The logo
The logo represents a boat formed by two intertwined hands. Both hands must propel in the same direction if they want to reach the goal, otherwise the boat will open and sink, with full of water. The two hands are of different colors because each part of the boat has a distinct function. The boat follows the path indicated by Jesus, depicted by the cross, to reach the sun, the Father, and is supported by the gentle waves that represent the Holy Spirit, a guide in the journey.
From the Letter for the Announcement of the XII General Chapter
8 September 2023
Feast of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Sisters,
On the liturgical feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in accordance with the provisions of our Constitutions (C. 167), I come to you with joy and hope to
CONVOKE
THE XII GENERAL CHAPTER
OF THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE
“The General Chapter is the supreme authority of the Congregation and expresses the participation of all the members in the life of the Congregation. As a sign of unity in charity, it promotes the spiritual and apostolic vitality of the Congregation in fidelity to the charism, and stimulates its renewal and updating” (C.165).
If we stop to weigh the words of this article of the Constitutions, we wonder at the gift of grace that awaits us: the Spirit thrusts us on new paths, summons us to participate in a synodal discernment, in the preparation and realization of the Chapter. Let us therefore prepare ourselves for this event with confidence, sure that the Lord will continue to guide the Chapter experience that has been accompanying us for 70 years now. The forthcoming General Chapter, in fact, marks a significant anniversary, which we learn from the Chronicle of the Institute: “1953 was a year of great importance for the Institute also because the first General Chapter of the Congregation was announced”.
The XII General Chapter will be celebrated from 8 to 29 September 2024, at Rocca di Papa (RM), in the International Spirituality Center of the Sacred Heart, run by the congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The official opening will be preceded by some days of preparation.
The theme of the Chapter:
WE LIVE THE GOSPEL AS AN APOSTOLIC BODY,
IN FRATERNAL AND RECIPROCAL OBEDIENCE
The discernment made together during the Inter-Chapter Assembly asked us to give space to the renewed understanding of the apostolic obedience, which makes us sharers in the apostolic hardships of Jesus who dies to give life. He asks us again to put our lives with full freedom in the hands of the Father, to be completely available to the Kingdom.
It is certainly of great consolation to think that the event of the XII General Chapter takes place in a special moment in the life of the Church, that of the synodal process, in which all the People of God are called to walk together towards what the Holy Spirit helps to discern for the greater good of the Church. After the diocesan and continental phases of the process, in which some of our sisters also participated, the first of the two sessions of the Synodal Assembly will take place in Rome from 4 to 29 October 2023, while the second will be held in October 2024, soon after the conclusion of our Chapter. It is the grace of the Spirit, which makes our missionary family feel well guarded by the Mother Church and in journey with her.
Exactly one year before the opening of the XII General Chapter, I believe that the best way to prepare ourselves for this great family event is to re-center ourselves in Jesus. To place Him at the center of our lives; entrust to Him our deepest desires, what is dear to us, the anxieties and concerns of humanity, the journey of the Institute and the need for workers for His harvest. Re-centering ourselves in Jesus, so that He is the one who gives meaning, orientation, consistency to our life and to our mission. To help us in this we have thought of some spiritual proposals:
- pray together for the chapter with the prayer prepared by the sisters of the community of Hammam Lif –Tunisia (latest presence), and it will be recited in the community;
- the spiritual exercises that the provincial/delegation direction organize annually be inspired by the theme of the Chapter;
- you will receive the text of the Novena of the Immaculate, in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception;
- we propose that a Marian pilgrimage be organized during the Chapter year at the community level or in small groups (the distance or the grandeur of the place does not count…). For those who do not have the possibility can put the spiritual intention.
We leave it up to the Spirit and the creativity of each organism and each sister to suggest other initiatives that can help us in the preparation for the XII General Chapter.
With affection and in union of prayer,
Antonella Tovaglieri
Congregation Leader
And sisters of the council
The theme
IN FRATERNAL AND RECIPROCAL OBEDIENCE
To deal with the theme of obedience today is not one of the most comfortable choices, but we believe it necessary because, sharing in the charismatic experience of our foundresses, we want to continue with greater awareness and authenticity the mission of Jesus who “was able to save the world only through his obedience” (Fr. Manna, AV, 256).
In particular, being convinced of the importance of assuming the mission of the Institute together, we want to consider the value of living apostolic obedience as an apostolic body, through the exercise of fraternal and mutual obedience, supported by the attitudes of listening e di dialogue.
The calendar
-
08-09-2023 - Announcement of the XII General Chapter
On 8 September 2023, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the XII General Chapter of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate – PIME.
-
from 30-11-2023 to 08-12-2023 - Novena of the Immaculate
Novena in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on the theme of the XII Chapter: “WE LIVE THE GOSPEL AS AN APOSTOLIC BODY, IN FRATERNAL AND RECIPROCAL OBEDIENCE”.
-
from 08-09-2024 to 29-09-2024 - XII General Chapter
The XII General Chapter will be celebrated from 8 to 29 September 2024, at Rocca di Papa (RM), in the International Spirituality Center of the Sacred Heart.
List of sisters who will take part of the XII General Chapter
MEMBERS BY RIGHT | |
General Direction |
|
Sr. Antonella Tovaglieri | General Leader |
Sr. Mary Bridgit Suvakeen | Vicar general |
Sr. Maria Elena Boracchi | Counsellor |
Sr. Marisa Pereira da Silva | Counsellor |
Sr. Biji Philip Koonamparayil | Counsellor |
Sr. Laura Valtorta | Treasurer |
Provincial Leaders |
|
Sr. Rosangela Ratti | Province of Italy |
Sr. Blanche D’Mello | Province of Vijayawada |
Sr. Theresa Nazareth | Province of Hyderabad |
Sr. Mercy Paulose Manavalan | Province of Siliguri |
Sr. Rita Palma | Province of Bangladesh |
Sr. Elizabete Rodrigues | Province of South Brazil |
Sr. Dora Scorpioni | Province of North Brazil |
Sr. Vinija Nirappel | Province of Cameroon – Chad |
Sr. Shanty Joseph Parekattil | Province of Papua New Guinea |
Delegation Leaders |
|
Sr. Carmela Pamei | Delegation of Hong Kong – China |
Sr. Suzanne Djebba | Delegation of Guinea Bissau |
Sr. Rosie Fargose | Delegation of Delhi |
Sr. Jyothi Pereira | Delegation of Algeria – Tunisia |
DELEGATED MEMBERS | |
Province of Italy |
Province of Cameroon – Chad |
Sr. Alessandra Bonfanti | Sr. Lucia Cavallo |
Sr. Carine Nguimeya | Sr. Mary Regi Stephen |
Province of Vijayawada |
Province of Papua New Guinea |
Sr. Gnana Sundari Nagothu | Sr. Letina Siloi |
Sr. Roble Mathew Koonananickal | Sr. Chiara Colombo |
Sr. Amala Rani Swamikkannu | |
Sr. Deepthi Kurian Kunnath | |
Province of Hyderabad |
Province of Bangladesh |
Sr. Deepthi Kurian Kunnath | Sr. Silvia Leoni |
Sr. Kaspar Mary Santhiyagu | Sr. Bondona Cruze |
Sr. Sisily Mathew Chathamalayil | |
Sr. Namitha Luis Kanjirathingal | |
Province of Siliguri |
Delegation of Hong Kong – China |
Sr. Martha Gali | Sr. Maria Clara de Souza Pires |
Sr. Cecilia Rodrigues | |
Province of South Brazil |
Delegation of Guinea Bissau |
Sr. Maria Auxiliadora Q. Motta | Sr. Maria do Carmo Farias dos Santos |
Sr. Shiji J. Thengumpallil | |
Province of North Brazil |
Delegation of Delhi |
Sr. Laura Cantoni | Sr. Lavina Dabre |
Sr. Rosiene Gomes de Freitas | |
General Direction Communities |
|
Sr. Alessandra Camatta |
Communications
On 28 September 2024, at 16:30, the closing celebration was held, presided by Fr Armando Nugnes, Rector of the Pontifical Urban College.
Media
On Wednesday 25 September, the chapter members participated in the Holy Father's audience. At the conclusion, they met the Pope for a brief greeting.
Pray with us
Lord Jesus, Apostle of the Father,
perfect icon of His will,
we entrust to you the journey of our Institute
towards the XII General Chapter.
May the breath of the Spirit help us
to contemplate your obedience to the Father
even to the cross
to understand how to continue
your mission today.
We are sisters in the apostolic life
guardians of our different sensitivities and cultures:
may the light of the Spirit help us
to know ourselves in truth
and to search together the will of the Father,
with mutual esteem, intelligence, creativity and freedom.
Mary, mother of Jesus, woman of faith,
open to the Spirit
and courageous in fulfilling
the mission of the Father,
in your tenderness direct our journey.
Mother Dones and Mother Igilda pray for us,
because inspired like you
by Father Manna and Msgr. Balconi
we can live in obedience to the Gospel
and in communion with the Church,
in the joy of fraternity
and in the fidelity to our missionary vocation.
(Prayer prepared by the sisters of the community of Tunis)
Messages
Continuiamo ad accompagnarvi in ogni vostro discernimento e in questi giorni intensifichiamo la preghiera allo Spirito Santo perché nella comunione e nella lungimiranza riveli a ciascuna le vie e le persone per aiutarci ad attuare la nostra missione nell'oggi della storia.
Nós irmãs da província Brasil Norte estamos unidas através das nossas orações acompanhando os trabalhos do capítulo e desejamos bom êxito nas atividades e decisões.
messaggi di alcune comunità delle diverse provincie e delegazioni presenti nei cinque continenti.
Other articles
Domingos Cà, Guinean biblical scholar reflects on the vow of obedience starting from the African context: relationship with God from which a commitment that generates joy is born.
Fr. Julian Fernandez reflects on obedience to the mission within fraternity: a journey of faith, mutual listening, and discernment guided by the Holy Spirit.
The path traced in the last three general chapters, the fruit of a past that raised questions and saw lives offered for the missionary ideal.
Social
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