July 19 - Final Day
Final Day of the General Chapter
We began the Final Day of the Chapter with Eucharist. RSHM from the communities in Rome were present for this Eucharist celebrated by Fr. Gilbert Pinon, OMI.
Fr. Gilbert Pinon, OMI
The present General Council and the newly elected General Council came to the altar, bringing symbols of the work done before coming into the Chapter and at the Chapter, of the commitments we have made, of the journey ahead.
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Catherine Patten (EA P) |
Maria Teresa Morgadinha (GC), Terezinha Cecchin (B), Catherine Dolan (GC) |
Terezinha Cecchin (B) |
Standing in front of the altar Catherine Dolan held up the Chapter Document and then passed it to Terezinha Cecchin.
Catherine Dolan, Terezinha Cecchin
Next, the provincials and the regionals lit the candles surrounding the globe that had been placed in front of the altar.
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| Patricia Connor (WAP) | Maria Flora Dunguza (Moz.) | Lelia O'Shea (Z) |
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| Rosamond Blanchet (EAP) | Barbara Bailey (NEP) | Maria Teresa Nogueira (P) |
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| Terezinha Cecchin (B) |
M. do Rosário Durães (P) and Catherine Gough (Z) invited us . . . to be Eucharist . . . Body of Christ . . . that all may have Life.
Maria do Rosário Durães (P) and Catherine Gough (Z)
We returned to the Chapter Room for a final news report and announcements about the day’s schedule.
Province and Region groups met to plan how they would bring the Chapter to the sisters at home.
Toward the end of the morning, we returned to the Chapter room. Catherine Dolan thanked Margaret Fielding for her efforts as Secretary of the Chapter. She thanked the staff who had worked behind the scenes to make the Chapter run smoothly. Maria Alice Lopes dos Santos (P), a member of the Coordinating Committee, thanked the Liturgy Committee, the Social Committee, the Environment Committee for their help during the Chapter. Catherine Dolan thanked Ruby Cribbin for facilitating the work of the Chapter. Patricia Connor (WAP) thanked Catherine, Veronica, Margaret, Maria Teresa, and Olga for all that they had done in preparation for the Chapter.
Catherine Dolan announced that the new General Council would take office on November 21, 2007.
Closing of the General Chapter of 2007
The formal Closing of the General Chapter of 2007 took place in the Chapel. We sat around the altar and prayed, using the words of M. St. Jean, “My God, I have great confidence that you will hear my prayer, and that I will receive the necessary graces to realise my responsibilities.”
We listened to a reading from the Gospel of Matthew,
| “The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which someone took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest seed of all, yet when fully grown it is the largest of plants.” |
We were invited to plant seeds in soil as a sign of each one’s commitment to the Chapter Document and openness to the NEW.
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| Catherine Dolan (GC) | Veronica Brand , Margaret Fielding, Maria Teresa Morgadinha, Catherine Dolan, Olga Georgina | Margaret Fielding (GC), Veronica Brand (GC) |
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| Terezinha Cecchin (B) | Catherine Patten (EAP) | Marie-France Correau (NEP), Catherine Minhoto (WAP) |
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| Ana Helena Andreão (B), Lelia O'Shea (Z), Mary Jo McElroy (NEP) | Cidália de Jesus Dinis (P), Mary Alice Young (EAP) | Moira Lever (NEP) |
Together we prayed in Portuguese and English.
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Lord, help us to reveal your touch as Creator |
During our stay at the General Chapter we have enjoyed the gracious hospitality of the Handmaids of Christ the King. We thanked them at supper for greeting us with wonderful smiles, for providing us with delicious meals, and most of all, for making us feel so at home.
Handmaids of Christ the King
© 2007 RSCM / RSHM