XV CHAPTER OF THE “SAINT FRANCIS” PROVINCE PEEKSKILL – USA
After so much uncertainty due to the pandemic and restrictions, as soon as the United States reopened flights to enter the Country, the Chapter of “St. Francis” Province was immediately organized.
The superior general Sr. Paola Dotto and the councilors Sr. Tiziana Tonini and Sr Rose Thomas Palamthattel arrived at the provincial house of Peekskill on 10 November, a few days before the celebration of the chapter, scheduled for 14 to 18 November.
On the 13th, the sisters arrived from the two communities of New Jersey: from Fairview and from Totowa.
The afternoon was dedicated to silence, prayer, adoration, in preparation for the Chapter.
The Sunday Holy Mass at 9.30 on November 14 was offered as the opening celebration of the Chapter; some lay associates were also present. The Chapter Sisters then went in the "Sacred Heart" Hall where everything was ready to begin the XV Chapter of the Province "St. Francis ".
After the opening prayer and the welcoming greeting of the provincial superior Sr. Laura Morgan, the Superior General Sr. Paola Dotto officially opened the chapter with her discourse, in which she underlined the meaning of the date: November 14, as a congregational event: “We begin our chapter meeting on a particularly significant day for our religious Family. On November 14, 161 years ago, the Archbishop of Udine, Mons Giuseppe Luigi Trevisanato, signed the Foundation Decree of our Institute and joyfully welcomed and recognized, as a blessing from the Lord, the birth of our religious family, wanted for the Apostolic Missions and for the education of especially poor girls. God the Father has entrusted this precious 'gift' to our Founders, Laura Leroux and Father Gregory Fioravanti. After five years, the missionary charism was embodied in our sisters sent right here, in the United States, to support migrants from various European countries, and upset by the fear and poverty of interminable wars. Finding ourselves here today is for us a sign of a renewed hope in the strength of the charism that wants to be open to the newness of the Spirit and to His missionary creativity…
Sr. Paola highlighted the importance of this day also as an ecclesial event: “Today in the Church, by the will of Pope Francis, we also remember the fifth day dedicated to the poor. We can also consider this a sign for us.
The symbolic embrace took place in Assisi two days ago, between Pope Francis and 500 poor people from all parts of the world in representation of all the people living in poverty. With this gesture, the Pope reminds us that "it is time to restore dignity and the possibility of speaking of the poor" and that "the poor show us the face of Jesus and therefore no one more than them can tell us how to be Christian and consecrated.”
Sr Paola appreciated the theme of the chapter: “"Live our Franciscan life as we bring the light and life of the Heart of Christ to the world”.
The theme of this XV Chapter of the Province “St. Francis "is up-to-date and in line with the Chapter program. “Living everyday life in the simple, humble and happy passion of St. Francis is the most direct and concrete way to bring Jesus everywhere to people and help them discover His presence in them too.
Before the official opening declaration, she presented the great challenge of synodality to the assembly: “The Spirit tells us that it is time to "walk together". It is the time of synodality!
We must help each other in the awareness that it is time to meet, to share, to welcome the beauty of the novelty that each person is and can give.
Together, as sisters of the same Family, we live this ecclesial challenge by walking together with the people of God, with the whole world.”
The assembly then carried out the commitment of the preliminary procedures. In the afternoon the report of the Provincial Superior Sr. Laura Morgan was heard, entitled: "Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow".
The days of 15, 16 and 17 November (morning) were dedicated to the reflection and discussion of some very important issues in the Province and to the revision of the Statutes.
On November 17, the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, patroness of the Franciscan Third Order and of our religious Family, the elections for the New Council took place during the afternoon session.
Here are the sisters chosen for the new council.
Sr. Anne James Guerin Provincial Superior
Sr. Anna Maria Not 1st Provincial Councilor and Vicar
Sr. Clare Poothakuzhiyil 2nd Provincial Councilor
Sr. Laura Morgan 3rd Provincial Councilor
Sr Gloria Aranguiz Salas 4th Provincial Councilor
In the chapter, the work of reflection, discussion and approval continued for a provincial journey that, despite the numerical poverty, entrusts itself to the provident love of the Lord.
Before the official closure of the Chapter, the Superior General donated to the Province a cover for the lectern of Saint Joseph with Jesus and to the chapter sisters the objects with the image of Father Gregory prepared for the 200 anniversary of his birth, which falls on April 24, 2022.
The Province also presented the gifts to the Superior General and to the councilors as a sign of gratitude and communion.
Sr Paola then closed the chapter with words of hope and the desire for good for this first Province of our religious Family. She concluded: "With great affection, and counting on your renewed commitment to consecrated life, with hope, I wish you all to resume the journey with the challenge and courage of Love, which always knows how to generate novelty".
