Handover of general government
"A compass and a common reference for each one and our common journey"
This year, in Rome, the feast day of Saint Thérèse Couderc on September 26th, 2022 took on a special colour : that of the handover between two General Government teams, between two General Superiors of our Congregation Our Lady of the Cenacle.
At the end of a six-year mandate, the Eucharist celebrated in the house church brings together collaborators, friends, and fellow travellers. It is a thanksgiving for the accompaniment that the General Government team has given to the whole body : Sister Patricia Byrne, Irish, and the General Councillors, Sister Ghislaine Pauquet, French, Bubbles Bandojo, Filipino and Mary Guido, American. It was also the occasion to entrust the installation of the new team: Sister Véronique Fabre, the new French General Superior and her Councillors, Sisters Kathryn Madden, American, Hanitra Rahanitririvoniandrianiony, Malagasy, Helena do Nascimento, Brazilian and Susay Valdez, Filipino.
This year, in Rome, the feast day of Saint Thérèse Couderc on September 26th, 2022 took on a special colour : that of the handover between two General Government teams, between two General Superiors of our Congregation Our Lady of the Cenacle.
At the end of a six-year mandate, the Eucharist celebrated in the house church brings together collaborators, friends, and fellow travellers. It is a thanksgiving for the accompaniment that the General Government team has given to the whole body : Sister Patricia Byrne, Irish, and the General Councillors, Sister Ghislaine Pauquet, French, Bubbles Bandojo, Filipino and Mary Guido, American. It was also the occasion to entrust the installation of the new team: Sister Véronique Fabre, the new French General Superior and her Councillors, Sisters Kathryn Madden, American, Hanitra Rahanitririvoniandrianiony, Malagasy, Helena do Nascimento, Brazilian and Susay Valdez, Filipino.
The entrance procession offered the opportunity to place the Constitutions and the Acts of the June 2022 Chapter before the altar. The constitutions express what inspires our life and gives it a framework. They come to life and are actualised through the work, the journey and the discernment of the sisters gathered in chapter. The Acts of the Chapter gather and give form to the essential of what has been gathered and are transmitted to each sister through the account of one of the sisters who has herself lived the experience. They become a compass and a common reference for each one and our common journey.
The liturgy of the Word opens with the handing over of the constitutions and acts of the chapter from one team to the next, each having taken their place standing at the altar. The gesture is simple and has a strong symbolic meaning. It is accompanied by a few words exchanged but mostly by the intensity of the glances which show the significance of the mission accomplished for some and the mission received for others. At the end, it involves all the members of the assembly by proposing that they raise their hands to bless the new team and its mission. Finally, it is extended to the intentions of the universal Church.
We continued the celebration around another table, that of the dinner. This was a privileged opportunity to share with friends, collaborators or fellow travellers who had come to join us and for me, who arrived in Rome 10 days ago, to see or meet again those with whom I would be happy to share life and mission !
The liturgy of the Word opens with the handing over of the constitutions and acts of the chapter from one team to the next, each having taken their place standing at the altar. The gesture is simple and has a strong symbolic meaning. It is accompanied by a few words exchanged but mostly by the intensity of the glances which show the significance of the mission accomplished for some and the mission received for others. At the end, it involves all the members of the assembly by proposing that they raise their hands to bless the new team and its mission. Finally, it is extended to the intentions of the universal Church.
We continued the celebration around another table, that of the dinner. This was a privileged opportunity to share with friends, collaborators or fellow travellers who had come to join us and for me, who arrived in Rome 10 days ago, to see or meet again those with whom I would be happy to share life and mission !
