The second day of the General Chapter began with a reflection on the loving power of God which surrounds us, aided by Maria do Céu Quinteiro's (P) music and photos.

General Council Report to the General Chapter

Catherine introduced the General Council Report. She reminded the Chapter members that Part 1 of the Report had been sent to the Chapter members and to the Institute earlier this year. This was a factual memory of what had happened during the past five and a half years, as the General Council tried to respond to what they were called to as General Council.

In Part 2 of the Report, given at this point, the General Council presented what they saw as the new questions/challenges for the future in the context of the Institute, the world, and the Church today.

Marianne addressed the challenges regarding Community. Rosinha addressed those concerning Ongoing Formation. Veronica spoke of the challenges with regard to Conclusion 3 of the 1995 General Chapter, the transformation of relationships. Catherine concluded with the challenges related to sharing human resources.

A short written presentation of these questions/challenges was prepared by the General Council for the sisters of the Institute and is posted on this web site. After the break the Chapter members met in province groups to react to the report. Information about these responses will be gathered and sent to the Institute.

Province Reports

The afternoon session began with the Northern European and Portuguese Province Reports, illustrated by the photos on the sharing wall.

Rosemary Lenehan, provincial of the NEP, began by saying how unique it was to be giving the report of a new province, less than two years old, which has faced the daily task of becoming more united. Provincial Council members have learned a second language. There has been a great deal of informal sharing and visiting, as well formal missioning to the other part of the province. Sisters still refer to the booklet of community photos made in preparation for the Provincial Chapter, at which many met for the first time. Rosemary pointed out that the border of the sharing wall includes the name of every sister in the Province.

The delegates spoke of the challenges of community life in the context of life today: the smaller numbers and greater distances requiring creative ways of coming together and the need to balance coming together with the greater demands for personal time and space. They also spoke of new ministries.

In the early 1970's many sisters had moved out of schools into parish ministries. Now they are letting go of these to minister with the homeless, refugees, adults with learning difficulties. There is also a new focus in Pennmaenmar, toward those who might not otherwise be able to "Come apart and rest awhile," groups from poor parishes, groups who are not welcome elsewhere, and caregivers (one of the neediest groups in the country).

Teresa Nogueira began the Portuguese Province report by explaining that in the past five and a half years the province had responded to many calls to create new life. The first of these calls is for a renewed personal and community life, through prayer, listening attentively to each other, celebrating diversity and each other's gifts while building greater unity.

There is also a call to be open to Spirit, experienced in the Sources of Life and the power of our charism, and shown by the witness of our lives. The response to these calls to new life can be seen in the greater awareness of and option for those most in need. The Province has begun or expanded ministries with the immigrants and refugees, with ethnic minorities in marginalized slums, with children at risk, and in a new social center for the elderly. The Province has also increased efforts to integrate the laity in their ministries, investing in the formation of lay leadership and working to extend the RSHM family. The Province has also committed itself to greater interdependence, sharing human and financial resources with other provinces and with the Institute.

Ann Maria Gago spoke of the missions in Mali,specifically of the new community in Fantarela, where the sisters minister to very poor women, youth and children, and of the efforts the area of vocation awareness, including the creation of structures to welcome young women who are discerning their call to become RSHM.

Statistical Report

The final report of the day was the Statistical Report, the report on the human resources of the Institute. Marianne explained that the Institute Statistical Report aims to provide statistical information in relation to certain key areas of the composition of our Institute.

She pointed out that "One can read into the information about our human resources what one wishes and can draw one's own conclusions. Those perceptions and conclusions can influence our thinking in several ways. The figures can make us rejoice and/or make us sad or discouraged. Since they represent the condition of our human resources, they can help shape our plans for the future. Whatever our reading of the statistics, the figures represent our best resource in the Institute—namely the gift that each individual sister is."

A summary of the report is posted on the web site.

At the end of her Report, Marianne asked us to remember the 135 sisters who had died since the last General Chapter. As the provincials placed photographs or memorial cards of these sisters, as well as photographs of the 38 sisters in initial formation, around the fountain, we prayed for those who had a part in bringing us to where we are now and those who are bringing new life for our present and our future.

Later, before liturgy, the cards and photos were brought to the chapel and placed in front of the altar.

Liturgy

The liturgy, prepared by the Northern European Province was celebrated by David Flemming, SM,. General Superior of the Marionists. Mary Jo McElroy, reflecting on the first reading (Genesis 16: 1-12; 15-16), spoke about Sarai's offering her maid Hagar to her husband Abram. Sarai was able to see an alternative action which would bring new life to the family, even though this would cause many changes and involve a letting go. Are we able to see and choose alternative actions in our daily life? Will we be able to see and choose alternative actions in our Institute life?