The Sisters, 25 years and above in final vows, gathered in Rome for the Professed Sisters meeting from Dec. 27, 2024 until January 6, 2025. There were twenty three Sisters coming from the United States, Warsaw and Krakow, Poland, Philippines, Australia and Belarus. Two Sisters translators also came all the way from Ghana and Poland respectively to help with the translations since not all the Sisters are speaking in Polish nor English. The program was a shorter version of the monthlong renewal “Return to the Roots” program. However, although short in days , the participants were offered the essential elements such as retracing the Footsteps of Mother Foundress in some churches in Rome and in the Holy House in Loreto which played a significant role in her decision in establishing the congregation. The Sisters had the opportunity to visit and pray in via Machiavelli where Mother Foundress stayed and died; seeing and touching some of her personal things and letters both in her room as well as in the archives at the generalate. They also heard on line conferences through Sister Marie Kielanowicz about some of the primary virtues that Mother Foundress lived as well as an input on Integration in Formation from Father Amadeo Cencini.
They had the chance for a guided tour at St. Peter’s basilica, even passing through the Holy Door which marked the significance of the Jubilee year. They were also able to join Pope Francis at the First Vespers before the New year as well as in some other church activities at the time. These and some other important events that the Church celebrated were significant in as much as the Sisters considered it as a celebration of communion in a synodal way. All who came for the program expressed their gratitude to the General Administration in spearheading the program and for the invitation to be in Rome; to the house superior and the whole community of Sisters in the general house for the privileged to celebrate the congregation’s 150th anniversary, enjoying the camaraderie and the Nazareth hospitality.
May God be praised!
Sr. Maria Fe
