Convocation of the General Chapter
It is with joy and a sense of hope that I formally convoke the XXVI General Chapter of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
The guiding theme for this Chapter of Affairs will be: “Behold, I am doing something new…do you not perceive it?” (Is 43:19). These words contain for us both a hope and a challenge. In our Covenant of Love, we read that the primary purpose of the general chapter is “to engage the members in a communal search for the Will of God”, as well as “to assess the Congregation and plan for the future in relation to the changing needs of the Church in the world.” (7.49) Therefore, guided by these words from the Lord, we will strive to read God’s action in the “signs of the times” and discern to what He is calling us now.
The General Chapter will be held in Rome, at the Generalate beginning on June 30 and concluding on July 24, 2024. A three-day retreat will take place July 1-3. The Sisters who will serve as delegates are asked to be in Rome by June 29, 2024, at the latest.
Prayer for the Chapter
Over the next eighteen months, much effort will be dedicated to chapter preparations. But more essential than any activity is the spiritual foundation on which we must build. Therefore, I ask each local community to begin the Prayer for the General Chapter which should be prayed each day from now until the closing of the Chapter. May the Holy Spirit be our guide on every step of this journey, and may the Lord will bless our labors and bring forth a fruitful harvest for the sake of His Kingdom.
In the love of the Holy Family,
Sr. Angela Marie Mazzeo
of Jesus, Joy of All Creation
Krakow, January 17, 2023