Subcommittee Members

General Chapter Newsletter Email List

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