Intercapitolo 2011 – Information n. 2

Rome, 21 February 2011

Dearest Sisters,

            We have come to the end of our Interchapter Meeting, during which we felt the vibrant presence of Maestra Thecla among us, not only because we opened our encounter on the anniversary of her death and closed it on the anniversary of her birth, but also because she is our model par excellence with regard to life, apostolic passion and governing style.

We lived each stage of the Interchapter intensely and creatively, our days overflowing with prayer, reflection and the sharing of ideas. It was a time of mutual listening and understanding, of simplicity and communion, of unity in diversity-all aimed at fostering a congregational journey characterized by greater integration and harmony among ourselves so as to more fully realize Prima Maestra’s dream that we be one in mind and heart.

From the depths of our heart we sing a heartfelt Magnificat to the Lord for his presence in our midst. He sustained us in our labors, enlightened us with his Word and helped us to consolidate and expand our redesigning journey.

During the first stage of our meeting, we contemplated the “picture” of our Congregation, with all its lights and shadows. During its second stage, various speakers helped us understand and develop more profoundly the theme of the Interchapter, effectively “captured” in the slogan: “Inhabited” by the Word, we now “inhabit” the Internet through the power of the Pauline charism, expressed above all in its feminine dimension. During the last stage of the meeting, we concentrated our energies on programming the Congregation’s journey over the next triennium on the continental and general levels.

The summaries of our work and the working guidelines that emerged as a result of our labors are contained in the Interchapter’s Final Document, which you will soon receive. Below are a few of the proposals aimed at helping us redesign the various areas of the Pauline life on the congregational level:

1.        To allow the transforming power of the Word, dwelling within us, to “explode” in our lives, opening paths of hope. In view of this, to ensure that our personal and community projects of life give privilege to reading, listening to, studying, comparing our life with and sharing the Word according to the Way, Truth and Life method.

1.        To base our pastoral work for vocations on the Word of God, the Eucharist and the joyous witness of a life wholly dedicated to God.

2.        To carry out new vocation initiatives and to consolidate those already underway: to utilize the new technologies, form young women to the media, make contact with immigrant communities and university students; to help priests get to know our charism.

1.        To continue to give priority to the importance of the authority-obedience relationship. As a strategy, to give privilege to profound listening to the Word so as to be conformed to the obedient Christ (cf. DF 39-40). To also give importance to the study of the Constitutions, above the articles that speak about obedience and government.

2.        On the circumscription level, to organize formation initiatives for the superiors and all the sisters on the theme of obedience and authority, so as to live with renewed awareness a style of relating to others that is open to communion, in keeping with the example of Prima Maestra Thecla.

1.        To help the laity participate in the Pauline charism by presenting it to them in an accessible and appealing way. To provide them with formation and guidance through study aids posted on our paoline.org web site.

2.        To continue to patiently and persistently concretize the Project “Collaborators for the Sake of the Gospel,” trying to involve the laity more in our mission and pastoral work.

            The redesigning of our apostolate, the second priority of our 9^th General Chapter and the object of our upcoming meetings for the apostolate and administration, was launched by means of a two-day workshop in which, first on the small group and then on the general assembly levels, we discussed what direction in which to move with regard to content, methodology and participants. Our conclusions were presented to the Commission set up to prepare these encounters. The material we submitted, now in the hands of the General Government, will be enriched by the deeper reflections and future-oriented proposals that will emerge in our continental meetings and will serve to initiate a process leading to a global apostolic project for the whole Institute.

            As Sr. M. Antonieta Bruscato underscored in her concluding address: “The end of every important event is, in reality, another beginning. Thus, we are initiating as of now a time of animation for the entire Congregation-a time of concretizing the orientations and priorities that are the fruit of this meeting.”

We now pass on to you, sisters, the task of “giving life” to the many things the Spirit brought forth from our Interchapter Meeting in this particular moment of history in which we are preparing to celebrate the Centenary of the Pauline Family and of our Institute. Let us remain united in prayer and in listening to the Word so that its transforming power will “explode” in our life, in our communities and in our mission.

In the name of all the participants in the Interchapter, we want to once again thank Sr. M. Antonieta Bruscato and the sisters of the General Government for their dedication and sisterly closeness; Sr. Battistina Capalbo, our incomparable facilitator, who guided our work with such competence, clarity and patience, and Sr. Lucia Simula for her great solicitude to all our needs in her management of the St. Paul House. We also want to thank the sisters of the Generalate community, who supported us with their presence and who in many different ways contributed to the good outcome of this encounter.

Thank you too, dear sisters, for your prayers and for the affection with which you accompanied this important congregational event-a solidarity expressed through the flood of messages you sent us and which we deeply appreciated, as well as your visits to the Interchapter web site and participation in our videoconferences.

With sincere best wishes to all of you,