The final day of the Chapter was one of celebration and ritual.

Prayer of Acceptance of the Document of the 2001 General Chapter

Chapter members and staff gathered in the chapter room at 9:00 for morning prayer. After singing the refrain from one of songs that had accompanied us during the days of the Chapter, we gave thanks for all of the work that the document represents. We offered the hopes contained in the document and asked that we would be faithful to this next step in our journey as RSHM.

We listened prayerfully as Margaret Fielding, Maria Teresa Nogueira, Carol Schommer, and Paré Moreira read the document.

Voting on the Document

The Chapter Document was approved unanimously.

Conversation with the new General Council

The chapter members had the opportunity to speak with the members of the new council. It was a time for the new council to ask for clarification about some ideas that had come up during the Chapter and for everyone to share ideas about preliminary plans for celebrating the 200th anniversary of Gailhac's birth in 2002.

Catherine told the chapter that the present council and the new council had met together and thought that November 21, 2001 would be a good day for the new council to begin its mandate. The Chapter approved this date.

Closing of the Chapter and Missioning of the Delegates

The closing session of the chapter began with a short address by Catherine Dolan.

The closing ceremony was one of gratitude. Gratitude for all the graces received during the chapter . . for the ability to respond to new calls . . . for the ability to risk. Gratitude for the experience of life in community . . . our Internationality . . . the service given by all present at the Chapter . . . and for the gift of the present council and of the new council.

Water had been an ever present symbol during the chapter. A fountain, filled with water from Béziers, bubbled in the chapter room (and was occasionally moved to the chapel). Each province group and each staff group had received a bowl of this water during the opening ceremony, as a "sign of the torrents of Life which spring from each of you for all our Institute, for all the Universe!"

Water from the province bowls had been shared as each province began its report.

And now, once again, all present, chapter members and staff, blessed the water, sign of God's rich and abundant life.

The chapter members were called to the front of the room and given a flask of water from Béziers, "sign of the torrents of Life which spring from our Institute for all the World, for all the Universe." With these words they and were missioned to carry the Life of the chapter to all the sisters and to all those women and men to whom we have been sent and with whom we share our charism. "May the work of God be continued in you!" (Jean Gailhac)

Closing Liturgy

The closing liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Jean Baptiste Itçaiana, MEP. It began with an entrance procession, asking all our ancestors, the Founder, the Foundress, the sisters who have died, to join us in praising God.

The liturgy ended with an enthusiastic singing of the Hymn of the Institute.