As the end of our Interchapter Meeting approaches, we thank the Lord sincerely for this experience of grace that he enabled us to live together.
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Maestra Thecla and so, before beginning our work this morning, we turned to her in prayer, asking her to help us “live fully immersed in our time” and to help the people of today feel their need of Christ.
Afterward, in a spirit of mutual listening, we sought to fine tune our proposals for the Congregation’s programming for the coming period (from the Interchapter to our 10th General Chapter). These proposals concern the redesigning of our spiritual life, our pastoral work for vocations, the sharing of our charism with the laity and the authority-obedience relationship (the third priority entrusted to us by the 9th General Chapter). With regard to redesigning the apostolate, yesterday we exchanged ideas concerning the preparation and holding of our upcoming continental meetings for the apostolate and administration-significant events inasmuch as we hope these encounters will open new paths to disseminating the Word on the continental level. The Continental Projects that we drew up during the first stage of the Interchapter are a part of this global programming, like small tiles in a single mosaic.
In the afternoon, we turned our attention to our 10th General Chapter, to be held in 2013. On the assembly level, we offered the General Government suggestions concerning its date, location and theme. We also suggested that its methodology be participative and involve all the sisters.
After this, the Superior General, Sr. M. Antonieta Bruscato, guided a concluding Hour of Adoration, during which she invited us to entrust ourselves to Mary and to also place in her hands all our sisters, together with their dreams for doing good, their spiritual and apostolic journeys and the problems they face in their efforts to remain faithful to God and to the Pauline vocation.
The day, which opened with a solemn Eucharistic Celebration in the Generalate chapel, concluded in the St. Paul House with a fraternal and convivial supper shared with the members of the Generalate community, followed by a lively communal recreation made up of games, songs, dances, skits and surprise gifts.